Help from baseball shooters

[caroleigh]

I was wondering if someone can help me out here please.
I am having some trouble keeping the pitchers hand in focus on the release of the ball. My shutter speed is always plenty enough (1000 or higher)...and the rest of the body is always (ok, not always, but most of the time) in focus.

I don't remember having such a problem when I was using the 70-200mm F/4L...I am still new to the 2.8.

If you have any suggestions for me, I am all ears.
Here is an example.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a81/mysiggysnstuff/joey-9319-6-14-web.jpg

...edited to add more examples...
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a81/mysiggysnstuff/IMG_8982-6-13-web.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a81/mysiggysnstuff/IMG_8994-6-13-web.jpg
TIA~

[dmwierz]

You might be seeing the effect of shooting at f/2.8...

Say you're 75 feet from the mound. At f/2.8 and focal length at 150*1.6= 240, the depth of field is just over 1.5 feet in front of the pitcher and 1.5 feet behind him.

Also, even at the shutter speed of 1/1600s, the kid's hand moves almost 1/2 inch (with a 40mph pitch) while the shutter is open, which is more than enough to show "movement".

I'd suggest bumping up your ISO to 1/400 and stopping down to f/5.6 and see if this helps. You should end up with a shutter speed of 1/6400s given identical exposure value to the shot you posted. Your depth of field will double to more than 3 feet in front of and 3 feet behind the pitcher, and you'll reduce hand movement to around 1/8 of an inch.

[caroleigh]

can always count on you... thanks Dennis!

[FIXXER04]

ISO 400 should be the trick, I rarely shoot any sport below ISO 200.

[fslshooter]

Hand motion immediately after the release of a pitch might be the fastest movement in baseball and can't be stopped with some pitchers. It, the ball in flight and the tip of the bat passing through the strike zone are motion I no longer try to stop -- they make for better baseball images IMO anyway. Excellent pic BTW.

[caroleigh]

I had never used anything below ISO 200 because I needed at least 200, sometimes 400 when I was using the F/4L. I thought it was better to use the lowest ISO possible so that is why I have been using 100 when I can.
I have added 2 more examples, both were ISO 200, my shutter speed was only 800 so I probably should have bumped the ISO to 400?
Sometimes my shutter speed gets really high and I still have hand movement.
I'll try bumping the ISO on the next game! Thanks!

ISO 400 should be the trick, I rarely shoot any sport below ISO 200.

[caroleigh]

I have a harder time on the older kids, but at 7 or 8 years old pitching (as in the first pic) I figured they aren't so fast and I shouldn't have this problem.
I agree, I do like the motion of the bat, but I don't like the hand motion.
Thanks!

Hand motion immediately after the release of a pitch might be the fastest movement in baseball and can't be stopped with some pitchers. It, the ball in flight and the tip of the bat passing through the strike zone are motion I no longer try to stop -- they make for better baseball images IMO anyway. Excellent pic BTW.

[dmwierz]

Sometimes my shutter speed gets really high and I still have hand movement.

Carol -

At 1/8000s, a pro pitcher's hand will move a little less than 1/4 " which may still be noticeable on a close-up shot, but usually not:

http://www.pbase.com/dmwierz45/image/75144114.jpg

Focal Length 400 mm
Exposure Time 1/8000 sec
Aperture f/3.2
ISO Equivalent 400

However, I still think you may be seeing the hand being outside of the depth of focus more than it being blurred from movement at this age. Keep your shutter speeds 1/4000s or faster and don't be afraid of ISO's >400, especially with modern DSLR's.

[koprivakopriva]

Amen to the last post. When I first got my sigma 70-200 2.8, I abused the heck out of 2.8 even during the day. It looks like what you've got going on is motion blur, but it's entirely possible that the arm is extended so far that it exits the focus area. Happens to me all the time, especially at 2.8. Then again, I suck at photography. haha still learning here.

[wyofizz]

During daylight I don't shoot below f3.2 and use SS 3200.
Dave

[caroleigh]

Thanks again for all the help here. I have been shooting with a higher ISO and faster shutter speed and I have gotten better results!