Shooting Baseball...

[lakesidechadwick]

I have shot at a few MLB games, with mixed results... I am going tomorrow night to a game, and was wondering what settings people use when shooting baseball....

What AF mode do you usually use when sports? Am I better of using AI Servo, or would you us AI Focus, or the old One Shot? I have used one shot in the past just because I am comfortable using it, but I know realize it may be the wrong choice...

Please advise and possible offer any hints on what I could do to get shots to come out.

Thank you,

Mike

[tmalone893]

I have shot at a few MLB games, with mixed results... I am going tomorrow night to a game, and was wondering what settings people use when shooting baseball....

What AF mode do you usually use when sports? Am I better of using AI Servo, or would you us AI Focus, or the old One Shot? I have used one shot in the past just because I am comfortable using it, but I know realize it may be the wrong choice...

Please advise and possible offer any hints on what I could do to get shots to come out.

Thank you,

Mike

Al Servo if you are shooting action shots.

[eigga]

Al Servo if you are shooting

most moving objects

[clarence]

I am going tomorrow night to a game, and was wondering what settings people use when shooting baseball...

What ballpark? What section are your seats?

I've got a lot of the same equipment as you. I'd recommend the 40D with the 100-400mm lens.

Set AF to AI Servo.

Use Av mode with aperture set as wide as possible (if you spin the dial down to f/4.5 when you're lens is at 100mm, it'll automatically increase to f/5.6 when you zoom out to 400mm).

Since this is a night game, use at least ISO 1600, maybe even ISO 3200. I don't use the in-camera noise reduction; I prefer to use Neat Image in post production.

Also, you might want to try both IS off and IS on... depends on what shutter speeds you are getting and depends on your technique and experience with the lens... making sure you give it enough time to spin up before you pop the shutter.

[lakesidechadwick]

What ballpark? What section are your seats?

The Jake in Cleveland (I won't call it Progressive Field!) Section 159 Row L...

The seats should be decent, I was going to use the 40D with the 70-200 2.8 IS...possibly adding a 1.4 TC if extra range is needed...

I love the 100-400, but it is BIG!! I was also hoping being able to open up to 2.8 would allow me to use a little lower ISO...I hate the noise!!

You said you prefer to use Neat Image, as opposed to the Noise Reduction in the camera... I always kind of thought that using NR in the camera, then using Neat Image would give me the best results...is this not so??

Thanks

[clarence]

The Jake in Cleveland (I won't call it Progressive Field!) Section 159 Row L...

The seats should be decent, I was going to use the 40D with the 70-200 2.8 IS...possibly adding a 1.4 TC if extra range is needed...

I love the 100-400, but it is BIG!! I was also hoping being able to open up to 2.8 would allow me to use a little lower ISO...I hate the noise!!

You said you prefer to use Neat Image, as opposed to the Noise Reduction in the camera... I always kind of thought that using NR in the camera, then using Neat Image would give me the best results...is this not so??

Thanks

Cool... Looks like there aren't any size restrictions on lenses in Cleveland...

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/ballpark/guide.jsp
Cameras and video recorders, provided their use does not interfere with other guests' enjoyment of the ballgame. However, any resale of photography or video for any commercial purpose is strictly prohibited.

Section 159 looks like a great place to sit! I usually end up in nose bleed seats, so the extra zoom reach is why I suggested the 100-400mm.

Here are some pictures from last year in my baseball pictures from my XTi gallery (http://crtforum.com/xti-gallery/baseball.html) with a 70-300mm (before I got the 40D and 70-200)...

We were in section 404:
http://crtforum.com/xti-gallery/images/nationalspark.jpg

http://crtforum.com/xti-gallery/images/2008-04-12_9549.JPG

http://crtforum.com/xti-gallery/images/2008-04-12_9824.JPG

I used my 40D and 70-200 f/4L IS (not the f/2.8 IS like yours) a couple of weeks ago at a AA MiLB night game and it did fine. There are some shots from that game in my 40D gallery (http://crtforum.com/40D/index.html)...

http://crtforum.com/40D/images/2009-04-09_0813.jpg

http://crtforum.com/40D/images/2009-04-09_0839f.jpg



I was also hoping being able to open up to 2.8 would allow me to use a little lower ISO...I hate the noise!!

I'll choose ISO noise over motion blur every time.

Like you said, with the 1.4x TC that's a great combo. In fact, I'd be curious to hear if you ever prefer the 100-400 over the 70-200/2.8 + TC combo.

I always kind of thought that using NR in the camera, then using Neat Image would give me the best results...is this not so??
Seems like you'd be double processing, which is usually not "best" for PQ. I prefer doing NR outside of the camera. More control in PP. Plus, it doesn't bog down the camera's buffer.

[lakesidechadwick]

In fact, I'd be curious to hear if you ever prefer the 100-400 over the 70-200/2.8 + TC combo.

I do prefer the 70-200 +TC, just because of manageability...just my preference... I also like to be at 4.0 max...

It is too much to have both lenses at the same game...I have done it, but then I am uncomfortable the whole time, balancing bags, and worrying if I'd be getting better shots with the other lens.


Seems like you'd be double processing, which is usually not "best" for PQ. I prefer doing NR outside of the camera. More control in PP. Plus, it doesn't bog down the camera's buffer.

Never thought about it that way!! Thanks for putting a different spin on that for me.


I did get some great pics at the game, which I hope to post a few of on here later on...Great shots, by the way!!

[lakesidechadwick]

I have some pics from the games I went to... I went on Tuesday and Wednesday night... first night I had NR on in camera...second night I did not...

I got what I think are some good pics...could use some advice with handling noise/keeping detail in PP...

Here is the post with the pics (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=688445) any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Mike