Designated photographer for Robotics competition...

Hi! This is my first post so if it is in the wrong section, I beg forgiveness.

Now, a preamble: My husband bought my a Canon T2i for my birthday a few weeks ago and as a result, I am obsessed with taking photos. He and I are mentors for a school's robotics team and we are heading to Las Vegas for a high school robotics competition. The kids, in their effort to support my newfound hobby have elected me to take some pictures for their website and the high school's newspaper.

Anyways. I have a camera. I have the following lenses:

10-22mm f/3.5-4.5
18-55mm IS kit lens that came with the body
55-250mm IS kit lens that came with the body
50mm f1.8

The competition will be held in an indoor convention center (low lighting) and features robots competing in a game of 3 on 3 basketball game. I have access to the pits on the floor to watch the game. I'm gonna venture the guess that the 55-250 will be the best bet to have on me, but would love some reassurance! I will also be taking team pictures as well.

I thought the sports talk might be the best section since you have experience with fast moving things in low light settings, but I will gladly delete these and repost in a more appropriate forum!

On an irrelevant note, which one of these will be the best for walking around on the strip? Yes, I have a tripod for the neato night pictures of Las Vegas.

Welcome to POTN!

Can you give us a little more information on these robots? How fast do they move? Do they have any lights or any reflective materials on them?

A T2i can be persuaded to handle low-light events in a credible manner with what would be considered a "slow" lens. Images from a T2i:

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ZXDrew wrote in post #14215742
Welcome to POTN!

Can you give us a little more information on these robots? How fast do they move? Do they have any lights or any reflective materials on them?

Hi guys! Thank you for your responses

The robots aren't very speedy. I think their top speeds are about 10MPH but they aren't rated on speed as they are on the accuracy of tossing the basketballs and balance. They don't have any lights/reflectors. The robots are about 4 ft x 2 x 3.

I've had two son's compete with VEX and have accompanied them to World twice. Each time it was a bit different setup. In Dallas they were very strict who got in the pits and I could not secure credentials so I shot everything from the bleachers with a 70-200 f/2.8. That competition was in the Dallas Convention Center and lighting was ok. The second time the Worlds were at Orlando and I was able to get credentials. So I only used a 24-70 f/2.8. Depending on your lighting your current lens should could freeze the robots. Your best be will be to use the 20 1.8, set the aperture to f/2 and see were that gets you.

BUT, after you get a few good shots of the bot, most of your photography will be of the students...at least it was for me.

thank you guys so much!!

FIRST ROBOTICS FRC REBOUND RUMBLE!!!!!!!....TEAM 549...THE DEVIL DAWGS!!!!!....the robots aren't fast but the shooting is......ill post some of mine here.!!!

This is High School? I would have loved this stuff in high school.

The closest I got was putting together a Heath Kit in my basement.