7D Mini - Boys LAX

This is from the mini (2nd - 4th Grade) LAX division. My son is in 2nd grade (in white and yellow...as opposed to yellow and white), this is his first game and I am still learning the rules with him.

Anyone out there with some suggestions as to how to get better shots would be appreciated...

I took a set of about 15 shots of my son getting slammed by an older and bigger kid
These shots are from the middle of the series. I was surprised/proud that he didn't drop the ball or give up as most of the younger kids do.

Using 70 - 200 2.8L on a monopod with the IS turned off.
ISO 400 - f/4 - 1/400 - single point (center) with expansion
AI tracking set to slow with AF priority/tracking priority

I seem to be not getting the focus sharp enough, any suggestions would be helpful...

1.

My thoughts are that I may need to use a faster shutter speed or use the IS. Does anyone use IS with a monopod? Another question would be if just using a single point for AF would be better? Or should I use zone and let the camera choose?

Thanks

I shoot with a 7D / 70 - 200 L 4 IS with IS on hand held. I like to shoot at 1/1000 or higher to freeze all the action.

I love the series you have, your son will look back in 6 years and LOL at how cool he was.

Thanks, I normally would shoot handheld with IS on but was hopeful that this would give a sharper result. I think I will try again with the monopod at a higher shutter speed. Still not sure which AF is best for this (zone. single point, sp w/ expansion...).

Great sequence

There is no need for a monopod and IS won't make a difference if you are shooting at a high shutter speed. I would either open the lens up and shoot wide open or up the ISO to increase shutter speed.

I would up the ISO to 800 and open the aperture to 3.2....yielding about 1/1200 on the shutter. Also, use center point on the focus and keep it on the target.

Finally, if possible, get down lower. The players always look more powerful when you're shooting up at them. Some folks also find the background more pleasing.

Nice action!

Having only the 50D yet, I don't know for sure what "slow with AF priority/tracking priority" is but the word slow wants to tell me that might not be the right setting.. but I'm sure someone else can clarify that.

Other than that I would probably forget the IS for outdoor sports and go up to at least 1/1000. They look a little bright at ISO 400 so you could probably have gone up to at least 1/640 at that ISO already. Probably want to straighten them a bit also.

OK...tweaked the settings just a bit...I think these came out much better.

70-200 with IS turned on (I drink a lot of Monster) on the monopod
ISO 200 - f/4 - 1/1600

1.

Second group is much better IMO. Good Job!

IS is not going to make a difference when you are shooting at 1/1600th. It is meant to compensate for hand shake or slight camera movement when shooting at a low shutter speed and having the camera handheld. A monopod is also not going to make a difference at 1/1600th of a second, a monopod is meant to be used as a support for a heavy lens or in lieu of a tripod for shooting at low shutter speed.

So unless a 70-200 is to heavy for you to handhold, and you are shooting at 1/20th I would say ditch the monopod and forget the IS, or do whatever floats your boat.

great shots!

Second series is pretty good.
My guess is that the shots are better because of the faster shutter speed and not the IS. It is also obvious that the Sun treated you better on the second try and your exposure was better. Late afternoon games are your friend for sure. Keep practicing and dialing in your technique. The monopod may be overkill and will cause you to miss some shots, just relax when the play isn't close and pull it back up when it does get close.

scsurfdad wrote in post #9974436
My thoughts are that I may need to use a faster shutter speed or use the IS. Does anyone use IS with a monopod? Another question would be if just using a single point for AF would be better? Or should I use zone and let the camera choose?

Thanks

For sports I always use Point Expansion on my 7D. I have used it for baseball, basketball, and football and it has worked very well. For me, the Zone AF is too big of an area when there are several players in the shot and usually will not lock on the one I want (the one with the ball). If a defender is closer to me then Zone picks that up, not giving me what I want. Since you are mainly trying to get shots of your son and not just the action in general, Point Expansion should do the trick. The area is small enough to allow you to keep focus on him and not having other players affect the focus. I came to this conclusion because I am mainly trying to get shots of my nephews, not the general action.