Advice on best set-up for baseball shots?

[doc_lonsdale]

I have a Canon 650D with a Canon EF 70-300 IS USM lens and I'm trying to get some great pics of my son playing baseball.

Is there a way I can set up the camera to focus on any point at x-distance from me?

Let's say I am standing 100 feet from the plate - can I set up the camera to make everything from 80 feet to 120 feet in focus?

Sorry if this is a dumb question.

 

[BillM]

Not a dumb question at all, you want to know what aperture will get you the proper depth of field.

From that distance it is safe to assume you will be shooting at 300 MM and your minimum aperture is probably f/5.6 with that lens. I'm not a Canon guy.

You are not really going to want to shoot at an aperture that will get you that much depth of field as you would need to shoot at too slow of a shutter speed.

This is what f/5.6 would get you from 100 feet @300 MM, that would work well for baseball. And probably give you plenty of room for a decent shutter speed if there is enough sunlight.

Depth of field
Near limit 96.5 ft
Far limit 103.7 ft
Total 7.22 ft

In front of subject 3.48 ft (48%)
Behind subject 3.74 ft (52%)

Online Depth of Field Calculator

 

[doc_lonsdale]

Thanks BillM - that helps a lot. The depth of field calculator illustrates very well what I was after, I'll try it out and see if I asked the right question!

 

[beagle100]

I have a Canon 650D with a Canon EF 70-300 IS USM lens and I'm trying to get some great pics of my son playing baseball.

Is there a way I can set up the camera to focus on any point at x-distance from me?

Let's say I am standing 100 feet from the plate - can I set up the camera to make everything from 80 feet to 120 feet in focus?

Sorry if this is a dumb question.

shooting at f5.6 at 200mm - 300mm allows a large enough "depth of field" to get everything in focus
make sure you have a high enough shutter speed, say, 1/2500 to freeze the action

2nd base shots -

60D
Canon 100-400 V1
170mm
f5
1/2500