PhotoTex Loc: Texas

I tried indoor basketball photography and got unacceptable results. I use a Canon 24-105 f4.5 L lens. I opened the camera all the way to f 4.5 and to ISO 6400 and still got streaking. There was also a lot of light reflection off the floor. The question is: what is the secret to good photos in this setting?

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Well...by streaking I'm guessing you mean that there was motion blur due to the players moving.

I think that to stop basketball action you need a shutter speed of at least 1/250 (someone else can correct me if that is wrong) and I see that you are using a lens that has a minimum f/stop of 4.5...that's very slow...not good for low light situations at all (as you discovered.)

I shoot indoor sports with an 85mm f/1.8 wide open at 1.8 or 2.0 at ISO 800 and ss of 1/125 and it's still a struggle.

You need a faster lens:

Sorry for that but unless you can find a way to raise the light level in the gym...you're stuck with that.

You said that the ISO was 6400 and the aperture was f/4.5

What was your shutter speed?

PhotoTex Loc: Texas

I did not notice. But it was obviously inadequate. So a faster lens it must be. $$$$$

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I used my 28-300mm Nikkor in a low-light situation to take video and photos of 2 year old soccer. Granted, these kids were not as quick as older kids, but the shots came out ok. I'll try to upload a few (they're on another laptop that is having keyboard problems).

Oops...when I looked at the pictures, the flash flashed.

Boldstep Loc: Western Oregon

I used to take pictures of ice skating events and can appreciate what you're going through. A couple of things came to mind immediately. Yes your lens is too slow. Keep in mind too that as you zoom in the lens is going to slow down even more so that you may end up with shutter speeds entirely too slow. If you can, go to a fixed focal length lens. Perhaps you can get an aftermarket lens or even an older "fast" lens that will work on your camera (I'm assuming you have a dslr). Secondly use spot metering if your camera has that feature and if not, watch your backgrounds and get yourself set up in a good position, the camera will adjust a little faster with a light colored background. You can also do a metering average of the general conditions lock in the metering at a setting with at least 125-250/sec. Experiment around, you'll come up with a good combination for the gym you're shooting in.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Yes...but it depends how far away you are.

I shoot indoor wrestling and get very close up at 25 or 30 feet; I can fill the frame with a torso using an 85mm f/1.8 that was only 380.00 or so. You said you are using a 24-105 and so that's pretty close and cheap too. If you can shoot from the sidelines and move around a bit then I think that would be a good option.

You can also get a 200mm f/2.8 that's reasonable also. For example a Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L USM is 800.00 new.

for just slightly more than that (1000.00 new) you can get a SUPER SHARP 135mm f/2L

You have to decide how long you need and if you need a zoom or a telephoto.

PhotoTex Loc: Texas

Thanks for the detailed info.

travlnman46 Loc: Yakima WA

Hi jrlatham4567: To find which shutter speed you were using check your metadata, if you don't know how to find it in your Canon read your manual. Here is a great website that covers ISO, apeture and shutter speed and how they work together. http://www.cameraporn.net/2007/12/24/aperture-iso-and-shutter-speed-the-good-kind-of-threesome/ Here is another great site that allows you to plat with various lighting situations, ISO, apeture and shutter speed settings. it is a camera simulator. http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator/ This way you can try variuos settings using an apeture setting of f/4.5 and see the results using various lighting, ISO and shutter speeds. With out going out and buying a new lens right away. Here is another great website that explains all about Canon lenses including the quality and various ratings of each one. http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/lenses.html I've used this website to determine which lenses I want to purchase. Normally I buy used from companies like B&H or KEH, although I've found some good bargains on Craigs List, I bought that one locally so I could check out the lens first before I paid for it.... Hope this helps..

Mpeter45 Loc: Springfield, Illinois

The Canon 24-105 L lens is a constant F4, but most high school gyms are so poorly lit that it is doubtful you can shoot any faster than 1/125 which won't freeze the action. So you will need either a faster lens or higher ISO. As for floor reflections, ther is not much you can do but crop out the floor as much as you can. Angle of shooting can help, so shooting from floor level, rather than from the stands will make a difference.

PhotoTex Loc: Texas

Thanks. It does.
Jim

ace-mt Loc: Montana

Hey its nice to find another wrestling fan/shooter. My wife & I followed our 2 sons through 8 consecutive seasons, missing only 1 weekend during the entire 8 seasons. Thats what prompted me to buy my first camera (rebel xti).

BigD Loc: The LEFT Coast

Something to consider is that you really cannot "fix" motion blur in an image but you can correct underexposure to a small extent. I shoot indoor basketball at High Schools at 1/500 usually at ISO 3200 and usually at f/2.8 or so. If the images are a tad bit underexposed you can give them a little bump in PP but if they are blurry they just suck. The best place to shoot is near the basket either at the corner or at the end of the court so you can get the players as they are making a layup or a shot from the outside which is what everyone likes to see (most dramatic). sit on the floor and shoot upwards to avoid the reflections and to make the players look big and tall(er) LoL.

If you really want to get good sharp photos you need to mount some strobes in the stands aimed about at the top of the key and gel them to correct for the ambient lighting color. Cross fire them from both sides and trigger them with radio triggers. I know this is the expensive way to go but honestly that's how the really nice shots are obtained. And if you really need to get the shot of shots let's talk about a remote camera behind the backstop :lol:

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Hey! that's great!
I'm not a huge sports fan but I'm impressed with wrestling...a very tough sport.

dasloaf

get a 70-200mm, f2.8, great for basketball. I have taken 1,000s of basketball pictures in the worse to the best gyms in SE Michigan. Usually set the camera to tungsten lighting, 1/640, ISO 6400. Get awesome pics!

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Well....lol...I assumed that he didn't want to pay 2000.00 for a lens considering his first post but you are right...that is a great lens.