Motorcross

[Aron B]

This weekend I'll be over a motorcross track with some friends. I want to take some shots but wasn't sure on some settings.

I am planning to take my 75-300 canon lens. The settings will be ISO 400 and F3.5 to get a quick shutter speed as poss. Do you think that's about right? I'll be experimenting too but I wanted to gauge what I should be setting it at to start.

Also, I have a Canon 400D, should I use the AI for focus and the continuous mode?

Thanks

 

[dod]

I'd actually work the other way round, look for the shutter speed first using Tv and then up the ISO until you've got a working aperture. Don't worry about using ISO800 if you need to and aim for anything between 1/320 and 1/800. You shouldn't really need more than that.

Metering is a bit of a personal choice, I tend to use centre weighted or partial, especially if you're doing jump shots against the sky. You'll probably still need to dial in a bit of exposure compensation (especially if you use evaluative), half a stop to a full stop should be enough but try it for yourself to see what works best. Alternatively use flash for some fill in that type of shot. At the weekend I was using +2/3 on the camera and -1/3 on the flash, results are pretty natural and not obviously heavily flashed.

Depth of field is your problem as well. If you're about 6 metres from the subject, working at about 150mm at F4 you've only got about 20cm in acceptable focus. If possible shift the focus point to one of the outer points and try to track the riders head. AI servo is essential.

 

[Aron B]

Thanks dod. That's really helpful. I'll give it a go and I'll post some of the resulting shots for C&C.