Advice needed Major League Soccer + 5D II

I'll be shooting a series of games behind the net. Well not directly behind, but off to the side. I usually shoot events, pj, etc so this is new and failure is not an option.

I wish I could use the various focus points on the 5D II but need to stick to the center point for obvious reasons. I'll shoot a little wide to leave a some room for cropping since the main subject will be in the middle - no time to lock and recompose. How's this sound?

Gear: 5D II, Canon 70-200 f/2.8, Canon Grip with 2 batteries (higher FPS)

Camera setting - this is where I can use advice:
mode: manual
shutter speed 1/2000+ 1/3200 minimum?
f/2.8 to f/4 -
ISO - dunno - low as possible
Autofocus - AI SERVO
Continuous shooting mode
JPG (for faster FPS)

I can imagine the shoot will involve 99.99% of inactivity - maybe some crowd shots, punctuated by .01% of furious shooting as the players approach the net.

Thanks for the help!

Is this paid work? I only ask because if it is, 70-200, especially on a FF camera, is going to be very limiting. The field is huge.

Its tough to shoot soccer with only a 200mm lens on a FF body. Can you rent a converter? As for camera setting. Manual. Unless you have some quickly changing lighting conditions spend some time dialing in the manual exposure so that you dont have to be concerned with a white or black jersey screwing with your metering when you will be all worried about focus.

elrey2375 wrote in post #14292717
Is this paid work? I only ask because if it is, 70-200, especially on a FF camera, is going to be very limiting. The field is huge.

Good point - but I'm only going after shots of players at the goal. I was told that 70-200 is good for this purpose. Thanks.

ilikeglass wrote in post #14292856
Good point - but I'm only going after shots of players at the goal. I was told that 70-200 is good for this purpose. Thanks.

Were you told by anyone who had actually shot soccer with a full frame camera? The width of a field is more than you would imagine, and you may go an entire game without a close in shot.

I wish I had a 300 for shots inside the penalty area on a 1.3 crop body. Remember you are another 10-15 yards behind the goal line at some stadiums because of the advertising boards and the space in front of them.

gonzogolf wrote in post #14292890
Were you told by anyone who had actually shot soccer with a full frame camera? The width of a field is more than you would imagine, and you may go an entire game without a close in shot.

I wrote: "I can imagine the shoot will involve 99.99% of inactivity - maybe some crowd shots, punctuated by .01% of furious shooting as the players approach the net. "

I hear what you're saying but I need to get the few key players - close shots at the goal on defensive side. True, I could be SOOL

I could rent a a 400mm but the shots probably won't be of use. Any comments on the camera settings/mode? Is 1/2000 enough?

1/2000 is crazy overkill.

ilikeglass wrote in post #14292621
I'll be shooting a series of games behind the net. Well not directly behind, but off to the side. I usually shoot events, pj, etc so this is new and failure is not an option.

I wish I could use the various focus points on the 5D II but need to stick to the center point for obvious reasons. I'll shoot a little wide to leave a some room for cropping since the main subject will be in the middle - no time to lock and recompose. How's this sound?

Gear: 5D II, Canon 70-200 f/2.8, Canon Grip with 2 batteries (higher FPS)

Camera setting - this is where I can use advice:
mode: manual
shutter speed 1/2000+ 1/3200 minimum?
f/2.8 to f/4 -
ISO - dunno - low as possible
Autofocus - AI SERVO
Continuous shooting mode
JPG (for faster FPS)

I can imagine the shoot will involve 99.99% of inactivity - maybe some crowd shots, punctuated by .01% of furious shooting as the players approach the net.

Thanks for the help!

You don't need a shutter speed of that much. I shot an amateur match last year and I regularly shot at least 1/250 to 1/500th sec and ISO 400. Aperture is dependant on what you want your depth of field or bokeh (though I don't think bokeh would be good in a footie match...oops soccer), but I would try starting at f/4.0, though you can go down to f/5.6

If you get good exposure on your first few RAW, then shoot .jpg
Yup, AF drive should be on AI Servo. Continuous mode, yup.

Since you will be near the net, you should have another camera with another short focal length i.e. 24-70mm, though one as wide a possible is good (celebration shots are good)

I forgot to mention that this would be the case if you are shooting in daylight that my advice would be correct, haven't shot with floodlight, though that depends on how well it is lit up

Can you post some of your shots from that match you shot from 1/250th to 1/500th?

ajaffe wrote in post #14300087
Can you post some of your shots from that match you shot from 1/250th to 1/500th?

yeah, that seems low. 1/2000 might be overkill but 1/500 will have blur almost definitely. I don't think 1/2000 is overkill if it's daylight.

I shoot my two sons soccer (U13 and U9) with a 40D and 70-200 f2.8. I find I need 1/1000 or faster. I think you should be ok with that lens if you're sticking to action shots in the goal square.

For the U9 on smaller pitch the 70-200 on a crop is fine. On a full size pitch the lens is way too short. I could really do with 400 mm of reach.

ajaffe wrote in post #14300087
Can you post some of your shots from that match you shot from 1/250th to 1/500th?

Take one to three pages back from here and you will see a sample

I had good light, and yes it was a Canon 50D.....so what, it shouldn't matter because exposure has nothing to do with the body

https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=14300750#po​st14300750

elrey2375 wrote in post #14300195
yeah, that seems low. 1/2000 might be overkill but 1/500 will have blur almost definitely. I don't think 1/2000 is overkill if it's daylight.

Not really, are you one of these posters on here that tend to disagree with me all the time no matter what?