7D Best Settings For Hockey?

Just got my 7D.
Has anyone shot Hockey Pictures?
Looking for the best settings.
Thanks

Shutter Priority(Tv) for sports.

jeromego wrote in post #8763128
Shutter Priority(Tv) for sports.

If lighting isn't changing too much, I would use Manual.

As for the AF system, I tried the zone AF but I still prefer manual AF point selection with assist points enabled. I would use the slowest or second slowest tracking speed with priority on following the subject instead of the main focus point.

Manual to balance DOF and shutter speed with ISO because the light should be quite consistent. Highest ISO you can get with acceptable noise levels for the purpose because shutter speeds are never going to be really good. Shoot a custom white balance from something appropriate (sometimes you can use the ice itself). Get above the glass, or find one of the photographic holes they put in it in some rinks. Do not use flash from the sides of the ice surface or you will p**s off a lot of players.

How well do you know the game? Are you after shots of one specific player, or just "hockey shots"? Just how well lit is the arena (some smaller ones have terrible light - the pro arenas have much better lighting, but the real pros still use rafter mounted, very powerful flashes). Light quantity and color are the issues ALL the time.

Im shooting my 8 year old and his team mates, in some badly lit arenas.
I will be using my Sigma 70-200 2.8 lens, and my new 7D.

carshop wrote in post #8763304
Im shooting my 8 year old and his team mates, in some badly lit arenas.
I will be using my Sigma 70-200 2.8 lens, and my new 7D.

But are they consistently lit? Or you have pockets of light then darker area, etc?

I'm guessing you will be at least on ISO1600, probably higher...

As nicksan has suggested, shoot M. Unless the lighting is unevenly distributed, once you have the settings dialed in, you'll be good to go.

They are pretty consistent. Some rinks better than others.
I shot some on the weekend @ ISO2500.
But my concern was the AF. Focus was not as sharp as I would have liked.
Thats why I wanted to know what settings were best in C.Fn 3 Autofocus/Drive.
Thanks

Did you check your lens calibration on something that's not moving? All of my lenses (that I've tried so far) have needed microadjustments.

Def shoot manual.
When I shoot at the Garden, I am at ISO 1600, 2.8, 500 on AI Servo. I typically use the focus point on either the right or the left depending on which way the action is going (left focus point if the action is heading toward the right).

For kids, you can usually get away with a slightly slower shutter speed since they don't move as fast or as suddenly. And you will likely have to bump your ISO up higher for most rinks.

wndrlst wrote in post #8763669
Did you check your lens calibration on something that's not moving? All of my lenses (that I've tried so far) have needed microadjustments.

When I shot still images, focus was great.

I would start with the following settings...

C.Fn III-1: Slow or second to slowest
C.Fn III-2: 0
C.Fn III-3: 1
C.Fn III-4: 0
C.Fn III-6: Enable the assist points (The one to the left of "Apply")

Using the back button for AF? If not, I would do so. "Pump" the back button when you are tracking also. (i.e. Bump the AF...or something like that.)

Shot at Manual/200mm/2.8/ISO 2500/1/500
Straight from the camera.
Shot through Glass

Were you focused on the Jersey?