Midweek football... absolutely NO flash to be seen!

There have been a fair few threads recently debating the pros and cons of using flash for sporting events. Flash simply isn't an option at football in the UK, so here are a few from last night (at a suitably dark venue) that are totally flash free...

All at ISO3200, 1/320s at f/2.8... luvly jubbly...

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wow - you were operating at the absolute limits here. They look good considering. This is one area (and only) where the 20D I think squeeks out a little less noise. These are the conditions I would love to see a 5 D operate in and see if it really can do what it is touted to be able to do.

Yep, it really was close to being a bridge too far! ...and I kinda like the noise... it reminds me of when I used to cook rolls of TMAX 3200 (exposed at ISO12800 or so) in Microphen for 30 minutes at a time just to get an image - and boy was that image nice and grainy

---- Gavin

Gavin - I'm beginning to believe that you can shoot action sports at midnight with a torch (we Yanks call them flashlights). These are great and once again demonstrate your superb skills.

Cheers Jerry... I wish I'd had a flashlight last night... it would have made a couple of stops difference I reckon

---- Gavin

The problem I had with that stuff is I could never get the chems the right temp. and the grain would just go nuts when I tried that.... digital is a lot easier to deal with.... even without resorting to noiseware.

Great action, Gavin! Going where no 300D has gone before!

PhotosGuy wrote:
Great action, Gavin! Going where no 300D has gone before!

It's amazing what the 300D can achieve in the most demanding of conditions Frank

---- Gavin

Looks pretty good (actually great) comparing what the film iso 3200 can do....ISO 3200 is better than Nikons 1600 AND 1250 ISO belive it or not. Do you clean up your images on Neat Image or Ninja?

I have to agree with that... but I'd still like the option to shoot at ISO12800 or would I?

---- Gavin

Thanks ACDC... these are 'uncleaned' with any NR software...

---- Gavin

Great shots, Gavin. Question-----do you choose not to use noise removal, prefering the grainy look, or was this an experiment? I have been shooting my son's football (gridiron) games this year with the 70-200 2.8. The games typycally start just before dusk, then the lights (usually poor) kick on. I have had some good results until the lighting gets so tough that I go to the 85 and wait for them to come to me. But I haven't shot at 3200 yet.

Is noise removal to that degree sort of frowned on by accompished photographers? I will never use a flash at any of these games---------the last thing I want is some kid dropping a ball because I flashed him---or at least thinking that was the reason.

Great action shots at these conditions. Very good to say the least.