Canon 7D Gymnastics Setting Recommendations

[ALmomof3]

Can anyone suggest some settings for a canon 7D,using lens 50mm/ F 1.4 USM , for the indoor sport of Gymnastics- no flash allowed.
Thanks!

 

[rexbobcat]

Meter for the available light. Keep your shutter speed high.

 

[Majeed Badizadegan]

Probably at least 1/400 for the shutter speed. I wouldn't go under 2.5 with the aperture. f/4 if there's plenty of ambient light. I'd recommend using high speed burst paired with AI servo back button focusing so you don't miss the moment, or focus.

 

[TCampbell]

At f/2.8 you'll get a little over 8' of DoF if your subject is 25 feet away. If you drop to f/2 then the DoF reduces to a little shy of 6'.

Note that this is for 25' distances. If you are only 20' away, then the DoF for f/2 is reduced to less than 4' (about 3.7 feet). So while you have a lens that can collect a lot of light, the DoF will get too narrow to catch your entire subject in focus if you're too close.

A shutter speed of 1/500th will freeze all but the fastest actions. It's generally considered fast enough to freeze action in most sports and, often, you can get away with speeds just slightly slower.... possibly as slow as 1/250th.

I've noticed that high-school gymnasiums may require ISO 3200, f/2.8 and then give you shutter speeds between 1/400 & 1/600sec. Professional sports stadiums often have better lighting and may allow you to drop the ISO considerably lower (for less noise.)

Note that those shutter speeds are for action. If you're shooting non-action shots (before/after competition) then you can drop the shutter speed down to about 1/80 sec. and cut your ISO for less noise. With a 50mm lens, you shouldn't see motion blur from a hand-held shot at 1/100th as long as you're trying to be steady and keeping your elbows under the camera and planting them on your belly.

 

[Light Guru]

Can anyone suggest some settings for a canon 7D,using lens 50mm/ F 1.4 USM , for the indoor sport of Gymnastics- no flash allowed.
Thanks!

And how do you plan on getting close enough to shoot gymnastics with a 50mm lens.

 

[ALmomof3]

Can anyone suggest some settings for a canon 7D,using lens 50mm/ F 1.4 USM , for the indoor sport of Gymnastics- no flash allowed.
Thanks!

And how do you plan on getting close enough to shoot gymnastics with a 50mm lens.

I had no problem this weekend shooting with my 50mm, depends on facilities & setup. Sat on front row & got these:

 

[imagemaker46]

Seems you have already shot gymnastics, why are you looking for settings? The ones you posted are dark and need a crop, 50mm is not the best lens to shoot with, but they don't look as bad as I would have expected shooting gymnastics with a short lens.

 

[ALmomof3]

This is a new camera & my 1st time to shoot my daughters team. Trying to improve....

 

[weepete]

ETTR if possible, and don't be afraid to bump up the ISO.

Under similar conditions I shoot with at least 1/320th, but recently I think I've been getting better results shooting at 1/640 or 1/800. Typically my ISOs will be between 3200 and 12800, but I do tend to use longer focal lengths (70-300) and my lens only goes up to f4-5.6 (yes I know I need faster glass). I also turn off all in camera processing to get the best of the burst rate. I tend to shoot in manual, AI Servo mode, shutter release - metering and af start (bbf can be awkward for long shots IME), spot metering, single AF point on manual select.

I find it quite difficult to get the subject in focus at less than f4 on the 50mm anyway.

 

[Pallycow]

auto

 

[Majeed Badizadegan]

auto

Pop up flash + 1/60 sec FTW!

 

[Pallycow]

auto

Pop up flash + 1/60 sec FTW!

Absolutely.

 

[ALmomof3]

No flash allowed in Gymnastics ....

 

[Pallycow]

methinks he's unable to detect our cleverly disguised sarcasm rot....

 

[imagemaker46]

I would try to get at least 500th sec at 2.8-3.2 and just bump the iso up until you hit those numbers.