And back into the gym again!

[BulldogMom]

Well considering I started another thread today that had to do with high school sports I thought I would post one of my more recent shots.

This was taken with my Sigma 70-300 (no flash).

I will be getting a Canon EF 28-105mm soon (just can't swing the 28-135 IS). It will be much easier to take to the games and to handle in the crowded stands. And I'm sure much lighter to carry around!

So...

What kind of advice do you have for me so that I get better results with the new lens? Yes I have a monopod but did not take it to these games because I ended up sitting on the steps to shoot most of the time and I didn't want to trip anyone! This shot was taken from way up in the stands.

Is the shutter speed OK at 400, it makes for a very dark shot so I have to brighten it up post, but much slower and you get motion blur. Any faster and it will be way too dark. The f/5.6 also contributes to the dark photos I tend to shot the games around f/4 to f/5 in hopes of getting a little more focus on the players. The highest ISO my camera has is 1600, I use the software that came with it to reduce the noise.

I've got a few more shots from this summer in my flickr account. They were all taken with either the 70-300 or my Canon 50mm.



Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 133 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Manual

[Jim Bryant]

You know, what you need for shooting indoor sports is a 70-200mm f2.8. Your photos look rather underexposed and contain a lot of digital noise. As for worry about getting two players in focus, don't! All you need in focus is the player actually hitting, spiking or returning the ball over the net.

[BulldogMom]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

You know, what you need for shooting indoor sports is a 70-200mm f2.8. Your photos look rather underexposed and contain a lot of digital noise. As for worry about getting two players in focus, don't! All you need in focus is the player actually hitting, spiking or returning the ball over the net.

Yea, I know. Guess I was just hoping there is something more I can do with the lens I've got.

I'll open the apertue more next time.

Thanks Jim

[Hartzler]

Personally,

I'm in the same situation as you lens-wise. My advice, for what it's worth, is find a spot down on the floor to shoot. Moving closer lets me shoot with my 50mm 1.4 lens (comparable to your 50mm 1.8). I prefer to keep ISO at 800 or below to minimize noise. I shoot between 1/250 shutter speed (some blur, especially during take downs-wrestling is the sport I shoot) and 1/500 (relatively crisp) at 1.4 aperture. I've given up on my 70-300 4.5-5.6; love the telephoto, hate the results in low-light gyms. Actually, your shots look better than what I got with my 70-300.

One thing that helped me get closer was talking to the coach and getting on a mailing list. Some of my shots ended up in the year book and the parents grew to love the shots I got of their kids. So no one really complains when I move in close. No flash sadly, of course, so it's all about what compromises to make when you use either a slow lens or something without telephoto like the 50m (I'd be interested to see the difference between your telephoto and 50mm shots).

The shutter speed at 400 is fine (faster of course is better, but it's a game of compromises when you shoot with the lenses you have). I've played with ISO as high as 3,200 and was not happy with the results. Even at 1,600, I hate the digital noise. At 800 ISO, digital noise becomes more acceptable. In some gyms, the lighting varies and I've improved shots by moving around. For example, I shot in one gym where it had sunlight streaming in one window. I moved from one side of the gym to the other and had a dramatic improvement.

Good luck, your shots I liked. But I know we always try to improve. And I'm strictly shooting for fun, so take my advice with all the salt you wish. I'm like you in trying to do better in these darn low light gyms.

[BulldogMom]

Thanks Hartzler,
I've never tried to shoot wrestling but I know that a lot of the gyms around here use spot lights shining down on the mats and that causes it's own set of challenges.
This will be my daughter's last year for high school sports, she graduates next spring. Hopefully I'll finally get that one good shot this year.

[Peterwh60]

I too have the same problem, my daughter a state level gymnist, and the lighting is so poor in gymnasimums, and no flash is allowed. Also because the gymnasium is so big the crown sits on one side so i have to zoom across the other side to get the shot. I am using a Canon 450d 70-300 F5, ISO1600 and very dark and blurred. I am trying to "Freeze" the gymnasist in mid air but are having a lot of trouble doing this. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Rgds

Peter Hawes
Australia