Best setting for Basketball Game Photos

[Jasonrph]

Hi,

I'm new to photography and to this forum. I have a quick question. My camera is a Canon PowerShot SX30 IS. I would like to be able to get sharper pictures of my children playing basketball. When shooting from the stands, I have been unable to find a setting that does not appear blurry. Both the "auto" and "sports" settings produce poor pictures. When I use the Tv mode and increase the shudder speed the images tend to be dark, even with the flash.

Of couse all of this is the camera's fault.

Just kidding.

But seriously, I just don't have a clue what to do. Any tips?

Cordially,

Jason

 

[ann]

set you camera on tv mode with a speed of 250, then keep boosting the ISO until you get a better lite image; however, be prepared for serious noise.

 

[Destin]

^ What ann said. With that camera you are going to have a very hard time getting good photos.

If you do get proper exposure, and no motion blur it is going to be VERY noisy (grainy).

Even using a dslr with a fast zoom lens I have to use 2 off camera flash units to get good photos of high school basketball. Gym's tend to have terrible lighting.

 

[Jasonrph]

Thank you both for the information.

Would there be a better camera for such uses in the $300-$400 price range? Unfortunately that is as high as I can go right now. It seemed to get decent reviews. I just bought it a couple weeks ago, so I could probably still exchange it.

I'll try these suggestions.

Jason

 

[Destin]

getting good lighting in high school gyms is going to be very tough for $300-400, honestly.

I think the best camera you can get on that budget id the Nikon P7000 right now. It's going for $419 on BHphotovideo.com.

I honestly don't know that it would make your basketball photos any better though. You really need a dslr, with at least an external flash unit for that. Shooting in gyms is a tough task. Heck I have a hard time with it, and I'm using 2 flash units and a fast lens.

 

[Jasonrph]

Destin - your basketball photos are amazing. But I guess I'm just going to have to make due with what I have for now.

Some day I'll be able to invest in a good dslr...

I really appreciate all the helpful information. Merry Christmas!

 

[Destin]

Destin - your basketball photos are amazing. But I guess I'm just going to have to make due with what I have for now.

Some day I'll be able to invest in a good dslr...

I really appreciate all the helpful information. Merry Christmas!

Thanks, and your welcome man, merry Christmas to you to!! Hope you are able to get some decent photos at least. M

Maybe a photographer from the local paper will come cover a game or two, and you can buy a photo or two off of him so you have a good one of your kid playing!

I personally dont shoot for a paper, I just take the photos to sell to the parents. And it brings in a decent amount of money.

 

[flea77]

With the right camera and lens, you can usually pull it off without flash as well. As for budgets, the lens alone used for this shot is almost $400 and it is considered very inexpensive. Note no harsh shadows from the flash.

Allan

 

[ann]

Understand your situation. Do the best you can right now, you can also think about using a good noise reduction software program that can help in controling the noise.

Just keep our expectations reasonably with what you have , have fun and enjoy your children and their events. They probably won't even notice. Only "us fools" get so out of joint with noise

 

[Destin]

With the right camera and lens, you can usually pull it off without flash as well. As for budgets, the lens alone used for this shot is almost $400 and it is considered very inexpensive. Note no harsh shadows from the flash.

Allan

That's also not in a high school gym with terrible lighting.

To shoot without flash in the gym's around here, I would be at f1.8, and iso 3200 to even pull 1/320th of a second. Note I'm using a D80 and 3200 is unusable. The highest iso I'll use is 1600, and that get's me a shutter speed that can't come anywhere near freezing action. Flash is a must for the light ing 99% of high school gyms, unless you have a camera that allows you to shoot at 6400 or so.

 

[flea77]

That's also not in a high school gym with terrible lighting.

To shoot without flash in the gym's around here, I would be at f1.8, and iso 3200 to even pull 1/320th of a second. Note I'm using a D80 and 3200 is unusable. The highest iso I'll use is 1600, and that get's me a shutter speed that can't come anywhere near freezing action. Flash is a must for the light ing 99% of high school gyms, unless you have a camera that allows you to shoot at 6400 or so.

No, this is in a college gym with terrible lighting. So bad in fact, the local high school is actually better! Even the college sports department makes fun of the lighting in there. It was built in 1976 and almost half of the lights no longer work at all.

That photo was shot at f1.8, 2880iso at 1/800th. You could gain some more speed by not shooting with a zoom. I shoot all my basketball with an 85mm 1.8 lens, it has a faster aperture and doesn't lose as much light as a zoom. No one who shoots in the gym in my posted picture shoots with a zoom, we all use 85s or 50s, the college paper uses a 50, the SID uses a 50, the city paper uses an 85, the college propper uses an 85. Try one sometime and see if it helps.

I stated that "with the right camera and lens" you could do it without flash, my point being to the OP that getting shots like this will more than likely cost significantly more than the $300-$400 they wanted to spend (hence my giving the price for the lens). They can get closer (their built in flash will help more then), buy prints from a pro, or buy expensive equipment.

Allan

 

[Destin]

That's also not in a high school gym with terrible lighting.

To shoot without flash in the gym's around here, I would be at f1.8, and iso 3200 to even pull 1/320th of a second. Note I'm using a D80 and 3200 is unusable. The highest iso I'll use is 1600, and that get's me a shutter speed that can't come anywhere near freezing action. Flash is a must for the light ing 99% of high school gyms, unless you have a camera that allows you to shoot at 6400 or so.

No, this is in a college gym with terrible lighting. So bad in fact, the local high school is actually better! Even the college sports department makes fun of the lighting in there. It was built in 1976 and almost half of the lights no longer work at all.

That photo was shot at f1.8, 2880iso at 1/800th. You could gain some more speed by not shooting with a zoom. I shoot all my basketball with an 85mm 1.8 lens, it has a faster aperture and doesn't lose as much light as a zoom. No one who shoots in the gym in my posted picture shoots with a zoom, we all use 85s or 50s, the college paper uses a 50, the SID uses a 50, the city paper uses an 85, the college propper uses an 85. Try one sometime and see if it helps.

I stated that "with the right camera and lens" you could do it without flash, my point being to the OP that getting shots like this will more than likely cost significantly more than the $300-$400 they wanted to spend (hence my giving the price for the lens). They can get closer (their built in flash will help more then), buy prints from a pro, or buy expensive equipment.

Allan

And I just stated that I was using a 50mm 1.8, at 1.8. Read through something before you respond to it.

I use my 70-200 2.8 sometimes too, but I'm already using flash with the 50mm, so thats irrelevant

 

[flea77]

And I just stated that I was using a 50mm 1.8, at 1.8. Read through something before you respond to it.

I use my 70-200 2.8 sometimes too, but I'm already using flash with the 50mm, so thats irrelevant

I apologize, but even now when I go back through the thread I see where you say:

Even using a dslr with a fast zoom lens I have to use 2 off camera flash units to get good photos of high school basketball.

which tells me you use a zoom, but I do not see where you mention a 50mm at all. In another post you say:

To shoot without flash in the gym's around here, I would be at f1.8, and iso 3200 to even pull 1/320th of a second.

But since you never specify a lens I assumed this was just a calculation.

Again, I apologize if I upset you but I did read the posts and was just trying to help.

Allan

 

[Robin Usagani]

Destin, dont be afraid to go to 3200. As long as you dont underexpose it, it will look as good as 1600 especially with NR.

 

[Destin]

Destin, dont be afraid to go to 3200. As long as you dont underexpose it, it will look as good as 1600 especially with NR.

Haha not on a D80. 3200 isn't a native iso setting.

ISO 1600

ISO 3200 (Hi 1)