Please look at these pics

http://www.giorgiophot​os.com …87068/h31c215e0​#h31c215e0

Tell me if my 70-200mm f/4 IS is not made for this and what lens I need. I am very dissapointed in these pics and think they are horrible, but since this is the first time I use this lens and my 50D on AI Servo I will let it pass. My family loves the results, but I know I can do way better.

Is the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS called for here? I really can't afford another high end $2K lens unless the f/4 gets sold. Maybe something from Sigma?

Is it something I did wrong in the settings maybe?

The place was indoors and well lit up with Metal-Halide lights. I was shooting on Auto ISO, AV, High Speed, AI Servo hand held an usually shooting 100mm - 200mm out.

Thx

1/50th & 1/30th shutter speed WILL NOT WORK IN SPORTS! You will need pretty much jack up your ISO all the way to get your SS at least to @1/500th min. in order to eliminate the camera blur. Do a custom white balance for those indoor lights...as majority of them are terrible. Try Manual instead of AV.
Ron

Your biggest problem I see is you shot through a net (on the ones I looked at)..and it shows.. maybe a 2.8 would allow for better view through the black net.

HighPixel wrote in post #9105456
1/50th & 1/30th shutter speed WILL NOT WORK IN SPORTS! You will need pretty much jack up your ISO all the way to get your SS at least to @1/500th min. in order to eliminate the camera blur. Do a custom white balance for those indoor lights...as majority of them are terrible. Try Manual instead of AV.
Ron

The camera was choosing ISO1600 so I figured it was enough.
OK...I will have to go to ISO 3200 or HI (6400) in order to get 1/500 and over.

Thx

I shoot indoor sports and I never shoot action shots below 1/500 shutter speed. If there is not enough light after adjusting the ISO as high as possible, then consider using flash. I find myself using flash more and more these days. Good luck.
Jeff

...

I agree with all the preceding info.
I shoot indoors quite a lot during my son's gymnastics competitions. Terrible lighting! Even with my f2.8 (which I love) I do need to trade-off noise for shutter speed (high ISO is needed). Shoot in RAW so you can adjust the White Balance later. Obviously it depends on the sport in question but 1/250 can work.

gdl357 wrote in post #9105337
Is it something I did wrong in the settings maybe?

The problem isn't with the lens or the settings, it's with the location. You needed to be at field level on the sidelines to get properly framed images. You also need far more experience at sports action photography to understand how to get the best images at an event. The only way to get that experience is to spend more time at games, at better locations, and use that time to figure out what to do. Equipment doesn't equal a sense of action or the timing needed to be effective at sports photography.

gdl357 wrote in post #9105337
I was shooting on Auto ISO, AV, High Speed, AI Servo hand held ...........

gdl357 wrote in post #9105557
The camera was choosing ISO1600 so I figured it was enough.

Is this a 50D feature? I am confused. If you are in Av, how can the ISO be on Auto? I must be missing something here.

Nikon has had this feature for a long time, Canon is putting it in newer cameras

From the Canon for the 50D
ISO Speed (Recommended Exposure Index)
Basic Zone modes: ISO 100-1600 set automatically
Creative Zone modes: ISO 100-3200 (in 1/3-stop increments), Auto, or ISO speed can be expanded to ISO 6400 or ISO 12800
Extension settable (with C.Fn.I-3-1): ISO 12800
High Tone Priority settable: ISO 200-1600

Sibil wrote in post #9106765
Is this a 50D feature? I am confused. If you are in Av, how can the ISO be on Auto? I must be missing something here.

Unless they changed the 50D you can shoot AV and Auto ISO. My 40D does it.

I have to agree with everythng i have read. Your main issues are being behind the net and your SS. To me at ground-level #7 was a promising shot but at the angle used it was a snapshot. Soccer is best shot from ground-level and youth soccer is best shot from either sitting on stool pr the ground. Your angle is much more pleasing.

You can't shoot a moving subject at 1/50th and get a clear pic; you need 1/500 at the very least, and that's hard to achieve in many indoor arenas. In addition, for these shots you were too far away. Is there any way of getting a pitch-side seat?

If flash is allowed, it might be your best solution in this venue.

Hey guys I just realized I may have gotten into something a little more complex than I thought. LOL.

I can get at level ground and center because I know the coaches.

Maybe a prime would work, like a Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM or the EF 135mm f/2L USM ?

I hate to let go of my 70-200...it's so darn sharp.

You can shoot through the net with your existing equipment. You just need to get the front of the lens as close to the net as possible and it will work OK for you. I shot a softball pitcher warming up through the chain link backstop with a 100-400L at f/5.6 and the fence didn't show in the picture.

You need more power and faster lens if you are going to get serious with this type of sport. A 300 f/2.8, Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 or Canon 200 f/2.8 or 135L f/2.0 are some of the choices. None of them are cheep!

I had to shoot at ISO 6400, f/2.0 with a 135L at a volleyball game. If I hadn't had the 135 with me, I would have turned around and went home. The 70-200 f/2.8 didn't cut it. It was a dark gym.

Also, for indoor sports , I usually shoot in manual exposure control, hopefully at 1/400 sec SS or better, and whatever else is required as for ISO and f/stop.
Good luck.
Mike

willshoot4food wrote in post #9105888
Also there is no need for an IS lens if you plan on shooting only sports.

This is something surprisingly few understand. I'm sure here most know that, but quite often I've stumbled on people planning to upgrade to IS as they need more speed for sports.