Panning

What is your favourite aperture to use when panning athletes running/skating?
I've been using f2.8 lately and the success rate is low.

I would guess a smaller aperture would be easier to do while panning. Especially if the object you're trying to shoot is moving closer or farther away from you while you're panning. My guess is that f/8 or smaller would probably work better.

CameraMan wrote in post #17339212
I would guess a smaller aperture would be easier to do while panning. Especially if the object you're trying to shoot is moving closer or farther away from you while you're panning. My guess is that f/8 or smaller would probably work better.

Totally agree - f/2.8 is far too wide. As you are panning with the subject, you don't need to think about limiting the depth of field, as everything other than the subject will be blurred anyway.

figo wrote in post #17339209
What is your favourite aperture to use when panning athletes running/skating?
I've been using f2.8 lately and the success rate is low.

An aperture of f/2.8 should pose no problems. These images used f/2.8.

IMAGE LINK: http://i1174.photobuck​et.com …a99301110_zps56​662e53.jpg

IMAGE LINK: http://i1174.photobuck​et.com …0223c0034_zpsc4​7482d3.jpg

figo wrote in post #17339209
What is your favourite aperture to use when panning athletes running/skating?
I've been using f2.8 lately and the success rate is low.

It would be a lot easier if you posted an image of one of your "failures" and explained to us what it is you actually want to achieve.

What shutter speed are you using? Are you using a lens with IS?

Here is an example.

Camera Settings
f5.0 1/20 400mm ISO 100

1/20 and I'm using no IS but do have the ability to do so.

figo wrote in post #17350886
Here is an example.

Camera Settings
f5.0 1/20 400mm ISO 100

Excellent background motion at 1/20. I would try a fast shutter (1/40 - 1/60). I noticed my 1/30 keeper rate is much less than 1/50 or 1/60. I can't even imagine how I would do at 1/20. I think the shutter speed is what's important when panning as a blurred f/22 still makes for a very nice panning shot as long as the shutter is slowed down to show the motion.

The effect DOF has on a photo shouldn't differ between a panning shot and a stationary shot for the majority of shots. That is to say, that if you have sufficient DOF to meet your subject focus requirements while the subject is stationary it should be sufficient while panning with the subject moving.

The one catch to this would be that depending on the speed and direction that the subject is traveling, relative to the direction you are panning, it is possible for certain faster subjects to exit the range of acceptable focus when using a slower SS. Generally though, the faster the subject the faster the SS even when panning.

So to answer the OP's question directly. When taking panning shots I am most concerned with getting a SS that is just fast enough to eliminate the motion blur of my subject, but slow enough to allow the relative motion of the background to blur. Once I have this identified what I use for my aperture is dictated by the selected SS and my ISO requirements.