Please look at these pics

+1 on HighPixels advice. I looked at the Exif and saw 1/50 SS.
You need a faster shutter speed for sports.

...

willshoot4food wrote in post #9111118
If you plan on really getting into sports I would suggest selling the 70-200mm f4 and get a 70-200mm f2.8 if you plan on dumping some money into primes I would say look around for an older 300mm f2.8 non IS they go for around $2400-$2900. I am able to get by with both of thoose lenses 95% of the time.

Thank you.

I may look into getting the 2.8 but I don't forsee myself getting into sports because there are not to many people that are willing to pay for pics of their son here. I just did it for my brother in law. If I would have taken the time to notice I was shooting at 1/50, I would have tried to help correct the situation by going 6400ISO and this would have given me 1/400+ which would have yeilded better pictures.

It is by taking pics of different situations that a person sees how important lens are. 10X mor than the camera. Right now, I kind of regret having bought f/4 lens. I think I will do a cleanup and start getting fast primes.

The 200f/2.8 at under $800 new is looking good right now, maybe find one used.

These shots were at ISO 1600, f/4 and 1/50

1. Go to ISO 6400 and 1/200. This might be marginally OK for kids as young as this, though foot and ball will still be blurred a bit on a kick. Older atheletes would be blurred to much at 1/200 all the time.

2. Get a faster lens. f/2.8 gets you to 1/400 at ISO6400 and f/2 gets you to 1/800, or let's you back of on that high ISO a bit to reduce noise.

And as everyone said, get on the sidelines.

Here is one more though....will this kid play outside next spring? Waiting till spring might be the cheapest route to great photos.

JeffreyG wrote in post #9111189
These shots were at ISO 1600, f/4 and 1/50

1. Go to ISO 6400 and 1/200. This might be marginally OK for kids as young as this, though foot and ball will still be blurred a bit on a kick. Older atheletes would be blurred to much at 1/200 all the time.

2. Get a faster lens. f/2.8 gets you to 1/400 at ISO6400 and f/2 gets you to 1/800, or let's you back of on that high ISO a bit to reduce noise.

And as everyone said, get on the sidelines.

Here is one more though....will this kid play outside next spring? Waiting till spring might be the cheapest route to great photos.

Thx Jeffrey, like all that have posted here...great Info.

Yes he does play outside in a park, spring/summer/autumn winter he's inside. I have never seen the parck and if it is well lit or not.

I will also look into getting a grey card learning how to do a custom white balance. I always shoot in RAW.

Thx

During the recent basketball tournament, I turned off the IS on my 70-200 f/2.8 mainly to conserve my battery. I do carry a spare battery just in case.

gdl357 wrote in post #9111248
Thx Jeffrey, like all that have posted here...great Info.

Yes he does play outside in a park, spring/summer/autumn winter he's inside. I have never seen the parck and if it is well lit or not.

I will also look into getting a grey card learning how to do a custom white balance. I always shoot in RAW.

Thx

Outside, even on a grey, overcast day your f4 will be fine. The human eye and brain can deal pretty well with a huge range of light that cameras can not. Indoor lighting is amazingly nasty and dark. I have shot both my son's football and daughters soccer with my 70-200 f4 L and have some excellent results with it, outdoors.
Now it's basketball season and I think the wonderfully sharp f4 will sit idle unless I can get strobes in the gyms. A 50 1.8 on a crop body turns into an 80mm, under the backboard is where that will work. I still want a 135 f2, but I dought that's happening anytime soon.

http://www.giorgiophot​os.com …38628/h115dda9f​#h1c746ff3

Hey guys do you see an improvement? SECOND BATCH OF PICS, SAME PLACE SAME TIME.

I tried to do what you all told me to. This is the best I can do with my 50D and my 70-200 f/4 IS.

I really need to get a 2.8 IS or a 2.0 prime. No way out.

Thx

They are better, you got down low to their height which helps a lot with the little guys (or girls)...the next step besides the obvious buying the F2.8 would probably be tighter (crops) and straighter (horizons), and maybe be more selective, rather than posting a picture like #20 where the player is out of focus and we kind of see a coach in focus behind.

Pictures of the back of heads from way back like some in the 30-40 ranges of your gallery seem rather useless too.. unless you were getting a closer shot with the kid kicking the ball at the net maybe. Just a few thoughts at almost 3 am!

What focusing mode are you using?

DHMN wrote in post #9149205
They are better, you got down low to their height which helps a lot with the little guys (or girls)...the next step besides the obvious buying the F2.8 would probably be tighter (crops) and straighter (horizons), and maybe be more selective, rather than posting a picture like #20 where the player is out of focus and we kind of see a coach in focus behind.

Pictures of the back of heads from way back like some in the 30-40 ranges of your gallery seem rather useless too.. unless you were getting a closer shot with the kid kicking the ball at the net maybe. Just a few thoughts at almost 3 am!

Super great info...I really appreciate your input to making me better.

JeffCanon wrote in post #9151101
What focusing mode are you using?

AISERVO in AV mode

Holy Toledo!

What an improvement! Nicely done. That's what this place is all about isn't it? People helping each other. Wow. I love to see that concept come to fruition. Way to go P.O.T.N. and it's members.

Andy

My standard is something faster than 1/800, ISO around 2000, center AF point, AI Servo, and aperture as wide as possible. If you can get 1/800 with f4 then that's fine. But the 2.8 allows you to decrease the ISO if it's too dark. Also the 2.8 allows greater bokeh which some prefer.

gdl357 wrote in post #9148775
http://www.giorgiophot​os.com …38628/h115dda9f​#h1c746ff3

Hey guys do you see an improvement? SECOND BATCH OF PICS, SAME PLACE SAME TIME.

I tried to do what you all told me to. This is the best I can do with my 50D and my 70-200 f/4 IS.

I really need to get a 2.8 IS or a 2.0 prime. No way out.

Thx

Much improved. Yes, there is very little around faster lens.