Ice Hockey Over the Hols

First two games I've shot since moving up to a 70-200L IS over my old Sigma. Some subtle differences to get used to. Does anyone use the IS at higher shutter speeds?

All pictures were taken through the glass. EXIF will still be available in the originals.

C&C most welcome.

Scott

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Wow! These are really great! They really pop.

scott wiggins wrote in post #2453856
Does anyone use the IS at higher shutter speeds?

No -- My 70 - 200 tends to lock up all too often especially at higher shutter speeds so I seldom if ever use IS for action shots. This happens to be an anomaly of some copies of this lens but mine didn't act up until after the one year warranty expired. You might want to test yours extensively during the warranty period just in case you got a bad copy too -- I hear that the repair is a bit expensive.

BTW good pics for a difficult sport to shoot. Excellent colors, good exposure and nice tight crops.

Great shots, and obviously very clean glass.

Jerry, has that been reported here or elsewhere, the locking problem?

I've never heard of that. Can you explain what you mean by the lens "locking"? Does the camera lock up? Does the lens cease to focus?

I use IS all the time; never turn it off, and have never had a problem.

mark

that goalie shot is really, really good.

no, I don't use IS. I figure if the shutter speed is high enough, I don't need it.

Well Done!! All are Top Shelf!!

MDJAK wrote in post #2454068
Jerry, has that been reported here or elsewhere, the locking problem?

I've never heard of that. Can you explain what you mean by the lens "locking"? Does the camera lock up? Does the lens cease to focus?

I use IS all the time; never turn it off, and have never had a problem.

mark

Mark - It was a problem specific to some copies of the lens sold about three years ago and I'm not sure where I read discussions about it -- probably on Rob Galbraith forums. I was shooting a soccer match one day when it first happened to me -- got an error code 99 as I recall. Nothing worked and I had to turn the camera off, remove the lens, replace it and then turn the camera back on before I could shoot again. Later I read on a forum somewhere that some copies of the lens had the problem and this was the only fix that worked. It really got to be PITA with mine and the fix not only took a bit of time but also exposed the sensor to dust. At a game one night I asked a PJ friend if he had heard of the problem and he was well aware of it -- seemed to be common at the time. I got so tired of it happening to me that I seldom use IS on that lens any more and never to shoot action sports unless I'm prepared to go through the fix when it locks up.

If you shoot with IS on all the time you probably have a good copy and there's nothing to worry about.

Yes. You can still have camera shake that affects the image. It might not do it as drastically, but it will contribute to a softer image. It helps correct that when you handhold. So i find it useful. Maybe not at 1/5000, but around 1/800, I have seen where its been handy.

Nice shots Scott especially number 2. No surprise the Vipers get involved in the rough stuff.

Now I can see what I should be able to get out of the 70-200 (and don't use IS for the hockey) I'll see how it goes at the next Caps home game, no home matches from the 17th till Jan 2nd

Alan

MDJAK wrote in post #2454068
Great shots, and obviously very clean glass.

mark

Buy yourself a packet of the window glass cleaning tissues, I get 20 for about one pound, in the resealable bag and stick it in your camera bag. As the rink is also used for public skating the glass does get dirty and fingerprinted.

I simply get a tissue out and clean the glass before the game starts. Also as I shoot next to the penalty boxes I sometimes get the guy in there to go on the ice and clean the other side for me when he's feeling amenable. It does help to make a difference.

Thanks for the tips. I'll try the IS next game around. My typical settings are 800 ISO and f2.8 in manual, shutter speed between 400 and 500 depending what part of the game it is. The lights are turned out before the teams come out so they take a few minutes to warm back up so I drop the shutter speed.

I also get one period off the bench every other game which helps as there is no plexi.


Scott

why didn't I ever think of that???? brilliant.

Some superb shots in there, pictures really jump out at you. Top notch!

fslshooter wrote in post #2454293
Mark - It was a problem specific to some copies of the lens sold about three years ago and I'm not sure where I read discussions about it -- probably on Rob Galbraith forums. I was shooting a soccer match one day when it first happened to me -- got an error code 99 as I recall. Nothing worked and I had to turn the camera off, remove the lens, replace it and then turn the camera back on before I could shoot again. Later I read on a forum somewhere that some copies of the lens had the problem and this was the only fix that worked. It really got to be PITA with mine and the fix not only took a bit of time but also exposed the sensor to dust. At a game one night I asked a PJ friend if he had heard of the problem and he was well aware of it -- seemed to be common at the time. I got so tired of it happening to me that I seldom use IS on that lens any more and never to shoot action sports unless I'm prepared to go through the fix when it locks up.

If you shoot with IS on all the time you probably have a good copy and there's nothing to worry about.

Jerry, Now that I read this, I realize that I do get lockups, but I never attributed it to the IS of the lens. I probably have my lens two to three years also.

I've never taken the lens off the camera, though, to solve the lockup. I simply remove the battery quickly and shove it back in. This solves the problem every time. I've also experienced the lockup when carrying the camera by the lens. In fact, it's either been as a result of that, slung over shoulder on a monopod attached to the lens, or from pressing the display button when the camera is busy writing.

All in all, battery removal always solves the lockup. I've never removed the lens to cure it. Just a thought.

mark

Love the shots. I really need to look for an opportunity to shoot this sport more. I played many years ago, and love the sport. These are very nicely done.... thanks for posting.

Thanks for all the kind words.

These are a couple of others I took from the first game I had the camera. The portraits were taken off the bench.

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