Canon 40D and soccer shots

Hi Guys/Gals,

I'm new here and yes this is my first post. I thought this would be the best place to post this question and ask for help.

I have recently been given a Canon 40D. Hardly used. Only 3500 shots. A brand new 28-135 Canon lens and some other goodies.

I am trying to capture my kids playing soccer but its coming up blurry.

Can someone please help me out here?

What settings should I be at or have it on?

AI Servo or AI Focus?

Please if someone could point me in the right direction/step by step outline to help me out it would be awesome.

I want to capture them moving, I.e. shooting at the net etc...but everytime I can't figure it out, it always comes out blurry.

Thank you.

Donnieboy wrote in post #14187251
Hi Guys/Gals,

I'm new here and yes this is my first post. I thought this would be the best place to post this question and ask for help.

I have recently been given a Canon 40D. Hardly used. Only 3500 shots. A brand new 28-135 Canon lens and some other goodies.

I am trying to capture my kids playing soccer but its coming up blurry.

Can someone please help me out here?

What settings should I be at or have it on?

AI Servo or AI Focus?

Please if someone could point me in the right direction/step by step outline to help me out it would be awesome.

I want to capture them moving, I.e. shooting at the net etc...but everytime I can't figure it out, it always comes out blurry.

Thank you.

AI servo but chances are your shutter speed is too low, post a pic.
the faster the shutter speed the sharper the shots

XSi (450D)
Canon 55-250IS
1/1000 shutter speed

Thanks for the reply.

Don't have a pic on me. But if I can explain in words, its BLURRY.

I need to learn how to play with the ISO for sure as well then it sounds in order to get the lighting and shutter speed faster.

What is the ball park shutter speed I should be using you think?

Donnieboy wrote in post #14187317
Thanks for the reply.

Don't have a pic on me. But if I can explain in words, its BLURRY.

I need to learn how to play with the ISO for sure as well then it sounds in order to get the lighting and shutter speed faster.

What is the ball park shutter speed I should be using you think?

at least 1/1000, preferably higher. increase the ISO to 400 or whatever it takes to get a fast shutter speed to freeze the action

As others have said, you should be at least 1/1000. Use as shallow depth of field as your lens will give you and adjust iso as needed. AI servo is also your best bet at following the action.

Donnieboy wrote in post #14187317
Thanks for the reply.

Don't have a pic on me. But if I can explain in words, its BLURRY.

I need to learn how to play with the ISO for sure as well then it sounds in order to get the lighting and shutter speed faster.

What is the ball park shutter speed I should be using you think?

There are different kinds of blur. One kind is caused by camera shake. Or it could be because the subject is moving during the exposure. Or maybe it is a focus issue.

You should try putting your camera into TV mode, set a shutter speed of at least 1/1000. You may need to increase your aperture a bit.

When it's sunny & bright I shoot with AV mode @ wide open, metering mode @ multi-segment and ISO at 100-200. My camera settings are AF servo on Hi-speed continuous and center point focus.

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Here is some soccer with my 40D and 70-200
Manual at 2.8 with the sun behind me.

What seems to work for me is that I always sit as low as I can to get the best results.