Settings query for rugby

Snapdragon

Snapdragon

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Tracey
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Having looked at some of the fantastic work on these forums I notice that alot of people seem to have quite high ISO levels. Seen quite a few with shutter speed at 1/800, pretty big aperture (mine would probably reach f4.5 max) but ISO of around 2000 - is this what I should be using for a daytime match? I tend to only up my ISO in bad lighting conditions.

Any advice appreciated.
 
Its not a case of use these settings and it will work. Its all about getting the shot, those making money from their photos can't sell a blured photos so if they need to use a high ISO they will use it. Higher up the level of the sport you go the faster things move, premier league the ball and players move faster than in an 8 year old game so you need faster shutter speeds to freeze the action. To get those shutter speeds they buy lenses that allow wider appertures and use bodys that handle higher ISO settings better.
Working sports photographers are not always shooting at Old trafford so they need to be able to get results at Accrington Stanley under candle light powered flood lights as well as old traffod on a bright sunny day.

I used to be off the thought use ISO 100 all the time maybe 200 but never higher that 400 as the noise is bad but when you look at the whole image its not so bad and now happy to go up to 1600 even 3200 if I need to again if I need 3200 to get a usable shutter speed I will go there.
 
Do whatever you need to get the shot, im covering Wakefield v Bradford tonight and as i dont like motion blur i like to see a minimum shutter speed of around 1/800th (less if light fall off in by the corner flags) so i will be shooting ISO 3200/4000 b y the time natural light goes.

If shooting a night match at somewhere like Dewsbury or Featherstone ive used ISO 10,000 at Oldhams Whitebank Stadium i was once using ISO 25,600

Theres no hard and fast rules though, each to their own.

Snapdragon said:
Having looked at some of the fantastic work on these forums I notice that alot of people seem to have quite high ISO levels. Seen quite a few with shutter speed at 1/800, pretty big aperture (mine would probably reach f4.5 max) but ISO of around 2000 - is this what I should be using for a daytime match? I tend to only up my ISO in bad lighting conditions.

Any advice appreciated.
Click to expand...
 
Bear in mind that Gary uses a D3S which is superb in low light.
 
Little John said:
Its not a case of use these settings and it will work. Its all about getting the shot, those making money from their photos can't sell a blured photos so if they need to use a high ISO they will use it. Higher up the level of the sport you go the faster things move, premier league the ball and players move faster than in an 8 year old game so you need faster shutter speeds to freeze the action. To get those shutter speeds they buy lenses that allow wider appertures and use bodys that handle higher ISO settings better.
Working sports photographers are not always shooting at Old trafford so they need to be able to get results at Accrington Stanley under candle light powered flood lights as well as old traffod on a bright sunny day.

I used to be off the thought use ISO 100 all the time maybe 200 but never higher that 400 as the noise is bad but when you look at the whole image its not so bad and now happy to go up to 1600 even 3200 if I need to again if I need 3200 to get a usable shutter speed I will go there.
Click to expand...

Thanks I am aware of the different levels of rugby, I shoot myself from u8's up to Super League though only as an amateur, I've just never thought of upping the ISO level before. I'll try it at Hull KR v Cas tomorrow night as the light level will be low so worth a try.
 
Gary Coyle said:
Do whatever you need to get the shot, im covering Wakefield v Bradford tonight and as i dont like motion blur i like to see a minimum shutter speed of around 1/800th (less if light fall off in by the corner flags) so i will be shooting ISO 3200/4000 b y the time natural light goes.

If shooting a night match at somewhere like Dewsbury or Featherstone ive used ISO 10,000 at Oldhams Whitebank Stadium i was once using ISO 25,600

Theres no hard and fast rules though, each to their own.
Click to expand...

Thanks Gary, obviously my 50d will go nowhere near those levels lol but I am going to give it a go in the upper levels tomorrow night at Craven Park, see how it affects my results.
 
As a rule of thumb set your lens to F4 for day games and under floodlights you'll need to open up to F2.8 and then set your preferred shutter and adjust the ISO accordingly to achieve the previous two. Some prefer using F2.8 all the time so nothing set in stone just personal preference.
 
I generally shoot f2.8 to f4, shutter speed 1/500th or above and adjust ISO to suit. Pay attention to settings as the weather conditions can vary during the game at this time of year, sun breaking from clouds, rain etc
 
A slightly different take on this, as I shoot mainly indoors. Usually I set the shutter at 1/320 to freeze the action (e.g. judo), but the lens goes to f2.8 making depth of field a challenge at times. I use auto ISO (Nikon) and let that go wherever. Really, I'd like to keep the lens around f4 to cover depth of field issues. In terms of shutter speed, its fine right there.

For other action sports, I find 1/320 to freeze the action is just about OK, but, I sometimes miss the shot I wanted because the motor drive (max 8fps) will slow due to shutter speed.

Is the motor drive speed one of the reasons why you use 1/800?
 
Hi Tracey, I use AV and set my ISO accordingly, but the last few weeks I have been setting my ISO to around 800 as it has been cloudy overcast days and I have been getting between 1/800 to 1/1200.

On really dark winter afternoons I will use ISO 6400 and I will sometimes be lucky to get 1/250 so I will only shoot players coming towards me.

I dont mind using 6400 as I will put the shots through Noiseware Pro and I am happy with the results, so I know that 6400 holds no fears at the moment.
 
Glad to be of help.

Im doing an extra match tonight, our 3rd side have got a evening KO 7.30 so I thought I'd go along and take a few piccy's and see what comes out and I know that I will be on 6400 from the start.
 
kartracer said:
For other action sports, I find 1/320 to freeze the action is just about OK, but, I sometimes miss the shot I wanted because the motor drive (max 8fps) will slow due to shutter speed.

Is the motor drive speed one of the reasons why you use 1/800?
Click to expand...

1/320 may work for judo but it'll be nowhere near fast enough for RU/RL unless the play is static.
 
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