Help with Basketball

[EugeneC]

I have a Xsi, Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS . They dont allow flashes, I never shot a indoor event before what would suggest for my settings?

[wyofizz]

You won't have much luck with that lens and body unless you have really great lights in the gym.

[EugeneC]

Well, our gym got a grant for a makeover for new everything. And the lights are pretty bright.

[bjoynes]

Welcome to POTN EugeneC.

First off, just have fun, and take each game as a learning experience.

So lets start with the first game:
If you can get onto the court, then you most likely will want to be under the basket, or slightly to the side. If you cannot get onto the court, then get as close to the floor as you can, close to one of the corners. You will get a lot of backs, but getting great pictures right now will be difficult because of you position to shoot from, but we need for you to get experience.

You will need to get your iso as high as possible, and shoot in Av mode, keeping you lens as close to the 55 setting as possible. Try this and look at you results. You want to look at your shutter speeds with the available light, and the quality of the pictures you are getting. This will tell you if this lens is going to work. I think you will find that the shutter speed will be to low, and cause some blur or softness on the pictures. I would think it would also be best not to use the IS while shooting.

Bryn

[DC Fan]

Originally Posted by EugeneC

I have a Xsi, Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS . They dont allow flashes, I never shot a indoor event before what would suggest for my settings?

Depends on the light.



In an arena with NBA-quality lighting, using the similar 70-300mm IS USM lens on a XTi, the ISO was set at 800 and the camera was set shutter priority at 1/160.




In an older fieldhouse with dimmer lighting, the ISO was set to 1600 and the shutter speed at 1/125.

The idea is to set the camera at the fastest practical shutter speed that will produce a decently exposed image. The way that light, lenses and cameras work, the solution is to choose a high ISO and then play with the shutter speed until the results are acceptable.

[EugeneC]

Thanks guys, I will post my pictures after the game next Friday.

[ChrisK10]

I shot some basketball earlier this week with my XS. I used my 50-250mm f4.0-5.6 at ISO 1600. I kept my focal length around 100mm to keep my f/stop at 4.0. I shot on manual or aperture priority and tried to keep a 1/250 SS because anything less had too much motion blur.

Straight out of the camera (70mm f/4 1/250 ISO 1600)


After crop and lighting adjustments.


Shot Aperture priority f/4 55mm 1/80ss w/ ISO 1600

[zelseman]

Dont use pop up flash. So many smwc(soccer moms with camera) use their pop up and are disapointed immediately.

[pantherphotos]

It will be tough. Last year, I shot basketball with an XSi and a 70-300 f/4-5.6 lens. I got dismal pictures at best. I finally bought the 50mm f/1.8II (nifty fifty) lens for $85 from B&H. Being able to go down to 1.8 made it a lot better. I was able to get a shutter speed of 1/500. That made all the difference. The only problem, then, was that the nifty fifty is slow when focusing. So I missed a lot of shots from them being out of focus. But to me, it was an acceptable trade-off.

Chances are, with your set up, you won't be able to get shutter speeds much faster than 1/125 or so, which is way too slow for basketball. You want at the very least 1/400, or you will have a lot very blurry legs, hands, and basketballs.

But the big thing is, just have fun and do the best you can. It will be a learning experience, that is for sure! It is also a ton of fun; just don't let yourself get discouraged. Shoot a lot, post images here and there are plenty of people who will be glad to help you any way they can!

[DC Fan]

Originally Posted by pantherphotos

Last year, I shot basketball with an XSi and a 70-300 f/4-5.6 lens. I got dismal pictures at best....Chances are, with your set up, you won't be able to get shutter speeds much faster than 1/125 or so, which is way too slow for basketball.

More basketball with an XTi and a 70-300mm IS USM.



Focal Length: 300.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.0025 s (1/400)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO equiv: 1600
White Balance: Manual
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)




Focal Length: 160.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.0080 s (1/125)
Aperture: f/5.0
ISO equiv: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0.33
White Balance: Manual
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)




Focal Length: 300.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.0040 s (1/250)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO equiv: 1600
White Balance: Manual
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)


Had to sit in the cheap seats, but the camera and lens combination worked well. As mentioned earlier, depends on the light.

[Mike R]

IF you can afford it, get an 85 f/1.8 lens. The IQ is great. I use it in a cave that is too dark for my 70-200 without raising the ISO.It's also more affordable than a 70-200 f/2.8

[EugeneC]

Well guys, here are some of my pics feel free to say anything! I might of have to pp and forgot to crop them and set them in the right side up.






I would like to hear some feedback before tomorrow at 8 central , another game is home. Thanks!

[40Dude6aedyk]

Some feedback: Don't post sideways, uncropped pictures here. It gives me a headache. I am not prone to headaches, so it must be worse for other viewers. Have some respect for your audience. Please.

[beacherz]

What lens are you using? Can you open up the aperture a couple of stops to compensate for the underexposure? Also, try sitting under the basket, or just off to the side. Good position for drives to the basket and kick-outs from inside.

[Karl Johnston]

the new set isn't so bad but they *need* to be cropped and they *need* to be post processed. I suggest getting a copy of lightroom 3 and photoshop, though LR for sure.

A think what you need is a couple of good 580exIIs or 430ex and a 580exs if you want to get really good pictures (although I know they do not allow strobes). Composition will help too...get on the ground, don't shoot from eye level. Lay on the side (safely) behind the lines and use your zoom to capture the action at unique angles.

A good set of strobes should run less than 500 if you buy them used..get some pocketwizards to go with them and use gaffers tape to tie one to a bleacher or a wall. If you use about 10 strips of gaffers tape or so you should be able to have a secure nest hooking up the strobe.

Try experimenting with these around the gym. Most often you need to ask permission from the team or the ref or event organizers to see if it is okay. If you are being hired by the event they should be fairly reasonable or by one of the teammembers' families.

I didn't check if this was highschool, college or pro basketball but here's what I know that will ensure better pictures.

You definitely need strobes..forget good lenses and cameras...strobes strobes strobes strobes strobes and finally a way to fire the strobes (pocket wizards)