1st HS Fball 2005

[fortinaa]

Well, I've got another few weeks where the games that start at 7pm will still have enough light to shoot. This came from the 300F4IS at ISO400. I was only able to use it for about 1/2hr before going to the 70-200 2.8. Comments welcome. Oh, and I had a heck of a time with the camera misfocusing on other players even using center point focus. Is this more common than I am aware? If need be, I can post some examples.
http://www.msu.edu/~akinsreb/IMG_9188web.jpg

[fortinaa]

Here's another decent shot


http://www.msu.edu/~akinsreb/tackle.jpg

[Croasdail]

Good shots....

As far as the 20D and the missed players - pretty dang common. I will shoot a 3 frame burst with center only focus point and AI Servo, and two will be of the intended player and the third will jump to the next player - or back and forth. I am getting better at it. To see what exactly is going on use the image view included with the camera and turn on the focus points...you'll be able to see what the camera saw and thought you wanted. The more stable you are, ie using a mono or tripode, this will drop. You only have to wiggle just so much with a lens at 200 for it to pick up the wrong subject.

But overall - looks like you had fun! I shoot my first American Football game tomorrow night and I am nervous as all heck. Cheers!

[fortinaa]

I had a great time, and look forward to getting on the sidelines in the coming weeks. I think with tighter shots, there will be less chance for missed focus. For some reason, these shots aren't even all that clean at ISO400... Also, they looked much better in PS than when I uploaded them to the web. That has never been an issue before, but they just seem "duller". Anyhow, I found an 85 1.8 that will arrive next week. So, hopefully I'll see what that can do too!

[HJMinard]

Nice shots, Aaron! Looks like Warren Fitzgerald vs. .... maybe Madison Hts Lamphere?

[cargo123]

Oh, and I had a heck of a time with the camera misfocusing on other players even using center point focus. Is this more common than I am aware? If need be, I can post some examples.

I have been using the 70-200 IS USM for kids baseball and softball. I have the same problem. I haven't been using a momo pod. I just bought one the other day. If I try to focus on the batter from a distance, I get the background fence in focus. I get frustrated because 50% of my pictures are blury when action is invovled.
I would love to get some clear shots like yours. Nice action, colorful, sharp. Nice Job.