First time shooting a paintball tournament

My team reffed this tournament so I figured I take some shots. Keep in mind this is my very first time REALLY using my camera. It's a canon 50D. I don't know if it makes a difference (to your opinion) but I didn't have any filters, flash, or anything, just the camera. Any feedback is welcome!

Great series! Any worries about potential paint-spray on your camera equipment?

Funny that you said that. I got hit 7 times with 4 times being right near the camera, but none of them popped on me.

To view all 70 pics that I finalized, please follow this link

http://forum.paintball​unlimitedguam.com/view​topic.php?t=73

I love looking at paintball images! But to be honest, I'd be scared to death to actually shooting a match; I could totally see something happening to my gear.

I find alot of the shots are soft or out of focus. However it maybe just motion blur.

What lens are you using here? n Camera mode are you usin
As well, you have a REALLY high aperture, 6.3 isn't needed for paintball.. As well, your shutter speed is WAY! to low.
I find i try for a shutter speed of 1/1000 on avg, and aperture of 4-5.
The high shutter speed will allow you to grab the action as well it will stop your photos from having blur.
And once you get the camera settings, from there you just need to work on timing,
This is what i got from my last time out
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=746420

I'm using a Canon 50D with a 28-135 lens. I just got it a month ago and currently learning about adjusting aperatures and shutter speeds. I didn't feel comfortable going full manual so I just stayed on program mode. Thanks for the tip. I don't think there's going to be another tournament until next month but I work at a paintball shop so I believe I can work on the rental groups that come in.

You have really great pb photo's. Do you usually shoot major tournaments? Any pics of Boston Red Legion? Hahaha, that's my favorite team.

Having never played nor watched paintball, but from photos I've seen on POTN, these are missing the balls flying through the air...but better than the stuff I did when I shot moving targets the first time (with camera.. obviously.)

nice shots

Your best bet for getting practice is going out to walk-ons and bookings. I didn't get to do my first tournament for a while when i started out.
If you can, get your hands on the 70-200 f/4L
Also try to stay ahead of the action, backsides of players doesn't work unless you see what their shooting at.

I was looking around about that and I would like to know what's the difference between the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Lens and the f/2.8 besides the 900 price difference.

edit: scratch that. I'm guessing it's because it's the IS but I still would like to know what is the difference with the f/4 and f/2.8

2.8 is a larger aperture (Small # = Big Aperture). I larger aperture lets in more light, and therefore lets you use a faster shutter speed.

2.8 is one stop "faster" that f4, therefore your shutter speed will double. Is f/4 + 1/500th was your exposure, then 2.8 + 1/1000th would be the same exposure, but with a faster shutter speed.

The difference between 1/500th and 1/1000th is significant.

You can achieve the same exposure (general level of brightness) with many different combination of controls.

Exposure = ISO+Shutter+Aperture

They work together.

So, all of these exaamples would give you the same exposure, but different effects.

1/125th + f/8 + ISO 200
1/250th + f/5.6 + ISO 200
1/500th + f/4 + ISO 200
1/1000th + f/2.8 + ISO 200
1/2000th + f/2.8 + ISO 400
1/4000th + f2.8 + ISO 800

Fast shutter = Less Blur
High ISO = More Noise (Ugly Grain)
Bigger Aperture (Like 2.8) = Sharp Subject, Blurry Background
Smaller Aperture = Sharp Subject and Background


And that's just getting started, lol.

JoePhotoOnline wrote in post #8587364
2.8 is a larger aperture (Small # = Big Aperture). I larger aperture lets in more light, and therefore lets you use a faster shutter speed.

2.8 is one stop "faster" that f4, therefore your shutter speed will double. Is f/4 + 1/500th was your exposure, then 2.8 + 1/1000th would be the same exposure, but with a faster shutter speed.

The difference between 1/500th and 1/1000th is significant.

You can achieve the same exposure (general level of brightness) with many different combination of controls.

Exposure = ISO+Shutter+Aperture

They work together.

So, all of these exaamples would give you the same exposure, but different effects.

1/125th + f/8 + ISO 200
1/250th + f/5.6 + ISO 200
1/500th + f/4 + ISO 200
1/1000th + f/2.8 + ISO 200
1/2000th + f/2.8 + ISO 400
1/4000th + f2.8 + ISO 800

Fast shutter = Less Blur
High ISO = More Noise (Ugly Grain)
Bigger Aperture (Like 2.8) = Sharp Subject, Blurry Background
Smaller Aperture = Sharp Subject and Background


And that's just getting started, lol.

Great explanation.

Thank you everyone for you help. I really appreciate it.

Sorry again, but when JoePhotoOnline says that a high ISO would lead to more noise (ugly grain). What does that mean?