HS Basketball 10D 50mm f/1.8

[rhuel]

I got to shoot some HS basketball tonight. This gym had better lighting than the other, but I still couldn't get shutter speeds fast enough even with my 50mm f/1.8. So, I popped up the flash and put a translucent white 35mm film canister on for a diffuser (All I have till I get a speedlite :().

I just got in and wanted to find this one particular shot I thought I captured to see if it was any good. Always hard to tell on the viewfinder, but I think I got a decent image out of it. I was about 4 rows up and 15' from center court. I later moved to the corner of the sideline/baseline.

I'll try to post more as I get them edited. (unless you all think the first one wasn't worth posting and then I'll just crawl under a rock and eat worms)

Foul? What Foul?

http://350xriders.com/basketball/foul.jpg

[LarissaPhoto]

I shot a game tonight too. I shot with a Canon 50D and 24-70 2.8 lens, shooting at around 350 shutter to freeze the action. Shots were coming out good. I'm thinking it's time for you to upgrade equipment =) And one excuse is all you'll need right?

[mestes]

Big issue with using the 50mm f/1.8 is the focus speed is not the fastest for sports.

[rhuel]

I'm thinking it's time for you to upgrade equipment =)...

That's funny...I'd love to upgrade if I hadn't just upgraded to the 10D and 50mm a few months ago from a P&S.

I'm becoming well aware of the AF speed on the 50mm f/1.8. I am on the fence if I want to try an 85mm f/1.8 or get a speedlite. After shooting from the baseline corner, I'm thinking an 85mm is going to be too long.

Glad I have low expectations at this point. I'm doing it more to practice framing and timing shots, not like I have a real choice with the equipment I have. I shot about 100 and I have a handful of "keepers". I had a good time watching and shooting. I'll get a couple of the other ones that weren't so bad posted in a few.

[Chet]

What is that kid doing flying across the court?

[rhuel]

What is that kid doing flying across the court?

#52 just knocked him for a loop and got called on it (you can see the ref signaling in the BG).

Kid popped right back up and took his shots. Made them both I think.

[Chet]

Nice catch.

[rhuel]

Nice catch.

Thanks.

One out 1% isn't too bad of a ratio is it? ;)

Here are two more from the corner. Not the best, but as good as I was able to get with what I have.

http://350xriders.com/basketball/crw_4382.jpg

http://350xriders.com/basketball/crw_4390.jpg

[DHMN]

Maybe you already do but it seems like you don't have center spot set for focusing? The banners are way too clear/good for F1.8 aren't they? Or is the lens really that slow?

[MT Stringer]

In the first picture, the focus is on the banners and not the players. That could be your fault or the lens fault or the focusing of the 10D.

In the second pic, focus is better, but the players face is obscured by a hand.

Shoot a lot and throw out the junk. Shoot close and crop closer. Ball, face(s) action, all good. Backs of heads, faces blocked out, not good. :-(

Good luck
Mike

[rhuel]

Maybe you already do but it seems like you don't have center spot set for focusing? The banners are way too clear/good for F1.8 aren't they? Or is the lens really that slow?

I always shoot Center focus and Tv for sports and yes, the lens really is that slow :cry:

[rhuel]

In the first picture, the focus is on the banners and not the players. That could be your fault or the lens fault or the focusing of the 10D.

In the second pic, focus is better, but the players face is obscured by a hand.

Shoot a lot and throw out the junk. Shoot close and crop closer. Ball, face(s) action, all good. Backs of heads, faces blocked out, not good. :-(

Good luck
Mike

Combo fault, but more on me.

All of what you said is so true and I've read it many times, but getting all of those things to come together in one picture seems to elude me. Practice, practice, practice. Someday I'll get a pic or two that I'll call "Good". Right now I'll say mine are "Decent" at best.

That's what makes it fun...there's always room for improvement. And as long as folks like you are encouraging and offering good advice, it will stay fun and I won't feel too bad for sharing as I progress.

Thanks!!

[DHMN]

Tv mode could be a big part of the problem also? shoot manual, crank up the ISO (and clean up after), shoot F1.8 and set the shutter speed to the fastest you can get and see what happens?

[canon rookie]

AHH,Central cambria game-EH.I noticed the Seymours up on the cross country signs.
rookie

[Croasdail]

Realistically you can only go to ISO 800 with that old puppy. ISO 1600 is just about unrecoverable with that camera if you don't absolutely nail the exposure. Another trick with that camera since it tracks rather slow is to keep tapping the shutter release to get it to reacquire the subject. You will get less wrong focused shots and it will not lock up on the bleachers and back wall as much. Funny thing is I really did like its focus point arrangement better than the 20-50Ds arrangement. The old 10D is a capable camera, you'll just have to do a little more thinking for it than than the guys that have new cameras have to do. But I have thousands of sports shots done with an old 10d... a little patience with it and you will happily surprised. Cheers!

[zelseman]

Even after the edits, youre still underexposed.
If you just have the 10d and 50 f1.8 and see no way to upgrade, I would just leave the camera at home and enjoy the game.
Not being able to push past ISO 800 is kinda an unrealistic limitation in HS basketball.

[Croasdail]

Nah, you just got to adjust in your mind the kind of shots you can get. Peak action is out, peak emotion isn't. Learning to be a good photographer means learning to capture something meaningful no matter if it is a iPhone Camera, or a 50k Hassey. Often the results are even better because your not trying to get the same shots everyone else is getting. Just my 2 cents worth.

[zelseman]

Well yea, but dont go into the gym thinking you will get sharp noise free images without motion blur with this setup.

[rhuel]

Well yea, but dont go into the gym thinking you will get sharp noise free images without motion blur with this setup.

That's something I've never done ;)

I'm just trying to do the best I can with what I have. All for fun and learning. Eventually, I'll be able to pull together some nice gear and hopefully I'll have learned enough about photography to be able to best utilize my equipment.

[ChasWG]

I am shooting my son's bball games and until my RF-602 wireless triggers I am mounting my 540EZ to the camera, shooting in portrait framing and bouncing the flash straight up. On my 40D with my 50mm f1.8 I am able to set ISO at 640, ss at 1/250 and f2.2 Flash is set at either 1/4 power or 1/8 power depending on my location along the baseline. It's not a perfect setup but I am getting some fairly nice shots.

So you say you can't upgrade the camera or lens right now, but what about a cheaper flash unit that you can set to manual like the Yongnuo YN-460? They are fairly inexpensive and they would add a feature that you just don't have right now. You need to freeze the action using a flash as the camera just isn't cutting it. I shoot my setup in manual mode on everything and like I said before, they aren't super great, but I'm as happy as I can be until I get the wireless system.

[RGolfJ]

I would not recommend on camera flash. Strobes yes, on camera flash for basketball a no-no.

[LarissaPhoto]

Some ref's get upset using flash in basketball. Natural light is definitely the safest way to go.

[zelseman]

Some ref's get upset using flash in basketball. Natural light or properly placed ocf is definitely the safest way to go.
Fixed it for you...

[JoePhotoOnline]

Time to get some strobes. These are shot at ISO 400 or less at F/5.6 on a 40D.



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