Bball practice.......no focus

[manuellugo]

I was taking pictures of my son during basketball practice and I could not get them in focus. What do I need to do. I used a Nikon D5000 55-200mm 1/160s, f/4, ISO 1600.

[dlambert]

I'm not sure it's a focus problem (look at the shoes). Try increasing your shutter speed - you probably need to be at 1/250 or faster.

[manuellugo]

Originally Posted by dlambert

I'm not sure it's a focus problem (look at the shoes). Try increasing your shutter speed - you probably need to be at 1/250 or faster.

ok. thanks. I will try that this weekend.

[wvsports]

If you can bump your ISO that will help too. School gyms are so hard to adjust. I have always tried to use the rule of thumb that my shutter speed doesn't go below the highest zoom point - in your case 1/200 (a trick one of the paper photogs told me once at a game). Play with the different White Balance settings. The Tungsten might work better in some gyms, where the white fluorescent light works best in others.

You might even have to adjust your settings for each different spot you move to.

I have also found that TV mode works best for sports shots, especially indoors.

[dlambert]

+1 for TV mode for sports.

[kirbinster]

Check WHAT you are focusing on too. Not only are your son's shoes sharp, so are those of the guy on the left. Make sure you are focused on the ball or his face.

[Jim Bryant]

what you are getting is motion blur from either the players moving or you not holding the camera still enough. Like others before me suggested: Increase your ISO, that's will allow you to shoot at a higher shutter speed that's fast enough to stop the action.

[manuellugo]

Thanks everyone for your pointers. I will post new pictures of next practice using everyone's suggestions.