Horse Racing

[FIXXER04]

What lens are best for horse racing? I am to be credentialed for a local event and have never shot a horse...

[hania]

What lens are best for horse racing? I am to be credentialed for a local event and have never shot a horse...

I've just shot a local race with 5d & 70-200 2.8 + 1.4 TC, and I was surprised how fast a shutter speed I needed to stop the motion. Will post some later.

[Tigershark]

I shoot a 300 2.8 and a 1dMKIII, you want minimum of 1/640 but I personally I like 1/1000 a lot of times. it really depends on where you are shooting from, if you are shooting right at the finish go with the 70-200 2.8 it you are up frm the finish the 300 2.8 is an awesome piece of glass to shoot, if you are shooting head on I prefer a 600mm or a 400 2.8 with a 1.4x

good luck

[hania]

I shoot a 300 2.8 and a 1dMKIII, you want minimum of 1/640 but I personally I like 1/1000 a lot of times. it really depends on where you are shooting from, if you are shooting right at the finish go with the 70-200 2.8 it you are up frm the finish the 300 2.8 is an awesome piece of glass to shoot, if you are shooting head on I prefer a 600mm or a 400 2.8 with a 1.4x

good luck

I agree - tried at 1/400 - not in focus. managed well with 1/640 as it was evening - but a very bright day & the horses were runing into the sunset.
It was annoying though - I was going to repeat my earlier shots at 1/400 over the jumps as I realised my shutter speed was to slow - so I got in the perfect position, only to hear it being announced that the sun was too low and they were going to miss out the last 3 jumps!

Still got some good shots on the flat.

[hania]

here are two that were at 1/400 f14 400 iso both unsharpened , straight from camera .
would have been lovely shots - I am so annoyed at myself

[hania]

and two more at 1/640 f14 500iso

[zerovision]

How close can you get? Is this at a track? I was at the Kentucky Derby close to the rail, but the Pros there were shooting anything from wide angle low angle tripod mounts to double mounted super telephotos and they were on the track.

I'll post some pics.

[zerovision]

Kentucky Derby pics. On the starting gate you can see the camera set up above the gates. I counted eleven. On the other pictures is a 70-200mm f/2.8 from the 10ft off the rail of turn 4.

[hania]

How close can you get? Is this at a track? I was at the Kentucky Derby close to the rail, but the Pros there were shooting anything from wide angle low angle tripod mounts to double mounted super telephotos and they were on the track.

I'll post some pics.

I was able to get right by the outside rail at the track. I had gone to the outside of the inside rail (if that makes sence) as I saw some other photogs there but got thrown out because I wasn't accredited! Unless accredited, no-one was allowed on the track or emergency access track (right by inside rail). The two I saw had much the same kit but were hand held. I just went a bit further up to take my shots - from car park which was right by rail.

[hania]

Kentucky Derby pics. On the starting gate you can see the camera set up above the gates. I counted eleven. On the other pictures is a 70-200mm f/2.8 from the 10ft off the rail of turn 4.

Great shots - were you using AI focus ? I have done a lot of theatre photography, but not much sport..Our annual comp at Photography Club is 'Sport' this year - so I have some learning to do)

[zerovision]

Great shots - were you using AI focus ? I have done a lot of theatre photography, but not much sport..Our annual comp at Photography Club is 'Sport' this year - so I have some learning to do)

Yes, AI Servo all the way. I also used a single focus point so the focus would not move between horses.

[FIXXER04]

Since I started this, lots of good advice. Here's one from my first try.

[zerovision]

Very cool pic! I like all four hoofs in the air. Great job.

[patwill]

Nice shot FIXXER. The four-up is considered a primo shot for racing, sort of like a bat-on-ball shot for baseball. But a hardened railbird like myself can tell from the jock's stance that yours was taken after the finish, so one small demerit for that.

What track are you shooting at? I see a couple of long black lenses mounted on remote bodies just inside the rail.

[hania]

Yes, AI Servo all the way. I also used a single focus point so the focus would not move between horses.

So AI servo rather that AI Focus ?

[FlyingPhotog]

In the right circumstances, the 15mm fisheye works! ;)

SI Gallery from Kentucky Derby (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0905/135th.kentucky.derby/content.6.html)

[zerovision]

So AI servo rather that AI Focus ?


I haven't used AI Focus in a while, and my 1D Mark III doesn't offer AI Focus. It only has AI Servo or One Shot.

[FIXXER04]

AI servo for me always, Belmont Stakes June 6th. First time at Horse Racing and it was a lot of fun.

[hania]

I've just re-read my manual about AI Focus & Servo.

Apparently, if set to AI focus it changes from one shot AF to AI servo if still subject starts moving - so really, I was in AI servo anyway as I was tracking moving objects.

I did use centre point focussing.
Makes a bit more sense now - must learn to read better :)

[hania]

In the right circumstances, the 15mm fisheye works! ;)

SI Gallery from Kentucky Derby (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0905/135th.kentucky.derby/content.6.html)

That is awesome - love it

[Borderfox]

In the right circumstances, the 15mm fisheye works! ;)

SI Gallery from Kentucky Derby (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0905/135th.kentucky.derby/content.6.html)

The shot from the Kentucky Derby is underexposed by quite a bit, must have left the camera in tv for that one.

One with a fisheye from a breeze-up sale
http://photos3.pix.ie/DA/50/DA50F48220E944C1AD0893DA4D696085-800.jpg (http://pix.ie/keithjack/739466)