Beginner Football under floodlights

P

philduncan

Suspended / Banned
Messages
82
Edit My Images
No
An any one give me a start to the settings I will need:
Canon 500D Body
Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS. II. Lens

Will I need my monopod too?

Sons cup final so like to get some decent action shots

Thx for your time really appreciate help on this.
 
Well with a 2.8 I can't see you will have any problems. Set your iso up to 800+. Not sure about colour cast with the floods so maybe set white balance. Shoot in Raw
 
Set your apature to 2.8, your iso to something your comfotable using, and then see what shutter you get. If its too slow, up your iso..try and get a shutter speed of atleast 1/640th+ imo..I don't know the venue, but if it's floodlight and late, I think you'll need more than 800iso. I'd shoot Jpeg and manual also. You probably won't need a monopod for a 70-200
 
Last edited:
ISO 800! More like ISO3200! Go as high as you need. I often find I'm struggling at 1/500th and ISO3200. I usually shoot jpg to help with burst multi-shots. Post your results. :)
 
i'd take a small fishing stool or such like and the monopod - then you can just rotate to suit the play and you'll also be shooting around waist height - much better! Good luck :thumbs:
 
Settings really do depend on the quality of the floodlights.... You can see from the various comments that the individual posters have shot under very differing ligthing conditions.

I think its fair to say that most lower league clubs dont have the money for premier league floodlighting...

Aperture to 2.8 shutter speed to 1/640 sec (Minimum) and adjust ISO until you get a good exposure...That way you will end up with the lowest noise images that are possible for the available light.

If there is a brighter area on the pitch, ie down one side, then concentrate on that area...
 
Last edited:
I bet my last pound there aint any floodlights anywhere in the world which would allow shooting at ISO 800, best ive shot under were ISO 1600 @ 1/640th sec, even somewhere like Old Trafford is 2-2500, wembley about the same.
 
Just an example last night i was at pboro v reading..i was shooting 3200iso @ 1/640th f2.8 and still could of done with more tbh! let us know how you get on :)
 
God that was hard . At 3200 and f2.8 could only get 250 or 320th shutter Is this normal for county league ground - thoughts lights were pretty poor ? Is it that my camera body is not upto night sports action shots- canon 500D ? Got say 50 % decent shots but lost some good ones
 
S it normal to only get 250 or 320th at a county league ground tonight at f2.8 and iso 3200. My first match with new lens canon 70-200 f2.8. IS. II. Did think lights were pretty poor as clearly need 640 min. Got 50% decent shots but lost a lot due to blurring because of the 250th. Did stay under the lights too. Bit disappointed with money spent on lens or was it out of my control ? Is my body a prob canon 500D ? Thanks for any help how to improve next time .
 
Lens is good but camera is very poor for shooting at those high ISO's Phil, i shoot with a D3S and ive been to grounds where ISO 12,800 is the norn

Post some up for critique in the sports photo sharing section and the more experienced will give you honest critique about to get the best out of your gear and also offer advice on your technique.
 
It's normal

Word of advice Phil, dont cross post on different forums with same/similar questions, people will get confused and not bother offering up any advice, keep this to one forum, suggest talk sports.
 
Ok Gary thx will do what body would be better looking at a 7D from Big Norman £880 new
 
philduncan said:
Do different body's at Iso 3200 give different results too
Click to expand...
Yes, massive, massive different results but the best cost much more as well, you could probably shoot at ISO 400 with your camera and i would get the same results at ISO 3200 with mine :p
 
philduncan said:
S it normal to only get 250 or 320th at a county league ground tonight at f2.8 and iso 3200. My first match with new lens canon 70-200 f2.8. IS. II. Did think lights were pretty poor as clearly need 640 min. Got 50% decent shots but lost a lot due to blurring because of the 250th. Did stay under the lights too. Bit disappointed with money spent on lens or was it out of my control ? Is my body a prob canon 500D ? Thanks for any help how to improve next time .
Click to expand...

I shoot regularly at lancashire FA county ground ..one of the lens i use is the same as yours.. mine is iso 3200 and f2.8 and I get a 400 shutter speed...

The only person telling you 640 shutter is the person telling you start at iso 800 and dont take a monopod... hate to say it but my best advice would be to totally ignore that posters advice.. all of it :)

your 70-200 will be ok at 320 shutter upwards in those conditions.. 640 and up is ideal but not really going to happen

you need all the help you can get in those conditions so a monopod can help.,. i dont use one because i have a 400mm lens on another body on monopod and 2 dont work :)

try not to use your IS as your wont be able to attain focus quick enough for football using IS

50% keeper rate under those conditions isnt too bad especialy first time.. like any other photogrpahy you need to get used to it and the conditions.. then your keeper rate goes up :)
 
KIPAX said:
The only person telling you 640 shutter is the person telling you start at iso 800 and dont take a monopod... hate to say it but my best advice would be to totally ignore that posters advice.. all of it :)

your 70-200 will be ok at 320 shutter upwards in those conditions.. 640 and up is ideal but not really going to happen
Click to expand...

Was that pointed at me ? If so ive not said use 800iso atal lol. I said youd need more than that, and that you probably wouldnt need to use a monopod either, but that is down to personal preference and what your comfortable with. I dont use a monopod on my 70-200 but thats down to the same reason as you, as its on another lens...
 
Thanks guys.
Will I be better off as a beginner with exchanging the 70-200 f2.8 IS II for an upgrade to Canon 7D which is a better body for low light and sports so I been told and a Canon 70-200 f4 non IS . AS paying few quid for IS and not needed for sports action shots ?? My current canon 500 D is not allowing the superb lens just bought to work at its potential ?? Dilemma ? Ideally the IS 2.8 plus 7D but can't afford that option. Jessops will only allow a swap as I used my new lens and I get £250 change.
Opinions appreciated . Basically got £1900 of value to use as exchange to give me best kit for money for night footie only as hobby tho for me and son.
 
Forgot to mention the D7 will give me upto 12000 or so Iso so should help shouldn't it even if use 6000 ?
 
I wouldnt step down to an f/4 70-200 as youll have to push the iso even further or lower your shutter even more as the lens is slower than your f2.8 one you currently have.

I dont really know what to suggest re body and lens combo, but youll want a f2.8 lens IMO. If you have £1900 to spend youd be able to get the setup i use..a 70-200 2.8L non-is and a 1dmk3 2nd hand.
 
Last edited:
with a potential £1900 to spend i would get a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 NON IS used for around £600 and a used 1DMKIII

Or to my mind a better option, a used Nikon D700 with a used Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8

Theres no way on earth you should be looking at an f/4 lens
 
Ah that might be a problem..new 70-200 2.8 non-is is just under 1000 new i think, which leaves you with a thousand ish to spend..which you could just about get a 1d3 for if your lucky..is there anything stopping you say getting a new 100-400 (or something around the £1k mark from jessops) or something and then trading that for a body with someone on here etc? Bit of a palava but it could work lol
 
Last edited:
Ok don't forget I am a beginner and only going to shoot occasional games at night thx anyway gary
 
If you can trade for the 7D and the 70-200 F2.8 non IS then go for that.

If not then I would keep the 70-200/2.8 II and wait until you can afford to buy a 7D or 1D3 second hand.

Or sell the 70-200 on here and buy what Gary said. The Nikon D700 and the Sigma second hand.
 
I agree with bigrob, keep the 70-200 and save for a new body It is probably the best lens about covering that range. Selling the 500D should get you about £350 if you sell away from here, I advertised my 450D to my friends for a week on facebook and someone bought it for £350 I chucked in a few memory cards and the dummies book and they were really happy. You will have a 7D in no time.

From the images you showed they are not that bad and good for a first time out I got far worse on my first and it was under PL lights
 
Last edited:
Ok guys I took my 70-200 f2.8 IS II Canon back and exchanged it for 70-200 2.8 non IS Canon and added a 7D for extra £100 (£2000). Feel pleased with this and agin thx for your tips
 
I'm sure you'll be very happy with that combo Phil.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top