Baseball settings (Page 2): Good observation...lol.

ggttc Loc: TN

OddJobber wrote:

Most Vietnam vets will no longer be functioning at full speed.

Good observation...lol.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

gvarner wrote:

With that long of a lens I'd think 1/1000 or faster. Try to anticipate the action. Where can you stand, along the sidelines or behind the batter, or flexible? Except for way in the outfield shots I'd try to shoot a little wide and crop in post, maybe do some burst shots for action.

With a long lens at a sporting event, I would definitely use a monopod and, if possible VR lenses. I would avoid a tripod because it will not allow you to reposition yourself quickly. Also, instead of planting myself in one spot, like the dugout, ideally, I would move to various positions that would maximise various perspectives on the game, the players and also the fans.

Photocraig

jacklewis014 wrote:

Oh, and I usually shoot 1200 and f8 in manual mode. I'll adjust the ISO as needed based on the sunlight.
This gets good depth of field and stops the action without blurred areas like thrown balls or bats.

I agree with f 5.6 to 8 for depth of field. The long focal lengths will blow out the background anyway. Baseball is a 3 dimensional sport. It is important to try to get the whole player and the ball reasonably sharp. Keep up the shutter speed. Right about the pre, post and during game photos. The game is an entire experience and it isn't all on the field. The dugout yields some pretty intense emotions of cheering, joy and disappointment. It is fun to capture them all.

Have fun.

double g Loc: Oklahoma

I've been shooting a lot of baseball this spring. I use two cameras. Canon 60d and Canon 80d with an 18-135mm and a 70-200mm lens. I like shooting from the dug out on the first base side because most batters are right handed, you can catch action and first and second, and if you move to the home plate side of the dug out you get home plate action. I shoot a shutter speed of 320-400. Here are some I took last night.

Bill_de Loc: US

From Nikon ...

When shooting sports with subjects that move or change rapidly (for example in hockey or when alternately framing the pitcher and a runner when shooting baseball from the bench) reduce the lock-on times for improved response. Set the AF-C Priority Selection to RELEASE, AF-Area Mode to DYNAMIC AREA AF (9 points) or Single point AF and Focus Tracking with lock-on to OFF or 1 (short).

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-techniques/better-sports-photography.html

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cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

double g wrote:

I've been shooting a lot of baseball this spring. I use two cameras. Canon 60d and Canon 80d with an 18-135mm and a 70-200mm lens. I like shooting from the dug out on the first base side because most batters are right handed, you can catch action and first and second, and if you move to the home plate side of the dug out you get home plate action. I shoot a shutter speed of 320-400. Here are some I took last night.

The shots you posted indicate that your chosen shutter speeds are just too slow. Try 1/1000th second, wide open with either auto or an appropriate ISO. Best of luck.

btbg

ggttc wrote:

A friend asked us (me and sleepydr) to take pics of a Viet Nam veterans baseball game. We have experience with BIF and shelters dogs running at mach 1.

But no experience at baseball. These folks cant afford a pro....

Cloudy, and outside.

No problem capturing action...but not people action at a baseball game.

Some suggested setting and advice?

Thanks in advance

If you're in Chattanooga and want nto help out...PM me

Jules Karney and cjc2 are both sports photographers as am I. We are all giving you essentially the same advice. Fill the frame, keep your shutter speed high and shoot wide open.
The other thing that is critical is to make sure that the background either adds to the photo or is clean (no distracting elements). You can have a great photo of the action, but if the background is too distracting it badly hurts the photo.

The people that are telling you to shoot wide and then crop are giving you poor advice. The great sports photographers shoot only as wide as they need to show all the action that they want in the frame.

Same thing with higher fstops. They show more depth of field, consequently make the background more noticeable and distracting.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

One of the things you need to learn when shooting sports is how to get accurate focus while shooting wide open. I didn't buy a 400/F2.8 lens to shoot it at F8 as that would be a MAJOR waste of money. I shoot that 400 (and my 70-200) WIDE OPEN at 2.8. Do I miss some shots, sure, but I've been shooting sports for many years and I've learned to do this right by practicing. This evening, and one other night this week, I went to the local park and shot kids playing baseball. Not for an assignment, not for money, but rather for practice, to learn and to test a couple of ideas I had. I've been doing this since I was 13 (now 63) and yes, I still practice. If you want to see what a good sports action photo looks like, get a subscription to Sports Illustrated. I've had the very good fortune to listen to several of those guys speak at various meetings and I've always learned something. I shoot tight and wide open. 'F8 and be there' is for photojournalists, not sports action shooters. Push your equipment. Best of luck.