Hockey with 7d at ISO 6400

Alright got tired of trying to get cleaner shots with a lower shutter speed. I'm still struggling to get the shots I want. I'm trying different spots along the glass but still not sure. I mostly stick along the corners.

So the lighting at my rink must be bad because I'm at ISO 6400 f 2.8 and 1/640 for a shutter speed. Which is still slightly underexposed. All shot in jpeg as well.

Anyways let me know what you think.

1.

Good captures- I like the first one the best.

Just wondering, do you spot meter when shooting hockey?

Thanks, Nope just set everything in manual. White balance was set to auto.

Hey Travis,

Well done! Great stuff you're putting up.
Considering the action and lighting, don't be hard on yourself or your equipment.

Here are my thoughts/questions.

So, questions:
Are you on a monopod or tripod for these?
Are you using your 70-200? With the IS on, or off?
Are these paid shoots, or for fun, or for a minimal return?

And my thoughts:
If I were to shoot this type of sport, without flash, I'd use a two camera setup.

The 5D2 (shooting in RAW!) on a tripod with your 70-200mm @f/2.8 (IS off), probably ISO 3200 or lower, in order to force a slightly lower shutter speed, which in turn would result in some nice background blur. This should work for taking "nice, swooping shots" where the players are skating side-by-side with a 'fairly' predictible path of motion, ideally parallel to your position.

And the 7D, on a monopod, with your 85mm @1.8, shooting in RAW(!), with as low an ISO as I could manage for "grab the moment" shots. OK, so without the zoom, you'll be limited to how far away the "action" is, but in a game, a LOT happens, so you should aim to get each player doing something funky, as well-framed as possible, with the prime lens.

Don't forget that a LOT of pros use fixed focal length "mega"-primes, like the 200Lf2, because they NEED the larger aperture due to poor lighting. But with enough keepers, they can pick and choose their favourites.

Regards for now,

Simon

Thanks Simon!

All shots are hand held and pressed up against the glass. I turn the IS off as it doesn't help and saves on battery life.

Well last year the team paid me to get an action shot of each player. They were happy with the results and asked me to do it again this year. This is the only paid job I've ever done. I was already there taking the pictures of their team anyways haha.

I could try the 135 f2 or 85 1.8 and go to ISO 3200 or a little lower maybe. The zoom is soo convenient though!

I think these are great shots, well done!

The only thing I see as wrong is girls playing hockey!

Paxonator wrote in post #15364538
Thanks Simon!

All shots are hand held and pressed up against the glass. I turn the IS off as it doesn't help and saves on battery life.

Well last year the team paid me to get an action shot of each player. They were happy with the results and asked me to do it again this year. This is the only paid job I've ever done. I was already there taking the pictures of their team anyways haha.

I could try the 135 f2 or 85 1.8 and go to ISO 3200 or a little lower maybe. The zoom is soo convenient though!

Yep...I fully understand your comment!

BUT, you need speed! And that extra 1 1/3 stops will make a big difference.

Also, I'd strongly recommend a two-camera setup, on a tripod/monopod.
Three reasons:
1) NOT changing lenses makes a lot of sense at a game with fast action,
2) you'll pretty-much eliminate all camera shake,
and, 3) you're going to look a lot more like a pro'!

This last point could help you to gain a better reputation irrespective of how many photos you sell!
And that could help you save for a 1DIV or 1DX!!!

Regards for now,
Simon

skygod44 wrote in post #15364567
Yep...I fully understand your comment!
And that could help you save for a 1DIV or 1DX!!!

Regards for now,
Simon

Haha I would sure like the 1D IV but I've already blown enough money in my 2 1/2 years since I started .

I'll use the 85 or 135 next time and see what happens. I tried the 5d mII while my 7d was away but found that only using the center point for focusing was a pain. I like to use the top left or right focus points and track their faces.

Paxonator wrote in post #15364593
Haha I would sure like the 1D IV but I've already blown enough money in my 2 1/2 years since I started .

(Sorry...had to teach a class!)

Me too! But I've still managed to sneak a second 7D body, Sigma 17-50 and Sigma 85 f/1.4 "under the radar"!
The only purchase Missus Skygod knows about is my 70-200L, as it's so different to my 100-400L, I knew I couldn't get away with it!!!
Hahahahaha!!!!

So, the 5D2 centre AF point should be OK if you're tracking, for example, 2 players after the same puck, skating parallel to your position.
Give it a go!

And I'll say again, two-bodies-for-different-shots really would make your life so much easier.

Cheers for now,

Simon

Yeah, as someone who has shot a ton of hockey, using a tripod to shoot hockey is just not feasible. Monopod yes, tripod, no. You often don't have enough room in the first row of a bigger arena to set up a tripod, or it would not be allowed, plus you need to get the lens as close to the glass as possible, which you can't easily do if on a tripod. Most games I shoot from down low, I am equipped with my 1D MK IV and only my 70-200. This allows me to get wide enough for shots close to net and close enough to isolate players as needed with zoom.

As to lighting, local minor hockey rinks are often horrible for light. 4000-6400 ISO is not uncommon. Shoot as wide open as you want, keep shutter at 1/500 or higher depending on age group and speed of game, don't use IS, and ensure your AF settings are on centre point (or sometimes I'll use the double points just above the centre point), AI servo, etc.

And if you are not doing so, learn how to use the back * button to engage the AF. It makes a ton of difference and once you get the hang of it, you'l never go back.

skygod44 wrote in post #15364567
Yep...I fully understand your comment!

BUT, you need speed! And that extra 1 1/3 stops will make a big difference.

Also, I'd strongly recommend a two-camera setup, on a tripod/monopod.
Three reasons:
1) NOT changing lenses makes a lot of sense at a game with fast action,
2) you'll pretty-much eliminate all camera shake,
and, 3) you're going to look a lot more like a pro'!

This last point could help you to gain a better reputation irrespective of how many photos you sell!
And that could help you save for a 1DIV or 1DX!!!

Regards for now,
Simon

cstewart wrote in post #15364909
Yeah, as someone who has shot a ton of hockey, using a tripod to shoot hockey is just not feasible. Monopod yes, tripod, no. You often don't have enough room in the first row of a bigger arena to set up a tripod, or it would not be allowed, plus you need to get the lens as close to the glass as possible, which you can't easily do if on a tripod. Most games I shoot from down low, I am equipped with my 1D MK IV and only my 70-200. This allows me to get wide enough for shots close to net and close enough to isolate players as needed with zoom.

As to lighting, local minor hockey rinks are often horrible for light. 4000-6400 ISO is not uncommon. Shoot as wide open as you want, keep shutter at 1/500 or higher depending on age group and speed of game, don't use IS, and ensure your AF settings are on centre point (or sometimes I'll use the double points just above the centre point), AI servo, etc.

And if you are not doing so, learn how to use the back * button to engage the AF. It makes a ton of difference and once you get the hang of it, you'l never go back.

Thanks for adding the additional info'!
I was thinking of what we do have, ie soccer, rugby, baseball, etc.
Here, in southern Japan we don't have ANY ice-hockey, so I'd missed the point that there's protective screens!


Regards for now...
Simon

They look great, but I would take the 135 at f/2 over shooting at 6400 with the 7D I think. I'd also suggest shooting in RAW because you'll have more recoverable image information to work with. Great work on the action.

I find when I use the center point for focusing the framing is not as great for my photos. I need to crop more to get the photo I want. Do you think the center point would help that much for focusing?

Also I can shoot from pretty much wherever I want at the glass in the rink. I bought a little rubber hood so I can press up against the glass keeping the reflections minimal. Of course when the action approaches the glass I back off.

I normally shoot raw but my hard drive has taken a beating over the last couple of years!! So for sports I've started shooting jpeg.

On my phone at least, these look pretty good. I run a rebel T2i and a 7d but only one at a time...

The glass in my barn is very very bad so I generally shoot over it from the red line. It's old school size (85 x 185 not 200) so there isn't any space between benches. I'm across ice by the penalty boxes...

We also have seating in the corners for handicap access so I'm limited to behind the goal on one end but have the full width on the other....

Most times I don't get one or two players out in the open, but in gangs. I suspect primarily because of the smaller ice. You did real well here with that...

Again, good shots!

Good shots, especially being hand-held. I like the first one best. I use a tripod to try to get the shutter speed higher and try to overexpose, and shoot RAW to allow for more PP'ing.