GAEParks

I have a canon T6 with a 75-300 zoom lens
With f4-5.6 stop
I would like to take pictures at basketball games and would like settings advice to get both well lit as well as sharp shots while in manual, TV, or AV modes.
All the settings I have tried produced dark pictures
As I am a teacher I cannot afford a f2.8 or faster lens at the moment unless I can find one in good condition cheap.
Thanks in advance to all who can help me out.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

The only two things that might help are slower shutter and higher ISO. Low shutter will produce blur from movement and high ISO will produce digital "noise". That lens is too slow for dim light photography. You might try shooting with the lens wide open, shutter at about 180 (you will need to pan with the players as they move and everything but the players you are panning will blur) and set the ISO to Auto - that ISO will go very high and you will get a lot of digital noise.
Now a flash (bigger one mounted on the hot shoe, not the dinky one built in) would produce good shots but most places they will not let you use flash for a basketball game because it can effect the players' vision.
You might be able to find a constant f/4 lens and that will get brighter, but noisy, pictures. It would have to be an older and or used model as the new ones long enough for basketball (min of 200 mm )start at over $500 for one without stabilization and $1100 for the one with stabilization. If you check the Canon Store under refurbished frequently you might be able to get a refurbished one for less, they come and go in refurbished pretty fast.

Lots of luck with your pictures and efforts to buy a faster lens. Having taught 34 years for Los Angeles Unified School District I understand the $ problems. Now that I am retired expenses are down, and income actually up after expenses since I now collect a small pension from my "Other job" at a super market, Social Security and VA Disability plus my wife has her benefits from being a Surgical Nurse & OR Charge Nurse.

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

New Zealanders call them that, PUCTURES, not pictures.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Since your a teacher then hopefully you like to read.. Here's the best advice I ever followed when I entered the photography hobby. Get the book, Understanding Exposure 3rd edition by Bryan Peterson. This book explains how a camera captures a properly exposed photo. With this understanding all of your questions will be answered. Used copies are a couple of dollars found on eBay. Your photography will improve dramatically and you'll actually know why...........No More Guessing..

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Well, you have several challenges.

The T6 is an entry level camera. It is best suited for taking travel pictures and maybe family stuff. The lens, depending on which one you own, is as one reviewer describes - "mediocre".

I don't want to tell you that what you are trying to do is impossible, but it will require a lot of patience and missed shots, that cannot be resolved with settings.

Perhaps reading these two reviews may help get your expectations in line:

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-eos-rebel-t6-1300d-review

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-75-300mm-f-4-5.6-III-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

Slow performing camera with a burst speed of 3 fps, only a 9 point AF system that is several generations old, poor active subject focus tracking, poor performance in low contrast light, very simple metering options that may not be able to address changing lighting in certain situations, no "flicker detection/reduction" mode to minimize the effect of flickering lights in gymnasiums and outdoor venues. On the plus side, you should be able to take decent images up to ISO 3200. In any case I would avoid shooting with Auto ISO if you are like me and don't like surprises. Using this camera to shoot action sports in questionable lighting will likely result in a lot of frustration.

The lens is slow, and cannot produce clear sharp images when used wide open.

This explains what flicker is and how camera manufacturers have addressed the problem.

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Photography-Tips/flickering-lights.aspx

In my opinion, wikth your current setup it will be hard to get what you are looking for. I wish I could give you better news.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

set your aperture for f4 and stand near the basket. Go for action shots around the basket. You can get some great one’s there.

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

...you don’t need a telephoto for indoor basketball...you need a prime lens with at least f/1.8...Canon has a 50mm f/1.4 for $299...a f/1.8 for $125...and an 85mm f1,8 for $299...check out the UHH Jules Karney page...he does sports photography...he has a Niko D500 and was trying to use a great 70-200mm f/2.8 indoors for basketball and was frustrated with his results and went with a “nifty fifty” for indoor basketball...

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Yes. As he states he is a teacher. He will have that time to read during Christmas break then Spring and oh yeah, July and August.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Just as an experiment, try a 50mm f/1.8, and see if cropping in close when you process will work. Experiment before you shoot the actual games. I just looked at eBay, and there's nothing there to help you out. Practice with high ISO and see what kind of results you get.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I thought that was what happens when you drive your car over a nail.

tomcat

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but what you are trying to do will not happen with your current camera and lens. This camera is not a low light camera and the lens at f/4 is just not wide enough to allow much light in. As another has suggested your best pictures are going to come from being closer under the basket. I usually stand in the corners, but watch out for the players and errant passes....you can get hit. You may have to set your ISO for very high, around 12,000 or so. But something is better than nothing.......

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I shot a lot of indoor volleyball and outdoor drag racing with a Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens. This lens is fast focusing and very sharp for the money. It also is a fine portrait lens. You will get a narrower field of view on a crop body camera too. It would be roughly equivalent field of view of a 135mm lens on a Canon crop body. I think mine was $350 brand new.

My other suggestion is to look for a decent older Canon professional body to shoot with... I suggest a 1D MkIII which is 10 years old but built like a tank and has a 1.3x crop factor. If will take fine shots especially if you are posting to social media. It will also shoot 10 frames per second. You should be able to find a nice one for under $500. If you can't find that then look for a 7D or better yet a 7D2 which also will do better than your current body. Cost may be a little higher, but these are newer bodies too.

The lens is the most important thing and should be your priority. Look at a better body if you can swing it even if you have to sell your existing gear to help fund it. The time is now to get the shots if they are of your Kids...the time and opportunity will quickly pass so do what you can to get the shots while you can.

Best,
Todd

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I understand the financial aspect of your dilemma.
Set your camera on AV with max aperture set. then checking shutter speed as you raise ISO until you get 1/500 sec at least in the indoor arena and that will give you the best photo possible.
Yes, there will be noise (grain in the film era) but the freezing of action is more critical than sweating over noise. Some noise can be reduced a bit in post but don't over do that either as you will soften the image beyond acceptable. Actually noise is over hyped here as it is not the bugaboo made out to be.
Your lens is not ideal but will serve well as well as your camera. Getting the image sharp/frozen action is better than nothing or smearing from slow shutter or a bit of noise.

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

I tried shooting indoor sports with a T5i and 18-135 f 3.5-5.6. The T5i has similar specs to the T6. Found that there was just not enough light without ISO's so high that I had junk. Also the T5i at 5 FPS(T6 is 3) does not have fast enough burst speeds to lend itself to sports, and these cameras do not have low light capabilities to handle ISO's much above 3200 and give good results.

I upgraded to the 70D and 18-135 and found it lacking although better than the T5i. Finally got frustrated and bit the bullet for a high ISO FF and some fast zooms. I have 5 grand kids that are currently heavily involved in sports and I was just missing too much.

Bill

Bill

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

PS, 3.5 FPS was blazing speed and plenty good enough for pros for decades in shooting sports. They just substituted talent for spray and pray.