Canon 1D Mark IV Tips

[matt.garnett]

Okay so its official. I have a 1D Mark IV, a 400mm 2.8, a 70-200mm 2.8, and a 24-70mm 2.8 rented out for next Thursday-Monday. I'm going to be shooting all of the Texas UIL state championships at the Cowboy's stadium. The main problem here is, is that currently my main body is a T2i and I have only shot on the 1D at photo expos and camera stores, so any tips regular ding shooting football with it would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

 

[o hey tyler]

Bring lots of memory cards?

 

[Markw]

+1

And a monopod for the 400/2.8.

Mark

 

[gsgary]

You are going to struggle big time going from a T2i to a 1D there are so many settings to customise it for different sports and the 400F2.8 can take a few weeks to get used to sometimes months

 

[penfolderoldo]

Gary's right - that's a mammoth leap. That's all pro kit, which I suspect will so bamboozle you that you'll be too busy fiddling with the settings you may well miss the shots, which wouldn't be great. If you intend to use mostly the 400, try it on the first day on your T2i, then check the results and use those settings as a base on the mark IV. It's far from ideal, but it may just get you thru.

Remember, just because you're using pro kit doesn't automatically mean you'll get pro results - it's experience and the skill of the photographer that will get you great images.

 

[matt.garnett]

I completely agree with you that it doesn't guarantee pro results and that it will probably be very overwhelming. I'm just thinking if I'm going to spend 36 hours shooting football in a 3 day period I might as well do it right and put some experience hours on pro gear. Any books you suggest reading on 1D settings? I've shot several time on the 300mm, is it really that big of a jump? (since I'm switching from a 300mm on a 1.6 crop to a 400mm on a 1.3 crop). Thanks for the responses, I appreciate them.

 

[penfolderoldo]

I completely agree with you that it doesn't guarantee pro results and that it will probably be very overwhelming. I'm just thinking if I'm going to spend 36 hours shooting football in a 3 day period I might as well do it right and put some experience hours on pro gear. Any books you suggest reading on 1D settings? I've shot several time on the 300mm, is it really that bugbear of a jump? (since I'm switching from a 300mm on a 1.6 crop to a 400mm on a 1.3 crop). Thanks for the responses, I appreciate them.

Assuming it's the 300/2.8 and not the 300/4 you're talking about then it isn't the most massive jump, (still pretty hefty tho), but switching glass and bodies may just be a step too far. You could check out sportsshooter.com, but I think just trying it is the only real way to go, as each guy has their own particular preferences.

Good luck with it all.

 

[gsgary]

Years ago i had a 300F4L that was that sharp it made your eyes bleed but i had to have 300F2.8L so i spent a fortune on a 300F2.8 first time i shot with it i wanted to throw it in the bin none of the shots were as good as the F4 i was well pissed, but after about 4 shoots i was getting the hang of it, so if you aree shooting wide open like i do it takes time before you get used to it

 

[o hey tyler]

I completely agree with you that it doesn't guarantee pro results and that it will probably be very overwhelming. I'm just thinking if I'm going to spend 36 hours shooting football in a 3 day period I might as well do it right and put some experience hours on pro gear. Any books you suggest reading on 1D settings? I've shot several time on the 300mm, is it really that big of a jump? (since I'm switching from a 300mm on a 1.6 crop to a 400mm on a 1.3 crop). Thanks for the responses, I appreciate them.

You realize that the 1D series control system is nothing like the Txi series, right? You're going to be a little lost if you've never handled a pro body before.

 

[matt.garnett]

I understand, I have already used it before and know my way around changing the regular setting (Aperture, ISO, Shutter, ETC) I'm just more worried about the custom functions and what not.