It's Baseball Season Down South: Was shooting a college baseball game from right field fence with my Sigma 150-500 mm ISO 500, 1/800 sec, at f10. If I got the batter in focus what do I...

98corvette Loc: Macon, Georgia

Was shooting a college baseball game from right field fence with my Sigma 150-500 mm ISO 500, 1/800 sec, at f10. If I got the batter in focus what do I have to do to get the ball in focus, at the same time? Is there something I am missing? Distance to batter is about 300 feet Do I stop down more?
Boston you should be so lucky to see the baseball unless it was orange!!

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ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Very good capture.

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

Stopping down more will increase the depth of field. It's either that or shoot when the ball is closer to the batter. :-D

There's usually about 100 or so pitches a game, so you've got plenty of opportunities to experiment.

MarkD Loc: NYC

That's a great shot. The ball could be going 90+ mph so try a higher shutter speed. Personally I like the slight blur on the ball. It shows the speed of the ball.

The weather in NYC is terrible, not like Boston, but bad enough. But knowing that pitchers and catchers report next week gives me hope that spring really is on the way.

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

98corvette wrote:

Was shooting a college baseball game from right field fence

Why were you shooting from so far away?

Gobuster Loc: South Florida

98corvette wrote:

Was shooting a college baseball game from right field fence with my Sigma 150-500 mm ISO 500, 1/800 sec, at f10. If I got the batter in focus what do I have to do to get the ball in focus, at the same time? Is there something I am missing? Distance to batter is about 300 feet Do I stop down more?
Boston you should be so lucky to see the baseball unless it was orange!!

The ball is not out of focus, you are simply getting motion blur. Note that both the players in the foreground ad the signs on the wall are quite sharp so DoF is not the problem. If you want the ball sharper, try 1/2000" speed, that will help. You will have to open up the lens or up the ISO.

98corvette Loc: Macon, Georgia

Swamp Gator wrote:

Why were you shooting from so far away?

If you sit in the stands you cannot get at the batter. Right field is a big grassy hill. Beside I just got the lens 2 weeks ago and wanted to see what it could do.

98corvette Loc: Macon, Georgia

Gobuster wrote:

The ball is not out of focus, you are simply getting motion blur. Note that both the players in the foreground ad the signs on the wall are quite sharp so DoF is not the problem. If you want the ball sharper, try 1/2000" speed, that will help. You will have to open up the lens or up the ISO.

Going back this afternoon to try again. appreciate your comments, problem today is overcast so it will be a lot less light than Sunday.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

As others have said, motion blur.
That is a pretty good promo picture for the lens. I think I need to have one!

98corvette Loc: Macon, Georgia

Rich1939 wrote:

As others have said, motion blur.
That is a pretty good promo picture for the lens. I think I need to have one!

It was a good purchase for $700 with a Sigma 2x converter. The converter is worthless unless you use live view on my 5Dlll then it will AF. On the 7D don't even waste your time. The guy I bought it from had it for 6 months and gave up using it on his 70D.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

98corvette wrote:

Going back this afternoon to try again. appreciate your comments, problem today is overcast so it will be a lot less light than Sunday.

98, I don't see anybody in the stands. Will they allow you to bring a ladder? That would be the way to shoot behind the plate. ;-)
SS

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

98corvette wrote:

It was a good purchase for $700 with a Sigma 2x converter. The converter is worthless unless you use live view on my 5Dlll then it will AF. On the 7D don't even waste your time. The guy I bought it from had it for 6 months and gave up using it on his 70D.

98, at the distance you are shooting you could easily use the 2x and just focus on manual using the Live View. No you can't be spontaneous, but just wait for the action to come to you. Like anticipate a double play or a slide to 3rd/2nd/home. You just need patience. That's assuming the 2x doesn't annihilate your IQ ! ;-)
SS

98corvette Loc: Macon, Georgia

SharpShooter wrote:

98, I don't see anybody in the stands. Will they allow you to bring a ladder? That would be the way to shoot behind the plate. ;-)
SS

There were people in the stands, but the tailgaters were in right and center field much more fun. Especially the antics of a 130 pound black and white spotted Great Dane. How do college kids afford the upkeep.
Personally I can not use a ladder as I can't feel my feet since I pinched something in my back 4 years ago.
I keep sending the coach pictures so I keep working on a better spot.

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Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

98corvette wrote:

It was a good purchase for $700 with a Sigma 2x converter. The converter is worthless unless you use live view on my 5Dlll then it will AF. On the 7D don't even waste your time. The guy I bought it from had it for 6 months and gave up using it on his 70D.

The EXIF data shows that you were zoomed to 267mm. At f/10 for 267mm focused at 300 feet your depth of field is ~258 feet. That easily covers from 1st to home and beyond. You could open up to f/8 no problem and still have plenty of DOF coverage, Up your shutter speed to 1/1000 or so. Want to take it further? bump the ISO and go to 1/2000

98corvette Loc: Macon, Georgia

SharpShooter wrote:

98, at the distance you are shooting you could easily use the 2x and just focus on manual using the Live View. No you can't be spontaneous, but just wait for the action to come to you.like anticipate a double play or a slide to 3rd/2nd/home. You just need patience. That's assuming the 2x doesn't annihilate your IQ ! ;-)
SS

Supposed to be in the high 60's Saturday will try it then as it might be too overcast today to get enough light and still keep the IQ