Jan_dalton Loc: NC

I have two kids that both play basketball and run track!! I'm using the 55 -200mm Len, not performing good unless im in sport setting! What lens are good that are for a limited bargin of $600 or does any one have any pointers!!!

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

If the "Sports" setting is working, I would use that and save the $$$$ for something else!
It's possible, you could improve your images by going manual and tweak the "Sports" settings.
Pat

TTKBJR Loc: Kansas

What kind of camera are you using? Indoor sports photography has different issues and setting involved then outdoor. You might get better results with the lens your using outdoors if you use manual mode and a higher shutter speed as well as setting your own focal point in your camera. But, if you could tell me what type of camera you are using, I could make some better suggestions.

Jan_dalton Loc: NC

I have the Nikon D3100

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Shutter priority, 1/320 to 1/500 and use Auto ISO. Give that a chance

Jan_dalton Loc: NC

That is helping thanks!! Fstop22 :-)

TTKBJR Loc: Kansas

What specifically is wrong with your photos you are taking with the lens you have?

Jan_dalton Loc: NC

Lots of blur when I hv good light because I have the speed down low when I rise it they are dark!! I try to adjust the (-/+) when pushing the shutter button halfway down..I had my ISO UP TO Hi1!! I know I needed to rise the the speed but just couldn't figure out why they where dark with my ISO up on hi 1

Jan_dalton Loc: NC

I will share when I get home to upload them

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

Blurr to slow a shutter

TTKBJR Loc: Kansas

ok, I use a Canon so I am not sure about the Nikon's settings but I think the principles are the same. In the sports mode, your shutter speed is very high which for sports is a good thing. However, this is an automatic mode so with a high shutter speed it automatically calculates your aperture. These two are related, one effects the other in the auto modes. With the higher shutter speed, you are getting less light into the camera so even at high ISO's they can come out dark. Even when you think you have good light, the camera may perceive the situation differently, especially indoors.
So, my suggestions for what they are worth are these.... For outdoor shooting for Track, you can use the lens you have and it should work well unless it needs to be recalibrated due to being jostled to much etc... I always shoot in manual mode which gives you more control over the situation. I am sure there are others that may use the TV or AV modes and you should experiment with those too to see which one works better for you. In the manual mode, set your shutter speed for 1/640 or higher depending on the light situation. Sunny days I go as high as 1/1250 or 1/1600 and reduce it when the light gets lower. I try not to go below 1/400 shooting sports and even in low light situations I still get some blur at that speed. With your lens, your aperture will be effected by focusing your lens in and out. So again depending on your light situation, you could see some picture that look ok and then at a different focal length look too dark. With a zoom lens like this you just have to play with the settings until you get a happy medium at all focal lengths. Set your ISO on sunny days starting at 100 and go up depending on how cloudy or dark it gets. You will reach a point at dusk/dark where you will no longer be able to get good shots with the lens you have.
Also, I would not let the camera choose the focus points. With Canon's you can set your own focal point (where in the scene you focus). I set mine for the center focal point. This helps me get a focus on the body of the player better especially when they are moving. You are less likely to take a photo of your track star only so see the focus was on the tree behind him and not on the runner at all. Check you manual to see if you can switch off the auto focal points in your Nikon and how to choose where you focus.
Indoor shooting is a lot more trouble with the lens you have. You will really have to bump up your ISO and live with the noise unless you want to get a new lens. I have a 70mm-300mm which I have used indoors and get ok results but not great. In manual mode you will have to lower your shutter speed as low as you can until you get some blur and up your ISO. I would try starting at 1/320 shutter speed and an ISO of 800 or 1000 and see what you get. You can adjust up and down with both until you find something might work. It will also help to be closer to the action if possible. The fast lens for sports is a 70-200mm f1.8 lens or even a f4.0 lens might work. With the fixed aperture, you will get more light in and you are able to use the faster shutter speeds. This lens is expensive though but if you have kids that will be in sports for awhile it might be worth the investment. A 85mm f1.4 might work too and be in your budget. Not sure though, I haven't priced those. You would not get the zoom with the prime lenses but you could get better pictures.
Sorry, I know this is lengthy and again, I am sure there are others that have better advice but this works for me and has for 10 years of soccer photography. I have included some photos I have taken and the settings I used for each so you can see what I mean about the manual mode. Keep playing with your settings and you will see results after much trial and error.

lens 70-300mm ISO 200 1/1250 f5.0


70-300mm ISO 100 1/1600 f5.0


70-200mm f2.8 1/400 ISO at 1250 I think

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

Hi and welcome to UHH. Seems you need to increase your shutter speed significantly to stop motion in sports photos. As Fstop suggested, shutter priority and AUTO ISO will improve the blur issue.
You mentioned you set ISO to HI+1, but I think there should be a menu in your camera that will allow you to actually set the ISO and not just compensate by a few clicks. Higher ISO may add a little noise to your photos, but it will allow you to use a faster shutter speed and help in stopping motion blur. You can always reduce the noise in PP with a program later as long as you save your photos in RAW format.

Cool_It Loc: Whitehall, PA

If you can spend $600, look for a used Sigma 70-200 f2.8 HSM. You need to let as much light in as possible, kit lenses just don't cut it indoors. With the 2.8 lens , jack your ISO up as high as you can bear and go manual or shutter priority like other have suggested. It is better to have a clear grainy picture that can be fixed in a program like light room than a blurred picture that can be fixed.

Jan_dalton Loc: NC

Here are some of the photos of my kids games. The first photo is what many of my shots look like, blurred but with your help, much better. I did move up closer but then I had the problem with people walking in front of me. But thank you so much, it has improved my photos and hope my kids like the images much better. I wish I would of found this sight a few months ago. Again thanks so much!!!
My sons # is 14 and my daughter is #23 :-). White jersery...My daughters team is undenfended this season, playoff start Monday...My son plays JV his last game was last night, but he came home and told me that the Varsity coach asked him to play with the Varsity in the playoffs. So MORE photos to come. They won all games last night.

1/100 f/4.2 ISO3200...what many of my action shots look like


after changing setting, much better, not so much blur. I also changed my metering to metric...that seemed to help to.

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

I recently shot a basketball game for a friend. My strategy was as others have recomended shutter speed of 320 to 400 with auto ISO. The lens used was an 85 1.8 prime meaning no option to zoom in or out. The benefit however is a low cost (compared to a Nikon $2500 70-200) lens. I was comfortable with the focus length. Happy with the shots, but dissapointed that I never got that Sports Illustrated money shot.