Moomoo48 Loc: Boston

I have a Nikon D7100 and a Nikon 70-200 mm f2.8 lens and need help on what the proper camera settings should be. Any help would be appreciated.

Tpharm Loc: Central PA

Can't advise on settings, but most referees will not allow you on the back line near the goalie. I stand (or sit) on the corner for soccer and field hockey, on the side my g-daughtders play. Have fun. BTW-would love a 2.8 lens.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

You will need a fast shutter speed to freeze the action. Probably shooting in Shutter Priority with a shutter speed of about 1/500 and allowing the camera to adjust the Aperture would be your best bet. If it is overcast or cloudy up may have to bump up the ISO, but you won't know that until you get to the venue.

Moomoo48 Loc: Boston

Thanks for the tip.

canon Lee

I have a 7D canon that has a Servo setting that will track. I also shoot in JPEG not Raw for action sports, because it can buffer quickly. It is good that you have a fast lens, and can get a shallow depth of field. Exposure setting is depending on how much light you have. I shoot action sports in shutter priority, at least 1/500th, ISO as needed. I also use a mono pod to stabilize. Being in the right place at the right time is important. For soccer I take some midfield ( that's where you can get some head/ball shots), then I go down field & at a 45 degree angle to the net. If you have panning skills then use "spot" meeting, if not then a much wider focus frame.

canon Lee

sorry for the duplication.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

You should be all set with that great lens. The key is a high shutter speed, I shoot at 1/000, shutter priority, Iso1000-1500 depending upon the light.Have fun

Moomoo48 Loc: Boston

Thank you very much.

Bullfrog Bill Loc: CT

I was lucky to be able to get a sideline pass to shoot D-1 lacrosse for four years including an NCAA quarter final. I began using shutter priority like so many have advised. But after talking to a number of real pros and doing some research, I switched to aperture priority at wide open or f4 to separate the player from the background. Set your ISO high enough to get to 1/250-500 and fire away. The best shots include the player's face and a ball in the frame. After I made the switch, a lot more of my images were published on the University web site and people began to ask me how I did it.

Dr J Loc: NE Florida

Moomoo48: You have received some good advise. I have 3 grandsons who play lacrosse. What has worked for me on my D7200 is to use manual, set the shutter speed to 1/500, aperture to wide open and auto ISO.... continuous focus and 3-5 frames a second. I like the suggestions of JPEG and having the player's face and ball in the same exposure. Good luck!

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Hi,

I have the 7D M II and shoot all of my Grandchildren's sports. I mount my 70 - 200 f/2.8 II lens and shoot manual. I also carry my Telephoto Extender 2x for long distance shots and either my monopod or tripod for stability. I hand hold with only the 70 - 200 mounted. I usually get to an event at least 30 minutes prior to kickoff, ... and shoot the team(s) on the field (court, ,,,), view the images and continuously check exposure. Eventually, I have the correct exposure, and then only have to worry about composition. By the time the game/match,.. starts, I'm ready. I also shoot al servo (continuous focus for moving subjects) and use settings in the autofocus configuration menu.

My personal rule is to always have the ball in the action. You will need a fast shutter speed - probably 1/500+. I shoot on burst speed (the 7D M II has 10 frames per second). However, the ball may not be as important in field hockey. It's your choice.

I agree with canon Lee. Positioning is important. I travel around the arena, field, court, ... to capture images from many angles. I vary my focal length to include wide as well as close up shots. Catching, close up shots, which display tension in facial expressions, makes for dynamic images. I don't worry about deleting and reviewing images as I shoot. My method is to, "shoot, shoot, shoot, ...". I have lots of time to review, edit, ... when I'm back home on my computer. I literally may take 1000 - 2000 images during the match/game. It's really fun, particularly shooting grandchildren, teammates and opponents. After reviewing and editing, I post selected images on one of my Shutterfly sites and send a link and invitation to coaches, teams, interested relatives. ... They usually appreciate being able to view the images, especially nowadays, with most people shooting with smart phones.

Have fun!! You'll learn a great deal.
Mark

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

For action sports, I would recommend wide open aperture with a shutter speed of 1/500, or perhaps a bit longer with practice. I'm not sure if your camera has this, but I use auto ISO with a max setting of 12800 (D4s). This should get you started. As was mentioned, a good sports photo contains a face, a ball and a small bit of the rest of the action. The player in the spotlight needs to be in sharp focus. All this takes some practice, which is the fun part. If you want to see what sports actions shots should look like, buy a copy of sports Illustrated and emulate that. Best of luck!

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

For action sports, I would recommend wide open aperture with a shutter speed of 1/500, or perhaps a bit longer with practice. I'm not sure if your camera has this, but I use auto ISO with a max setting of 12800 (D4s). This should get you started. As was mentioned, a good sports photo contains a face, a ball and a small bit of the rest of the action. The player in the spotlight needs to be in sharp focus. I shoot in continuous high for short bursts (5 - 6 frames). All this takes some practice, which is the fun part. If you want to see what sports actions shots should look like, buy a copy of sports Illustrated and emulate that. Best of luck!

CO

I bought the book: "The Nikon Autofocus System, Mastering Focus For Sharp Images Every Time". They have a chapter in the book titled Field Techniques, Methods, And Tips. They will have a chart of recommended settings and then discuss techniques for that type of photography. That book is available from Rocky Nook Press as a printed book, e-book download, or a bundle with both. The types of photography discussed are:

Outdoor Sports: Football, Track and Field, Tennis
Indoor Sports: Basketball, Volleyball
Indoor Events: Dance and Bands
Birds in Flight
Landscapes
Portraits, Individuals, Groups, and Weddings
Street
Macro
Aerial Photography
Animals and Wildlife (Safari)
Architecture
Night
Underwater
Adventure Sports: Point of View
Theater, Plays, and Circuses
Panoramas
HDR Images
Tripod Techniques
Event Photography with Flash
Astrophotography
Travel

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Here's what I did for photographing similar activities,
f-stop - 5.6
shutter - 1/1000
ISO - whatever I needed to accomplish the above. If memory serves it was 800.

If the lighting changed then I'd adjust the ISO for that. Fortunately, the lighting stayed pretty much the same for the entire event.
--Bob