Baseball and Sports Illustrated

Every week I get my Sports Illustrated in the mail and can't wait to look at the pictures in the issue. The magazine has absolutely outstanding photography and especially in the fact they are dead-on sharp pictures of players in some sort of motion (i.e. swinging a bat, pitching, etc.). How in the world do these folks get such sharp images during motion? I realize that this is why these guys are pros and I am shooting kids, but I would love to know the secrets.

Are they using center-weighted focusing or something else?

Are they using burst mode or have they just learn the timing of motion?

Would they be using an auto-focus servo mode?

What would be a typical shutter speed for batters and stopping motion? I would use around 1/2000 to do this? Should it be higher or lower?

When a batter is "loading up" for the pitch, where are they focusing on the player to stop they action and especially the money shot of the ball hitting the bat I find that when I am using an auto-focus servo, high burst mode and begin to focus around the belt line and I still can't keep the frame in sharp focus like I would like to.

I have been using my 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS on the field during the games and positioning myself near the dugouts. Should I maybe switch to my 70-200mm f/2.8L IS to open it up and sacrifice the zoom?

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

I still have many other areas to work on but man, I would love to know the SI secrets. Thanks in advance.

There is a SI setup for setting your camera but I think it is for 1 series. They using top glass along with lot of remote controlled stuff. There was a video link someone posted where they have 3 1dmk3 firing with a little bit delay in-between to get 30fps.

I think you'll find that most SI photographers have been shooting sports for quite a while and as they say practice makes perfect. Here's my opinion FWIW concerning your questions:

Are they using center-weighted focusing or something else?
They're probably using single point focus and center point more than the others.

Are they using burst mode or have they just learn the timing of motion?
Probably a combination of both depending on the shot. But if they're not familiar enough with the sport they're shooting it'll be a crap shoot whether or not they capture the action they want even in high speed burst.

Would they be using an auto-focus servo mode?
AI Servo AF

What would be a typical shutter speed for batters and stopping motion? I would use around 1/2000 to do this? Should it be higher or lower?
That depends on what motion one wants to stop. SS of 500 to 800 usually stops head motion in baseball and sometimes 1/8000 won't stop a ball in flight. I prefer to shoot most baseball around 1/1600 give or take a bit. I seldom if ever shoot below 1/500 or above 1/3500.

When a batter is "loading up" for the pitch, where are they focusing on the player to stop they action and especially the money shot of the ball hitting the bat I find that when I am using an auto-focus servo, high burst mode and begin to focus around the belt line and I still can't keep the frame in sharp focus like I would like to.
The largest area of the subject with good contrast -- usually belt line, chest or back between the shoulder blades. BTW, ball on bat shots are seldom money shots because more often than not the batter's face is not in view. Good action shots with good player faces are the money shots.

I have been using my 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS on the field during the games and positioning myself near the dugouts. Should I maybe switch to my 70-200mm f/2.8L IS to open it up and sacrifice the zoom?
If you're shooting youth sports and if you can shoot from somewhere near the foul line between home and first/third base you'll probably get better results with your 70-200mm at apertures at and below f/4.0.

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.
See THIS thread.

I believe Z is referring to the Home Run Chase/Record by Barry Bonds, which was recorded by Robert Hanashiro and team. They used three Canon Mark III, all with Canon 600mm f4 L lenses, and two Multimaxes. Go to SportsShooters.com

The 100-400 f5.6 L IS is nice but you will probably need to go with the 70-200 f2.8 L (not necessarily with IS) and at least 500 or more shutter. Maybe you could get away with it using a 1.4x TC.

But the real secret is...

@$%j@59A@*#@ E#E#!!! UUhr7##!

Somethings is wrong with my computer...Hmmmm!!:p

bobbyz wrote in post #5299939
There is a SI setup for setting your camera but I think it is for 1 series. They using top glass along with lot of remote controlled stuff. There was a video link someone posted where they have 3 1dmk3 firing with a little bit delay in-between to get 30fps.

This can't be too far off from the 30D:

http://www.siphoto.com​/?canon20D.inc

Just remember, the settings are less than half the "how-to", I think practice is the most important.

Well the short answer is, they are good. ( 400 2.8 doesn't hurt either)

Thanks everyone who replied to my message.

fslshooter, I always enjoy reading your threads and information. I am shooting again this weekend and will bring the 70-200 2.8 with me and compare it with the 100-400.

Any other suggestions?