Newbie: Suggestions for blurry action shots

[RichInFla66]

Please be kind, this is my first post for help. I bought a Nikon D3000 and a 55-200mm lens. I wanted to take action shots at my 6 year old's TaeKwonDo tournament as my point and shoot was pretty much useless. I did a lot of research through the manual and online, as I knew I'd be shooting in a low light (gymnasium) atmosphere. I found a youtube video by an "aussie" (I think) on how to shoot indoor sport shots, so I kind of followed it.

Hopefully this is enough info with the picture attached (I did a screen shot in the Nikon software so hopefully it gives you enough exif info).

Priority Mode: Aperture. AF: AF-Continuous. Auto ISO with max set at 800, Minimum Shutter Speed: 1000. Tried AF in "point", "dynamic" and "auto" mode with pretty much same results. Lens was on "Auto" focus and VR-S was set to "on".

Let me know if you need additional info. Thanks everyone !!

[autofocus]

Unfortunately, 1/50 shutter speed is not fast enough to stop the action.I would say you'd need to be 1/250 - 1/500 sec to get this. You also may have some focus issues to further compound the problem. Focus mode set to "C" (continuous) is OK for tracking action, however, the caveat is that it will let you take the shot even before focus is locked in.

[Doug Sundseth]

First, your shot is focused on the chairs and table in the background. In a chaotic environment like an indoor sporting event, you're often better off setting a manual focus at the distance you expect the action to be at (your son's position on the mat, for instance). Failing that, you'll need to figure out how to use single-point autofocus and how to move your focus point to the part of the frame you want.

Second, as noted, 1/50th isn't close to fast enough to stop action in a quick sport like martial arts. Some blur is probably fine, since you don't want people to look like they're posing, but I don't think that speed is going to do what you want.

To fix this, first push your ISO up. You should be fine to at least 1600 on that camera, which will allow you to double your shutter speed and maintain the same exposure. You can push even higher if you are willing to accept some noise to reduce blur.

Second, consider getting a faster lens. Nikon's 35mm f/1.8 AF-S lens is inexpensive, very quick, and will autofocus on that camera. Their 50 f/1.8 D is even cheaper, but will only autofocus on more expensive bodies. If you need a longer lens, the price starts to rise pretty quickly for fast glass, but both of these are remarkable value for money. At f/1.8, you'll get about 4 times the shutter speed at the cost of a very narrow depth of field. OTOH, you'll get the benefit of a very narrow depth of field.

Finally, if the venue allows it, you can freeze action with a flash, but they're often not allowed at sporting events. Talk to the organizers if you want to go this route.

[RichInFla66]

Originally Posted by autofocus

Unfortunately, 1/50 shutter speed is not fast enough to stop the action.I would say you'd need to be 1/250 - 1/500 sec to get this.

Sorry, when I said minimum shutter speed in the ISO settings was 1000, the camera option was displaying "1/1000 s". Did I do a miscalculation or misread on that setting ?
Thanks.

[RichInFla66]

Originally Posted by Doug Sundseth

First, your shot is focused on the chairs and table in the background. In a chaotic environment like an indoor sporting event, you're often better off setting a manual focus at the distance you expect the action to be at (your son's position on the mat, for instance). Failing that, you'll need to figure out how to use single-point autofocus and how to move your focus point to the part of the frame you want.

Second, as noted, 1/50th isn't close to fast enough to stop action in a quick sport like martial arts. Some blur is probably fine, since you don't want people to look like they're posing, but I don't think that speed is going to do what you want.

To fix this, first push your ISO up. You should be fine to at least 1600 on that camera, which will allow you to double your shutter speed and maintain the same exposure. You can push even higher if you are willing to accept some noise to reduce blur.

Second, consider getting a faster lens. Nikon's 35mm f/1.8 AF-S lens is inexpensive, very quick, and will autofocus on that camera. Their 50 f/1.8 D is even cheaper, but will only autofocus on more expensive bodies. If you need a longer lens, the price starts to rise pretty quickly for fast glass, but both of these are remarkable value for money. At f/1.8, you'll get about 4 times the shutter speed at the cost of a very narrow depth of field. OTOH, you'll get the benefit of a very narrow depth of field.

Finally, if the venue allows it, you can freeze action with a flash, but they're often not allowed at sporting events. Talk to the organizers if you want to go this route.

First, thanks for the input !! So, if I'm understanding correctly: 1) Learn how and use "single-point" focus or go "manual". 2) See previous post where in the Auto ISO settings, I set it for minimum shutter speed of 1/1000s, is that not faster than 1/50 or do I need to set that somewhere else in the settings ? 3) Bump up the ISO to 1600 (I did bump it up to max of 800 to compensate for lighting, but will try 1600. 4) Faster lens...that was my original thought after seeing the pictures !!

Thanks again all !! Do you think practicing with him kicking a bag INDOORS will help fine tune the settings ?

[RichInFla66]

Originally Posted by Doug Sundseth

Second, as noted, 1/50th isn't close to fast enough to stop action in a quick sport like martial arts. Some blur is probably fine, since you don't want people to look like they're posing, but I don't think that speed is going to do what you want.

Okay, duh !! Just looked at the picture and realized exif data said 1/50. If I set the minimum shutter speed in the Auto ISO at 1/1000s, why did it take at 1/50 ? Am I missing a setting somewhere ? Thanks.

Just getting my hands around Aperture, ISO, and Shutter Speed has been quite a challenge, but thanks for all the advice you two !!

[RichInFla66]

[QUOTE=autofocus;1280549]Unfortunately, 1/50 shutter speed is not fast enough to stop the action.I would say you'd need to be 1/250 - 1/500 sec to get this./QUOTE]

Okay, I went back and looked at the ISO settings on the camera. Although ISO was set to "Auto" and max ISO was set to "800" and shutter speed was set to "1/1000s", the actual ISO setting at the top of the menu was set to "100". Is that what I missed ? Should I have set that to 800 or 1600 ?

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by RichInFla66

Sorry, when I said minimum shutter speed in the ISO settings was 1000, the camera option was displaying "1/1000 s". Did I do a miscalculation or misread on that setting ?
Thanks.

When I pulled up your screen capture image above it said 1/50 sec @f/4.5

[autofocus]

"Minimum Shutter Speed: 1000"
I'd interpret that it means it could go slower than 1/1000 if it needed to, and it did

[Doug Sundseth]

I don't think that minimum shutter speed has any effect in Aperture priority mode. If it did, you've told the camera that you want a specific aperture, a shutter speed not below "x" and an ISO not above "y". And also to make sure to get a good exposure. That wasn't possible here.

If you want to specify shutter speed, you want to use Shutter priority mode and let the aperture and ISO fall where they may. (FWIW, there was no way you were going to get to a properly exposed photo at 1/1000 using that lens and body.)

For the rest, yup.