what have I done wrong (action photo ?s)

[dirtbikejunkie]

I am experiencing a few problems shooting action shots and not sure if I need a better camera body or learn better techniques. I am using a DREBEL and canon 70-200 4FL lens. Looking for some advice

1st problem
During a desert race I was at a lot of the photos came out extremely grainy, such that printing 8x10s don't look very good. I was dealing with very crappy lighting (bad overcast), so that doesn't help, but I am thinking that is not the main problem because some shots did come out good.

here is a sample of my first problem (grainy)
http://trav.smugmug.com/photos/19440108-L.jpg

Aperture: f/5.0 ISO: 200
Focal Length: 180mm (guess: 210mm in 35mm)
Exposure Time: 1/1000
WB: AUTO
Mode: shutter priority

Also, note the above image has been sharpened (due to my other problem), so that didn't help matters.


2nd problem
so my 2nd problem is that a lot of the images would have been really good, except, the rider appears to have just moved out of focus as I can see that the ground just behind the rider is more sharp than the ground just below the rider.

I am using single-shot auto-focus, and I simply just follow the rider and fully-press the button when the rider fills the frame to my desire. I am usually at +1000 shutter speed and 4-4.5F. I had assumed that my DREBEL and new lens are fast enough that I would not have to worry about lag, but seems that is not true. I realize I could go up 1 more f stop and bring more area into focus, but I like the effect of the narrow depth of field as it makes the rider really pop-out.

I have done some searching on the subject and some people have suggested pre-focusing on a location you expect the subject to be at, but with desert racing this is difficult because a rider has multiple lines he/she can take.

So are there other techniques I should be using? I have not tried the AI servo mode much, it doesn't seem to always work (that is, as I follow the subject it does not always re-focus like it's suppose to).

Would a faster body, like a 20D, help in this matter?

http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/ne_nau.gif

[trippy64]

I am not seeing grainy on the shot, but I have not blown it up either, it looks sharp on the rider to me?

[John Mueller]

I would try AI servo again.I dont recall how well it worked on the 300D.
Or I would try the sports mode.But then you would loose raw if thats what your shooting in.
I dont see much grain in the image posted.I do see what looks like back focusing. Not much though.

[dirtbikejunkie]

I do see what looks like back focusing. Not much though.
what is "back focusing"?

[mercphoto]

Well, the Digital Rebel really can't focus fast enough for motorsports, especially at close distances, and it isn't flexible enough to engage AI Servo focusing when in Av mode, which is a stupid design feature by Canon. I stopped using a dRebel for motorsports because of this, and othe problems.

You can do some things to help.

Pre-focusing helps. So does not doing the "half-click on the shutter and pausing" thing. Just slam the shutter button. This is because a Rebel is not going to focus-track anyway. All that will happen is the bike will move out of the focus plane on you, which appears to be an issue you were having.

Pre-focus. Slam the shutter. Try that. Also, slow that shutter down some. I wouldn't shoot faster than 1/640. Get your keepers at 1/640. Move to 1/400 for a bit. Then get some panning profile shots at 1/125.

Note, I know someone who shoots shifter karts as well as champ cars with a D30 and a 100-400 lens. Not exactly a fast focusing combination. He pre-focuses everything because he has to. And he gets amazing prints.

[Jekyll & Hyde]

J: And I'll try addressing the first issue...

H: The grain is most likely coming from underexposure. ISO200 should normally be clean enough for good 8x10 prints.

J: When you mention "very Cr@ppy lighting," then I'd assume a pretty heavy overcast. Seems like your exposure settings were a little low.

H: I'm guessing that the shot was about a stop underexposed? Did you also bring the levels up a bit in post? (besides doing the sharpening).

J: For starters, I'd suggest using some + exposure compensation when the sky is in the frame. You might have to slow your shutter down a bit if you top out your aperture.

H: About all you can do with the existing photos is run them through Neat Image/Noise Ninja. Don't get too carried away though.

Good luck. Issue #2 will really be the big challenge though. :heh
J&H