Newbie Looking For Gymnastics Pictures Advice...

advaitin wrote in post #15265476
Since you were on manual, you were forcing the under exposure, by selecting either of P, AV or TV you allow the camera to calculate the exposure based on the light at that moment--and it does change, especially with the fluorescents. I wouldn't go with P because the camera doesn't necessarily understand your exact needs, but the other two allow you to choose the criteria.

You didn't say if your 70-200 had IS or not, however, it is a good lens without the IS and should give you great results if you change to AV setting.

Thanks so much!!

No, the lens is not IS. Talking to the camera guy when I bought it, he said that with gym it wouldn't make much of a difference.

I went and changed my options to allow editing. Thanks so much! I need to work on my editing skills, too!

Someone mentioned the f/1.8 alternative of the 85mm - depending upon how close you are to the action, that might be an alternative. I shoot basketball with the 85/1.8 and find that the image quality is good enough to crop to ~4x.

I typically use Tv, 1/640 to 1/800, ISO 1600 or 3200 ... depending upon the gym lighting.

Content warning: script

Depending on your age and experience with cameras, it does make a difference with Image stabilization when you start shooting in the telephoto range. Among us old still photographers the rule of thumb was to always try to shoot with a shutter speed to match our lens length. At 200mm, be at 1/200s or faster to avoid shake or body tremor.

Now, I adjusted your other image. I used a less expensive program called ACDSee Pro 6. It contains all the tools necessary to do the kinds of adjustments you need, plus it is a heck of a browser. I used the exposure control in development mode to correct a mere .47 EV, then shadow to lighten the suit. I resized so you could see it better but that is not a good step with such a small image.

Next to it is a shot of mine taken with a 1D Mark III and a 200mm L IS f2 lens. The exposure was ISO 1600, f2.2 @ 1/250s, with Program mode. You can see that the camera isn't as concerned about blur, but I was still able to freeze the gymnast. No cropping to this shot. Your lens could do the same at 3200 and f2.8.

I often use a monopod as an assist for steadiness and probably did so with either or both lenses I used that day. I used fixed focal length lenses because I have a bit more freedom to move, although I don't move much, mainly to get away from parents blocking my view (as soon as I set up, they get in front of me with their itty-bitty pocket cameras and try to shoot what they think I'm shooting). A Photog vest and at least one camera with white lens and a monopod is tantamount to being local press.
I don't use flash or supplementary light. Without help, it would be too burdensome..

There is always an angle to shoot from to get something. Often enough you'll find the action goes away from you or a routine does not face you. You have to take what you can get. The one thing that I have brought with me, once I was familiar with our local venue, was a portable aluminum stepladder. If you get against a wall behind the parents and set up with both legs against the wall, you can get above the heads of the onlookers. Having that vest and the white lens gives you much latitude as long as you are quiet about it.

(Tagging onto this thread to avoid starting a redundant thread)

We helped out at a grandkid's rhythmic gymnastics event this past weekend and I got to try taking a few photos of her events. 60D with the 18-135 kit lens. Had to bump the iso all the way to 6400 and set the shutter at 1/160 to get a clear enough image. Handheld or braced on a chairback, and timing the shutter release at her stationary moments or timing the shot to try and hit the apex of her leaps or jumps. Not too many really blurry shots, most were acceptable for family memories to capture the event. Some I was zoomed out past 100mm, others I was almost at the 18mm wide end. I played around with the reach and it seems like an 85mm might almost be too long, and not sure if a 70-200 would help much beyond the f-stop factor. Lots to learn and figure out.

treebound wrote in post #16734229
(Tagging onto this thread to avoid starting a redundant thread)

We helped out at a grandkid's rhythmic gymnastics event this past weekend and I got to try taking a few photos of her events. 60D with the 18-135 kit lens. Had to bump the iso all the way to 6400 and set the shutter at 1/160 to get a clear enough image. Handheld or braced on a chairback, and timing the shutter release at her stationary moments or timing the shot to try and hit the apex of her leaps or jumps. Not too many really blurry shots, most were acceptable for family memories to capture the event. Some I was zoomed out past 100mm, others I was almost at the 18mm wide end. I played around with the reach and it seems like an 85mm might almost be too long, and not sure if a 70-200 would help much beyond the f-stop factor. Lots to learn and figure out.

You really need a fast prime. The 85 1.8 has the double advantage of being fast focusing and sharp. The 50 primes all have issues but maybe a 50 1.4 would work.

I found the 85 1.8 image thread and it looks good. I might have some concern with shallow depth of field wide open but that is something I could learn to adjust for. Plus the extra speed could be useful for other grandkid indoor sports if it isn't too long for the small court sideline seating.