pumpkinbrat Loc: Waterville, NY

I have a Nikon D3200 camera. I bought a 50mm 1.8 lens. What would be the best setting to take picture of an indoor high school gym? Most of our area schools have good lighting in the gym for Varsity Basketball games. Should I just use the sports setting on the camera or use manual or something else. The biggest problem I'm having is what to set the camera up and manual setting ISO if I use manual or aperture-priority. I'm new to shooting in a high school gym... Thank You

pumpkinbrat Loc: Waterville, NY

I forgot to say are gym lighting isn't as great as a college gym.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

what type of lights are they? are they high intensity Incandescent?

http://www.digitalslrphoto.com/dslrbasics/startersguides/13068/dslr_starters_guides_white_balance.html

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

The best thing you can do is go to the gym before the game when the lights are on and practice taking shots. Set the white balance to the type of lights in the gym. You might have to set the iso high enough to get the right shutter speed.

gonate Loc: sacramento,calif

Take some test shots, be sure to print them , they may not look the same as they do on your L.C.D.

KWB1958

Go with shutter priority, at least 1/800th, f8, and the appropriate ISO. I get great results at my son's game using those settings as a minimum.

Toby

Do not use the sports setting. Shoot with aperture priority or manual and in RAW. Speed of at least 1/500. You may want to open the aperture to 2.8. Set ISO so that you can get these settings.

Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

I shoot with the same lens on a D3100 in Hockey rinks My Suggestion would be put ISO and White Balance on Auto with the top end of ISO at either 1600 or 3200 if the noise is acceptable that high. In dark rinks I can usually get away with iso 1600. I think if you put it on the Sports Mode the darkness of the gym will fool the camera into thinking you need a slower shutter speed and it wont give you high enough shutter speeds. My experience is I have had trouble shooting either apperture or shutter priority for the same reason. I shoot full manual usually with F2.2 and a Shutter speed of 1/1000 although sometimes I have to back down to 1/800. If you have to adjust I would open the apperture before slowing the shutter. To stop the motion you need a pretty fast shutter. Dont be afraid to bump up your exposure compensation if you have to. I often have to push it as much as +3. Use a single focus point and put it on the chest of your subject not the head that will give you a better chance of catching them in focus. Also I suggest you shoot RAW, that will give you the ability to Post Process. You will be amazed at how much you can improve your shots in Post under those conditions. All that said get to the Gym early take test shots and adjust your settings from there. I would suggest you learn how to change your shutter and appeture quickly while looking through the view finder. Basketball gives you some great oppertunities for non action shots and you can slow your shutter down for those( and adjust your apperture accordingly), for example when a player goes to the free throw line. Or players sitting on the bench watching the game. Those can be great shots. Lastly if you happen to shoot with a lens that has VR(your nifty fifty does not) make sure it is turned off. Good Luck

dannac Loc: 60 miles SW of New Orleans

Shot these in dark gym.
Nikon D7100 in manual with a 50mm 1.8 lens.
SS 640 - F/2.2 - ISO - 2500

My meter showed approx 1/2 stop under exposed.
Raised exposure and cropped in Lightroom.

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SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Yes, shoot on Tv at 500ss or even a bit slower. The slowest you can tolerate blur wise.
Set your ISO to Auto.
Try that and see if you can get usable shots.
If not get a nifty 50 or even an 85 1.8 and just give up anything that is far away.
I've gotten very usable stuff with an f4 zoom lens. Good luck
SS

DelRae Loc: Oregon

what camera do you use?
I am trying on my 5D mark IV I can not get the pictures Right
my Grandson has two more games to play have not got any that are good to keep yet DelRae

Hip Coyote

I have a slightly different idea...set shutter speed as needed...1/500 or faster. Open the aperture up as much as it will go..and set iso to auto. Use the EV to refine results. Im also wondering if a 50 mm is a too short for the purposes of a sports venue.