What mode for sports shots?

Richb86

Richb86

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Richard Baldry
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Ive only just started taking motorsport photography a bit more seriously but the season is now really over so going to start on the rugby season (bit late i know!) but looking for some tips on settings and techniques to use.

ive got a canon 400d with the kit lens and a 70-200mm F4 L lens to use.
:help:
should I use shutter priority? and focus settings and metering settings?

thanks
 
Richb86 said:
Ive only just started taking motorsport photography a bit more seriously but the season is now really over so going to start on the rugby season (bit late i know!) but looking for some tips on settings and techniques to use.

ive got a canon 400d with the kit lens and a 70-200mm F4 L lens to use.
:help:
should I use shutter priority? and focus settings and metering settings?

thanks
Click to expand...

Personally I'd go for shutter priority, centre weighted metering (some may use matrix or spot too), AI servo and continuos high speed drive mode.
Which AF point you use would depend on what area of the image you want focus to be on.

Shutter speed preferences will depend on what kind of effect and feel you want to the image, a high shutter speed will freeze the action and sometimes make the car your shooting to appear to be parked, an alternative is to use a slower shutter speed and track the car then take the shot, the background will be fairly blurred whilst the car should be in clear focus and sharp, this will convey the feeling that the car is actually moving and quickly! However this takes practise and patience, don't give up, experiment with different varieties of slower shutter speeds to help find your feet with the technique and help you to understand and get comfy with it.
Both methods require balance and creative license, have a good practise wherever you can and i'm sure you'll be just fine.

T.
 
Richb86 said:
Ive only just started taking motorsport photography a bit more seriously but the season is now really over so going to start on the rugby season (bit late i know!) but looking for some tips on settings and techniques to use.

ive got a canon 400d with the kit lens and a 70-200mm F4 L lens to use.
:help:
should I use shutter priority? and focus settings and metering settings?

thanks
Click to expand...

Shoot in AV mode, open your aperture as wide as you can get it and then manage your ISO so that your focal length reciprocates your shutter speed, but note that your crop camera should be one stop faster. As a rule of thumb, most subjects can be frozen at 1/500th so start there and work you ISO is you feel that the action if not static. For example two footballers running will look frozen, but the ball may not. A boxers punch will not so you simply manage your camera.

Hope this helps.
 
Gary Coyle said:
Youve lost me there, please explain.
Click to expand...

Well, in the old days if you wanted to shoot at 300mm, you would basically mirror your speed to length, which is suggested got sharp shots. The same principals apply to modern DSLR but due to the crop sensor, a 300mm lens is nearer 480mm so ideally you would aim to get your shutter speed up over 1/500th, but ideally 1/640, which is a stop faster or 'one click'.

Hope this helps.
 
Have you tried the sports mode setting :shrug:
 
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