Fast Car Sport

[mirage_116]

I was doing some panning at motor sport, in this case i feel my shot wasn't sharp enough but it did imply some motion. I like to know how is this shot?


EXIF:
Camera: Nikon D90
Shutter: 1/80s
Aperture: f/18
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure: 0EV
Focal Length: 70mm

[ALXBWSCREW]

Well, it's not totally rubbish but it's neither good. Use a much slower shutter speed for motorsports photography - or did the lighting prevent you for going over 1/80? You must also remember the car has different speeds in different parts of the circuit. Here (I suppose it's the straight from the Malaysian GP track) the car is almost at it's top speed. Also you should practice panning - it is difficult but it gets fantastic results if done properly. I hope this info helps you .

Originally Posted by ALXBWSCREW

Well, it's not totally rubbish but it's neither good. Use a much slower shutter speed for motorsports photography - or did the lighting prevent you for going over 1/80? You must also remember the car has different speeds in different parts of the circuit. Here (I suppose it's the straight from the Malaysian GP track) the car is almost at it's top speed. Also you should practice panning - it is difficult but it gets fantastic results if done properly. I hope this info helps you .

Don't listen to this.

The slow shutter speed is just fine. I know a bunch of guys who shoot professionally for the ALMS and Grand-AM series and they've been known to shoot as low as 1/40th.

The photo is fairly good for 1/80th, pretty good panning and the car itself is in focus, which is good.

I'd have liked to see a better crop.

[SubeDex]

i like the photo. got any more

[Chip]

Were you trying to "pan" with the camera? That is, move the camera so that the background is blurred but the subject is in sharp focus?

It takes practice to pan, but he key is to use shutter priority mode, and then - here's the hard part - match as best as possible the speed at which the subject is moving with both the speed of the shutter and the speed at which you're moving the camera.

Generally, the faster the subject is moving, the faster shutter speed you can use. For example, I've had some good panning shots of joggers at 1/30th of a second and of a motorcycle at 1/80th.

And, as said earlier, if you have different cars moving at different speeds at different parts of the track, then you'll likely have to adjust your shutter speed.

Not too easy, but after practicing, some people start to develop a sense of what settings to use.

[TW0R]

I use a slower shutter speed if I am in a car driving beside the car I am taking pics of, but if youre panning, what I do (and it should be easier for you since its a race and the cars come around many times) is put it on continuous shooting and just shoot the whole time whilst panning. Eventually I get a decent shot lol. Ive only been shooting for a little so take that with a grain of salt but thats what I do