Looking for some comment and suggestions

[kcassens@hvc.rr.com]

I'm fairly new with my 50D. I've been practicing and taking tons of shots. Mostly of basketball, gymnastics, dance recitals.. lots of indoor bad lighting situations. I have been told Av is the way to go. I was doing that for a while, but recently convinced myself that Tv was better since I need a fast shutter and could control it that way. I maily shoot ISO 3200 in these dark gyms and auditoriums. Usually AI Servo (for gymnastics and basketball). Evaluative metering. My lens does not have a very wide aperture, I usually get f5.6 (when using Tv). Here are a few of my better shots. Please feel free to give me any advice and suggestions, or try to convince me to go back to Av if that makes sense. Thanks in advance!


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3132/3162548824_65dd8e7e8c.jpg

<http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1150/3164178535_bae63d69af.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1082/3165015242_dbbe12fbae.jpg

Kathy

[bobbyz]

Kathy,

First for indoor you need atleast f2.8 glass unless you shooting with strobes. Using ambient light even f4 can't cut it so forget about f5.6.

Now regarding Tv, if you put say 1/500 and ISO3200 on your camera. Now camera is going to pick aperture for correct exposure, which might be f1.8 but your lens can only do f5.6, so what's is going to happen is underexposure. Just because you use Tv at 1/500, camera not going to give proper exposure if lens can't open the required aperture.

With Av mode, you can atleast put the lens to wide open aperture and that will gurantee highest shutter speed possible for given ISO. So Av mode is lot better than Tv mode for sports. With Av mode and aperture wide open you get one big additional factor that your DOF is small and your bg get blurred more.

Now inside, you best bet is manual exposure mode. Light is not changing, so set your camera for what is the avg. exposure inside the gym. Typically you talking about ISO3200, 1/250 and f2.8. Some of the under-exposure can be corrected in post processing but not too much as it introduces lot more noise.

Solution, look for 85mm f1.8 lens. It is $300 or so and will help a lot in shooting bb, gymnastics. Another option for gymn is 135mm f2 which is around $800-$900.

[Dennis_Hammer]

Bump that 50d's ISO up too. Use those new ISO's

[kcassens@hvc.rr.com]

Thanks Bobby,
I needed a push to buy a new lens!! :)

Yes, I have seen the underexposure.. when the results start looking dark, I dial down the shutter speed a bit.. but doesn't always work... gets blurry.

The only thing is (and this probalby means more money) I'm not sure 135mm is long enough..? When I shoot gymnastics, I use my 100-400mm. This (below) is shot at ISO3200 200mm, f5 (my bigger zoom goes to f4.5, still not wide enough), 1/125 (I think I got lucky with that shutter speed? - I sometimes shoot rapid fire..maybe that helped..).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcassens/3165006738/

I guess my point is I think I need an f2.8 or so along with a good zoom for gymnastics. And now I'm probably talking big bucks..

[kcassens@hvc.rr.com]

Really? Go higher than 3200??? I assumed that would be a bad idea.. noise-wise..

[gymdad]

Hi, Kathy....

Quite a few months ago there was a really good thread specifically dealing with gymnastics photography. It might answer some of your questions. Good luck!

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=292894

Gymdad

[FOX2PRO]

Thanks Bobby,
I needed a push to buy a new lens!! :)

Yes, I have seen the underexposure.. when the results start looking dark, I dial down the shutter speed a bit.. but doesn't always work... gets blurry.

The only thing is (and this probalby means more money) I'm not sure 135mm is long enough..? When I shoot gymnastics, I use my 100-400mm. This (below) is shot at ISO3200 200mm, f5 (my bigger zoom goes to f4.5, still not wide enough), 1/125 (I think I got lucky with that shutter speed? - I sometimes shoot rapid fire..maybe that helped..).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcassens/3165006738/

I guess my point is I think I need an f2.8 or so along with a good zoom for gymnastics. And now I'm probably talking big bucks..

That looks pretty good for f5. Was it well lit?

You can always spring for a 135 f2, which will definitely give you enough speed for indoor sports.

[kcassens@hvc.rr.com]

gymdad, Thanks for the link to the old gymnastics thread. What I have read so fare is very interesting and helpful. And your flickr gymnsatics photos are fantastic!!
fox2pro,
No, the gym wasn't very well lit.. not the worst I've seen, but not good. And I was pretty far away sitting in the bleachers. Like I said, I think I got lucky on that one, although her feet are blurry. Yes, Bobby mentioned the 135 f2 as well, might have to check that out.. I'm spoiled with my 100-400...

thanks!

[bobbyz]

Kathy,

For gymnastics you definitely need fast glass. Only reason I mention 135mm f2 is that it is cheapest of the bunch. Only other cheaper option is 200mm f2.8. But you can stick 1.4xTC on 135mm f2.

Most folks would use 200mm f1.8, or the newer 200mm f2 IS along with 300mm f2.8 bit those cost lot more money.

BTW - How close you can get to? What focal lengths you typically shoot at when using your 100-400?

[kcassens@hvc.rr.com]

I can't get very close. The floor is roped off. Parents are expected to sit in the stands. I can stand by the ropes, so if the bars, for example are close to the stands, I get better shots on bars than whatever is on the far side of the gym.

I pretty much use 200-400mm range.. last meet vault was all the way on the other side of the gym.. used 400mm and focused on the vault and shot as they hit the vault..

[liam5100]

Kathy, Welcome and Bobby is pretty much right on this, 2.8 is a base aperture you'll need for indoor sports. I'd suggest looking into a used 70-200 2.8. If your going to be shooting primarily sports you can save a few bucks by getting the NON IS version over the IS version, since the IS will probably never come into play for sports anyhow.

Also, higher ISO shouldnt be a concern with the 50D, I shoot 6400 for indoor sports and have those shots published all the time. I would however suggest looking into one of the post production noise reduction programs such as noiseware pro or noise ninja. Your 50d with a touch of either one of those programs will produce outstanding images.