A80 shots for basketball game!!!

I have had the A80 for about two weeks now, and I am loving it. One of the only drawbacks so far is that I am having trouble shooting shots inside of the gym at my school. I'm at a university so we have a big gym and I want to be able to shoot action shots such as a basketball game. I'm just learning about the controls of the camera, so I think I need someone to lead me in the right direction as far as which settings I need. I tried using manual mode 1/125 with f 2.8 at 400 speed. But then the pictures were too dark. I just need some help on some basics for the settings on my camera and specifically for shooting indoor activities such as basketball. Thanks a lot!!!

Well at 400 and f2.8 thats the most it can open up. the only variable left would be the shutter speed, and the longer it stays open the 'blurier' the picture.

It's alot worse at night, here's one i tried:
http://a70.fotopic.net​/photo.php?id=1062751

U'll notice the grain and under-exposure.

Sounds like you need to add a powerful external flash - see this thread for details of how to do it.
https://photography-on-the.net …wthread.php?t=1​2203#62373

I've noticed that it doesn't effect things to far away with the standard flash.

How far can the externals get to?

Purely depends on the power of your external flash gun. Mine will reach 100 feet with A70 set to 1/250 sec f2.8 ISO 50 or 25 feet at 1/1250 sec f8. I can just reach 300 feet at ISO 400 1/60 sec f4.8 (full optical zoom) But the image needs some post processing and isn't good! All shots taken on manual with camera's flash gun set to minimum power.

BTW IN Ephesus this summer I noticed the flash fired every time I walked from the shade into the sun!

Won't this powerfull flash be anoying to the players?

Could be - who knows? It's no more powerful than the ones that press photographers use. I guess one has to get permission and stop if it does annoy. Common courtesy really.

If you can improve the brightness of the initial shot somewhat with your flash, then you may be able to adjust the brightness a bit more when you edit the image to get the outcome you desire. Keep shooting and have fun.