issa2006.

I take pictures of my grandsons bb games.One of our news paper photographers shots are so good and tack sharp with great depth of field. The gym lighting is not good so I have to use flash at 200 shutter speed with 18-300 3.5 zoom.Is the other photographer doing video and picking out the best ones to make a still . What is the best lens and best settings for low light gyms. Without flash I get too much noise.

Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD

The best lens in my view is a 70-200 2.8 zoom along with a 50 1.4 under the basket and a short zoom for sideline coach/player strategy sessions. I doubt the pro photographer is using video frame grabs but it is possible. Many news organizations are doing this when pictures are meant for small newsprint photos but not usually for sports to my knowledge. To freeze basketball action you need a minimum 1/500 shutter speed unless you’re willing to accept wide shots from the stands. At 2.8 you will usually need ISO 3200-8000. Use of flash on-camera is frowned upon by coaches and referees these days, and not allowed in many areas. Off-camera flash using multiple units on light stands from the gym corners is a method I used before digital, but available light is the more modern “in” look today. If I were you I’d either accept the noise or invest in a 2.8 zoom.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

If 18-300 is your only choice, trade it with auto ISO. At 200mm, 3.5 and about 50 feet away your dof will be about 2.5 feet. No flash. They typically are frowned upon

Download hyperfocal pro for your phone. It will help you figure out your settings for your did.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

It would help to know what camera body you are using.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Generally speaking, when I shoot sports indoors I am using a fast, fixed focal length lens, often referred to as a prime. Most venues will NOT allow flash. I shoot with a shutter speed in the 500 to 1000 ranges, as needed and if possible. Normally, I use auto ISO and let my camera do its job. A small flash, at the other end of the court, will have minimal impact and the same flash close up may distract the players, which is an absolute no-no in sports work. Without more information on the exact equipment you use for this, this is what I can say generally speaking. for further info, PM me if you wish. Best of luck.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

ISO 6400 to 10,000.

Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

A couple of things for you. First don’t take offense to this but your local newspaper photographer is a proffesional you are an amateur. He has much more practice under his belt and more clicks than you do. Shooting even youth sports takes lots of practice. Keep practicing. Second, you are only seeing his best shots. I am guessing he is taking anywhere from 300-800 shots per game to get a handful that you actually see. I shoot NCAA Hockey and Lacrosse I regularly shoot between 500-800 frames per game to end up with around 50 keepers. Sports photography is not posed, you have to take a lot of shots and cull only your best ones out. Third, ditch the flash. If you are just starting out shooting youth sports there are two lenses that I would consider and neither is the 70-200 2.8. You don’t need to spend that kind of money for shooting in a gym. The ideal lenses for you are 50mm 1.8 about $200 or 85 1.8 about $400. Both are tack sharp from Canon Nikon and Sony. They are great values for the money and very versatile lenses that you can use for so many other things also. Fourth get down to court side and shoot close to the action preferably from your knees so you are shooting slightly up. Fifth, learn how to use your manual settings. I would use a shutter speed of 800 aperture of 2.2 and auto iso and auto white balence. 6th, this is more advanced but learn to shoot in raw not jpg it will allow you more latttitude to correct your images after the fact. However this is not required when you first start out. Use a single point focus and put the focus point on the torso trying to focus on the head is too hard. Lastly, shoot faces not backs even bad shots of faces are more intersting than great shots of backs. Don’t worry too much about noise. Sports shots with noise are ok they are reminiscent of the old newspaper shots. Most important have fun if you shoot all day and only get 1 or 2 great shots of your grandson those are two great memories that you will cherish and they will love. As you shoot more you will get better you will get more keepers. Approach your bad shots as opportunities to improve not as failures. Never forget this is alway about bonding with your grandson. I can promise you this even if your pictures never get any better your grandson will forever love your pictures the best because you were there at his games!

BebuLamar

It's helpful if the OP would tell us how bright the gym was. He was there with the light meter built in to the camera.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

uhaas2009

Start first with your settings like aperture, shutter speed, iso, focus.
Yes a f2.8 makes more convenient but if you don’t know how to do your setting.....flash can be used in high sync.....

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

From a professional sports photographer, this is very well said. The ONLY way to get better is with practice, practice and more practice. Best of luck.

dyximan

Then ask the OP not the group.

dyximan

If It is that important to YOU then ASK the OP, DONT make a blanket statement to the GROUP.

uhaas2009

[quote=uhaas2009]Start first with your settings like aperture, shutter speed, iso, focus.
Yes a f2.8 makes more convenient but if you don’t know how to do your setting.....flash can be used in high sync....

tomcat

I couldn't have said it any better. I would like to add one thing though. Shoot in continuous autofocus (Nikon calls it AF-C). Tracking the direction of the play with continuous autofocus will increase the chances of getting more keepers. Single shot is not fast enough to catch a really sharp image.