Volleyball tournament season is in...

[G7-EOS]

A few shots from this past weekend's club volleyball tournament. All with the 40D+135L at f2.0 1/400 iso1600. Comments welcome...

http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/G7-EOS/Volleyball/IMG_0384.jpg
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/G7-EOS/Volleyball/IMG_0389.jpg
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/G7-EOS/Volleyball/IMG_0391.jpg

[N23]

Focus seems to be on the net instead of the players. Not sure if a higher F stop would give greater depth of field in these shots since they're pancaked in these shots. Maybe pre-focus on where they'll be instead of letting AF hunt for it.

[MDteX]

Focus seems to be on the net instead of the players. Not sure if a higher F stop would give greater depth of field in these shots since they're pancaked in these shots. Maybe pre-focus on where they'll be instead of letting AF hunt for it.

Pre-focusing on the player at the net would help. That is what I do when I shot from the end. Otherwise these sensitive cameras will pick up the strings more often than not.

[G7-EOS]

Thanks guys for pointing out the focus issue. In fact , I may even have been pre-focusing on the tape. I'll try focusing on the player next time out and maybe the higher f-stop as well...

[TopGear1Ds]

Ditto on the focus issue. It sure is tough though. The players hardly change position compared to other sports, and yet volleyball is the sport I have the most trouble getting focused shots in. The AF just loves that net. I think prefocusing (and not allowing the AF to refocus on the net) is where it's at.

I think your WB is a little wonky too. Everything has a pink/red hue to it.

[beacherz]

Shooting through the net is always tough for me. One spot focus helps if the shot is taken quickly. Better yet is when the player's head is above the net which doesn't always happen. I find most of my "keepers" come from the center-court (net) vantage point instead of the backcourt.

[CliffordPhotography]

First two the focus is off.

[Big K]

When shooting from the end or side and trying to shoot through the net I normally shoot in one shot focus instead of AI Servo. I will try and focus on the players chest/stomach under the net just before they jump then fire a burst and tilt up to follow the action.

Shooting in one shot focus keeps the original focus as long as the shutter is pushed half way down or firing so if you get a good lock on focus before they jump, your keeper rate for the entire burst will be consistent. This is impossible to do through the net in AI servo mode because at some point, that nice vertical and horizontal grid of a net is going to grab the autofocus and you are SOL at f/2 with a 135.

I also think it would be unwise to stop down your aperture from f/2 unless you are getting shutter speeds greater than 1/1000 at f/2. It will not give you near enough increase in DOF to improve your problem from the net and the loss of any shutter speed in volleyball is just not worth it, especially with a 135 f/2. That is my favorite indoor sports lens and think smokes even at f/2.

[TopGear1Ds]

^^^ of course.. so obvious I can't believe I never thought of it! thanks for the tip, Big K

[beacherz]

Great points Big K. Thanks.

[G7-EOS]

Thanks again all for the suggestions.

I did notice the color, but only performed a basic canned color adjustment before posting. And great advice on the One Shot focus. I had already gotten that far, but will try locking in below the net, as Big K suggests. I had less success in the past with AI Servo.

Hopefully will have some improvements to post after the weekend...