areej Loc: Atlanta,Ga

I really need help with the setting on my camera for my son's karate tounament night , I recently started using the manual mode and I would love to hear any suggestion for all the settings .
I have Canon 60D and my lenses are 18-135mm with 3.5-5.6f
the second lens is 55-250mm with 4-5.6f
the third lens is 50mm with 1.8f
Thanks

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

As with anything else it is going to depend on the lighting conditions.

Since this involves movement, i would set the camera in tv mode, dial in 1/250 of a sec, set ISO at 400, take a test shot and check the histogram and LCD to review the exposure and then be prepared to adjust your ISO until you get an exposure that is acceptable for you.

The 50mm lens certainly is going to give you an opportunity to use a lower ISO; however, as the fstop gets larger the DOF gets shorter which may interfer with your vision .
How close can you get to the matts? That will decide the focal length needed to fill the frame with your son

foghornleg90 Loc: All over USA - Medford, OR & Knoxville, TN

1/250th isn't usually fast enough... 320 is, unless they are demonstrating weapons or just ULTRA FAST. There's one guy I've shot that can't be fully stopped at 1000.

When I shoot sports action... I go to full manual... set shutter speed first, most open aperature second, then adjust for the ISO (with indoor stuff - usually 1600 to 6400). With the 60D, you have the ability to crank the ISO, but will start to get a bit of noise after about 1600... so noise reduction will be helpful in the post processing. But 6400 works beautifully. (ALL of these were 250, f3.5 to 5.6, 6400 ISO: http://mercer.smugmug.com/OtherSports/2011-11-11-SMedford-vs-Centenn/SMedford-vs-Cenntenial-TOP/20091907_cMG3kB/1585137208_CGvzMRB... you can see a bit of blur on the ball in some frames, and 320 would have stopped that in all but the kick offs... but the lighting wasn't bright enough to allow that, and I would have lost more of the other shots).

Also, consider either center spot focus points OR all... with AI Servo, and use the focus button at the back of your body while shooting (your thumb should reach it - and just hold it down during the action). Best of luck...

Gregory Loc: Clinton, Iowa

I shoot MMA and the setting i find that works best Is TAV Mode I choose Shutter and aperture and the Camera selects the iso This shot was with my Pentax K5 28-75 f2.8 This shot was set at F2.8 1/400 iso6400
www.badboysofmma.com to see more pix

areej Loc: Atlanta,Ga

Thank you ,

areej Loc: Atlanta,Ga

Thanks , Amazing shots!

areej Loc: Atlanta,Ga

Amazing shots! Wow!!

foghornleg90 Loc: All over USA - Medford, OR & Knoxville, TN

Thanks... if you like challenging 'indoor action' - basket ball & volley ball are all of that. Football at night is also. These are some of my personal favorite basketball shots: http://mercer.smugmug.com/HighshoolBasketBallOregon/Oregon-State-6A-Highschool/Published-in-Mail-Tribune/16205654_9VGnTm/1217327282_LvE4V

Track & Field timing & angle are everything, if your settings are correct... the challenge is the changing sky on rainy or cloudy days. http://mercer.smugmug.com/TrackandField/2011-05-13-Western-Oregon-U

I found a set that was a few years old... of a Martial Arts Tournament my little sister was participating in (I had those photos posted to my old Flickr account - for the family sharing stuff). These are all 'as shot' (no post processing, cropping, or other alterations)... so there are some not so great ones. But, they might give you an idea of what the settings & angles can do (and which to avoid).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/sets/72157623658578190/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/4448961746/in/set-72157623658578190

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/4448293775/in/set-72157623658578190

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/4449103918/in/set-72157623658578190

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/4448992894/in/set-72157623658578190

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/4448227191/in/set-72157623658578190

Settings on the Flickr martial arts set is:
Exposure 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 250 mm
ISO Speed 1600
Exposure Bias +2 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

Moving around, to find different angles is important (depending on the location & match). Obviously, if you are shooting a cage match, a good location is a good location... and ya don't want to give that up. But, the average tournament has 3 to 6 'rings' going... and you'll need to scope out the back ground and angles of each - and be ready to move as the athlete you're following moves. Pay attention to where the judges are - as more experienced athletes will 'play toward' them more often than not. Best of luck.

areej Loc: Atlanta,Ga

Wow Wow those are great shots I looked through all of them , you'v got an amazing talent , I'll try my best tomorrow wish me luck , may be i'll post some (may be) if i see something worth posting