Focus problems :(

[DR_Malibu]

So I had my kids swim meet today and I was on the opposite side of the pool about 25 yards trying to get good shots and I got so upset!!! I have a tameron 70-300mm lens. Is there any way or what settings my 60d should be on to get better quality. It seems like when I zoom all the way out to get them jumping into the water they are blurry. Any suggestions on a better zoom lens but not going to break my bank lol

 

[Kerbouchard]

:addpics:

Seriously, though...a few examples that you are unhappy with and the settings that you used could make this troubleshooting thing a lot easier.

My guess is that it isn't a focus problem, and that it is more of a technique problem. Shooting at 300mm on a 60d gives you an effective focal length of 480mm. To take a shot like that hand held requires a shutter speed of at least 1/500th of a second. Also, most of the 70-300 zoom varieties are a bit soft at the long end. It's just one of the compromises the manufacturers had to make when building the lens. If you were shooting at 5.6 at 300mm with a shutter speed lower than 1/500th of a second, I would be surprised if the pics weren't blurry.

 

[Zrock]

a tripod would have helped also.. the more u zoom the harder it is to stop camera shake

 

[BaliEagle]

Like what was said above, you were probhably just using too low of a shutter speed. You'll definately need 1/500th of a second or less, and I high ISO and wide open (lower f numbered) aperture to boot so the picture isn't too dark. A tripod would be good bu probably isn't neccesary because you said u were zoomed out?

Pictures would definately be good.

 

[KmH]

a tripod would have helped also.. the more u zoom the harder it is to stop camera shake

But, for shooting sports a good monopod is used more often.

I wonder if Dr Malibu is finding this photography stuff more technically involved than he/she expected.

Indoor sports photography, if it was an indoor pool, pretty much requires using the much more expensive, faster lenses, like a f/2.8 constant aperture zoom.

 

[DR_Malibu]

I am a female lol and the technicality of it comes easy for me when explained in here it helps a lot. I will post a link in a few minutes. I also noticed when I put my pics in my 47" that when I zoomed all the way out even though my focus points were on my son it only focused things before it. I'll post a link.......thanks for the help they have their last swim meet in a couple weeks and I don't want to miss a moment.

 

[DR_Malibu]

Here is a link to the pics! you can see that when I focus all the way out and my focus dots or whatever are on my subject but it seemed to focus on stuff before it.....

Tracy Tritons - a set on Flickr

 

[joealcantar]

Most cameras have different focusing methods and this may have been the majority of the problem as well as not having a fast focusing lens. Read the manual on the different methods of focusing a moving subject. If the water is moving in front of the subject it will try to focus on that first etc. Give yourself a little forgiveness room by having a deeper DOF that way if you are a little off the subject will still be in focus. Know it will be tough with what gear you have , but believe me we were getting shots like this before all the fancy stuff came out. Practice on the other rug rats and get yourself ready when your subject dives in.

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Shoot well, Joe
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You may want to put what gear you use in your signature block that way folks that have that model etc. who have used the combo can chime in. Specially if they have the same gear
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http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

 

[DR_Malibu]

It's a Canon 60D with a Tameron 70-300mm lens.....I heard it's not a very good one....and I tried so many different settings and shutter speeds and aperture, I did everything from M, C, P, C, Sports I guess I need to save and buy one of those high priced lens....or if you have any suggestions on decent price good lens.....

 

[Kerbouchard]

Wow, yeah, I would say you have some focus issues. Looks like severe front focusing in 4415. If it wasn't for that example, I would have said you should move your focus point to somewhere other than the center, but in 4415, it looks like front focusing.

In any case, for these type of shots, since you know where your the 'action' is going to be, and you know what shot you want, and you know where you will be standing well in advance, perhaps you should try manual focus and just prefocus a little in front of where they are diving off of.

The EXIF info seems to be removed, so I can't tell what aperture, focal length, or shutter speed you were at, so if you want to post that, it could help out. Judging by the water droplets, it looks like your shutter speed was high enough. Maybe a smaller aperture, a slightly slower aperture, and manual focus would yield more keepers.

Long term solution, get a different lens that works better with your camera body.