Shot a Swim meet today, not happy with results. Suggestions - 3 photos

[EricKonieczny]

I went to a swim meet today and as I was shooting I knew I was having a problem. It was indoors, so the lighting was not great.

I might be missing something real easy that would make my shots better, but thats why I am here asking.

Here are the setting I used mainly

20D with 70-200, 2.8 IS
ISO 800
f 2.8-5
Partial metering
Shutter speeds 200-500
AI Servo
Manual
usually 150-200,mm
Custom WB with a white paper.


I played around with higher shutter speeds like 640, which helped stop motion but images were darker.

When I was using a the faster shutter speeds with f2.8, the aperture was too large and the depth of field was too small, but this was the only way to gte fast shuttter speeds.

I tried the 580 flash, but the Flash was pretty useless since I was already shooting at 150- 200 mm.


Why is it not possible for them to make AF assist beam emit in AI servo? possible

Here are three images. these are the better ones. Feel free to do anything with them.

Thanks


1/400sec
ISO 800
f 3.5
70mm


http://www.ekreating.com/images/swim1.jpg


1/250
2.8
ISO 800
200mm
http://www.ekreating.com/images/swim2.jpg


1/640
f2.8
ISO 800
173 mm
http://www.ekreating.com/images/swim3.jpg

[mgbeach]

The last one is the money shot. You might want to try a square crop taking off the top and bottom.

[DavidEB]

they're good, especially the last.

ISO1600. on the 20D you'll not notice the noise and your shots will be crisper.

try ISO3200 with noise reduction software like neat image.