Amateur MMA/Kickboxing (CC Welcomed)

Some highlights from a local amateur fight card I shot this last Saturday.

This time round there were no additional lights so we had to make due with the florescent's attached to the roof that were mostly covered by "artistic" black drapes. Really had to push the ISO to keep my shutter speeds up. But you know what they say, you can work with noise in post, but you can't do anything about blur. I did the best I could with the environment I had to work with. Still have a Lot to learn, but I'm over all happy as this is only the 4th card I've shot.

Thanks for taking a look. Any and all questions or CC are always welcome!
I'm really trying to get really good at this, so harsh is fine by me as long as you give me something I can take away from it.

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Looks good to me for sure, I would at all cost keep that shutter at or above 1/1000th and I know that lighting can get bad. Even at the big shows 1/1000 isnt always going to happen but rent faster lens. The 135 F2 does great.

1/1000th+ was my goal when I got there. On their last card they had direct overhead lighting that is somewhat better. This time it was a no go and made the made choice to drop the shutter. Lesson learned. Lol. Thank you for the advise. With a 135 f/2 on one body, what would you go with on a second body? At some of these shows, I'm almost tempted to just go with a 50mm f/1.2 and take what I can get.

In hind sight, I probably should have pushed the ISO even higher to keep the SS at 1/1000.

I only have one body, and I cover Bellator, Lion Fights, Glory, and some local stuff. You just gotta be ready I guess. I love the 70-200 and I used a 24-70 real fast but a 35 1.4 would be nice or that 135mm. But I would go wide fast prime on one body and Tele on the other if I could.

Nice! I'd love to work any of those events! Hopefully one day!
Out of curiosity, who are you shooting for when you're covering the pro shows?
And now that you mention it, I remember you posting a thread that I commented in where you were shooting cage side at Bellator. Those shots were outstanding!
I rented a 6D just to see how it would hold up. Nice camera, but I'll not be renting one of them again for fast action.

If you don't mind me picking your brain a little, how are you locking in your focus? I've been having a hard time keeping the fighter who is facing me in focus. Are you using specific AF points or are you manually focusing?

Thanks again, Russell.

Thanks for the kind works.

To start off I shoot for a local Blog out of San Diego that are in tight with them so that helped out alot getting into shows. I wouldn't touch a 6D just wont, Im not a Full Frame only type of person but you kinda have to have one to shoot any combat sport at the best level. My 1D Mark IV does great but still cropped. I always use back button AF with one point where I want the image to be in focus at. Also I know this is said alot but knowing the sport is huge, I used to train for a few years and watch it all the time so its helps out alot. I also have never done MF though there is one guy who I have shot with who has from time to time with ultra wide when they are super close.

Yeah man, I get really geeky about this stuff so I appreciate you taking the time.
I got my in with a few different promoters here since I use to fight on their cards. Lol. So in that regard, I'm pretty familiar with the sport.
Never again will I touch a 6D for this again. I went for the cheaper camera to rent. I should have spent the extra $10 a day for a 5Diii at the very least. All a learning process and I payed that price. Haha

Okay, I'm back button focusing as well but I've been using a single point with the expanded surrounding points active to help. I'll go back and try a single point again.
Where are you putting the AF point? On their chest to get a better composition? When I'm shooting through the cage it's so dark that focus just keeps hunting. I was having better success shooting over the top of the cage.

Again, thank you. I'm shooting another card in November and the IBJJF Seattle open next month. I'll be putting your advise to work.

I allways keep the point on the face, I dont have the same system with group on the 1D Mark IV as you do on the 5D3, but your photos are saying 1DX, So I only have one point on the face at all times. I have never had any problem really with hunting more or less hitting the cage and that comes down to lens choice, making sure can be held close to the cage but still focus close so it can go right past the cage.

Sorry, I'm shooting a 1Dx. I was thinking I should have rented a 5D3.
Gotcha. I was having issues with hunting for focus both with the 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 while having the lens hood right on the cage. So I don't know what's going on there.

Is there a go to AF point that you like to use or are you constantly switching the AF point around as the fighters are moving around the cage/ring?

Moving it around like crazy, one reason why I love Canon is for that Joystick where my thumb lives while shooting Combat

Matt_Ferris wrote in post #17721993
almost tempted to just go with a 50mm f/1.2 and take what I can get.

AF of the 50 could be too slow for MMA.. The 85 1.2L II is probably better for sports..

AF of the 50? That 85 is the slowest AF of any lens I have ever used on any system.

on the 85 1.2 II, the new one, problem is solved.. anyway 85 1.8 and sigma 1.4 are ok for sports

RussellJ wrote in post #17722735
Moving it around like crazy, one reason why I love Canon is for that Joystick where my thumb lives while shooting Combat

Seems like that would keep your thumb pretty busy, and off the focus button??

Good to know. I may have to see about renting some really fast primes for the next card I'm shooting in November. Thank you guys for the insight.