tips for sports photography

seanin4711

Any got any tips for equipment required for sports pics such as lens selection,filters lens speed etc.
Thanks,
John

tororosso

seanin4711 wrote: »

Any got any tips for equipment required for sports pics such as lens selection,filters lens speed etc.
Thanks,
John

Well basically what you will need is a pretty decent camera body that is fast. One that has a high frames per second count with decent focus capabilities helps. If it is Canon you will be looking to start with a 60D I would reckon and progress up to a 7D or 1DMark4 (expensive and for pros). You might be able to geta second hand 1D mark3 in one of the camera shops or on adverts if you keep your eye open.

The lens will have to be at least 200-300mm upwards and hopefully be able to go down to f2.8 if you can afford it. For shutter speed you should be starting at about 1/400 of a second at the very least and preferably 1/800 onwards if you want to freeze the action.

Paulw

What sports?

What have you got?

What is your budget?

My gear for sports - Canon 1D MkIII, 1D MkIV, 300mm f/2.8, 1.4x TC, 70-200mm f/2.8, 24-70 f/2.8, lots of fast memory cards.

irish147

I have used the Canon 30D camera with a 300mm 2.8 lens, the lens is number one in sports photography.

On a sunny day, you will get away with a slow lens.....

at night, or on a dark day, you need a 2.8 lens (I did snooker last week in UCD, 2.8 lens with 3200 ISO with 160/1)

WillyWonka

If you're struggling for light and a decent shutter speed, be sure to check the LCD by zooming in.

What looks good on the LCD can look horrible when you take them home. But if you stick to shutter speeds suggested by tororosso you'll be fine.

Lateral movement is harder to freeze.

PCPhoto

seanin4711 wrote: »

Any got any tips for equipment required for sports pics such as lens selection,filters lens speed etc.
Thanks,
John

like has been mentioned before ....all depends on so many things...the main ones being.

What sports you wish to cover ?
what budget you have ?

for example a 24-70mm lens might be decent enough for ringside boxing .... but a 300mm would be of no use for ringside..... but the 300mm would be suited to football (soccer) ... a larger lens 400mm, 500mm, 600mm are more suited to GAA/Hurling due to the size of the pitch (although the 400mm is often used in soccer too) .... most field hockey games can be covered with a 70-200 or a 300mm.

seanin4711

Amateur set up to be honest,as first real field trip trial and error tbh.
Hope to be going with camera club.
my gear so far
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=71578084#post71578084
I know I am the poor relation.

Paulw

For local rugby, a lens around 200mm should be ok. 300mm or 400mm would be better, but then it's a large cost.

Dusk light may be an issue, so bump up your ISO and/or use fast glass.

Plenty of "shooting sport" tips on my website.

magicbastarder

spike the players food with valium so they slow down, making the action easier to capture.
tilt the pitch towards you - gravity will tend to carry the play your way, thus removing the need for really long lenses.