Shooting Sports at Night...

[THE TOUCH]

I've recently gotten stuck with shooting soccer games at night for a local semi-pro team and I am really struggling. I've read all the posts that have anything to do with night sports but I think I still need some help. I'm using a 20D w/ the 100-400L and a 580EX Flash. Here's what I've gathered -

As the lighting goes from day to night, I'm quickly going from ISO200 to ISO1600. Eventually, I run out of light and at ISO1600, I'm lucky to get 1/100th at 5.6. So, I read some posts and found several suggestions for the following steps -

- Keep ISO somewhere around 400-800.
- Switch exposure to manual at ~1/250th and lowest f-stop.
- Set flash for auto and adjust EC as needed.

So, I gave this a try last night and actually got some results. But I did have some problems/issues -

- It was frustrating to have a lens that could cover 75% of the field but my flash would only reach ~40-50ft. Is it possible to increase the range of the flash?
- I had no continues firing of the flash. One shot was all I could get with the flash. I know it's capable of doing multiple shots but I'm not sure how. Can someone fill me in? Is the output too high resulting in longer recharges? This was on a new set of batteries.

Any comments, suggestions, and tips would be greatly appreciated!:thumb

Also, I'll just say this ahead of time - Yes. I know I need a 70-200L 2.8 but until I have another fortune to spend...no can do.:D

Thank you all - sorry so long!

[mercphoto]

There really is no viable alternative other than fast glass or strobing the entire field. Flash is problematic and only reaches so far. With a 20D go up to ISO 1600. Go Av mode at wide-open aperture.

A 70-200 zoom is mostly useless in field sports because you almost are always zoomed out. A 200/2.8 is much less expensive route to go over the 70-200/2.8 and is a spectacular lens. A 300/2.8 lens is probably the lens of choice, however. Remember, f/2.8 lets in FOUR TIMES as much light as f/5.6. That's four times the shutter speed.

[THE TOUCH]

There really is no viable alternative other than fast glass or strobing the entire field. Flash is problematic and only reaches so far. With a 20D go up to ISO 1600. Go Av mode at wide-open aperture.

A 70-200 zoom is mostly useless in field sports because you almost are always zoomed out. A 200/2.8 is much less expensive route to go over the 70-200/2.8 and is a spectacular lens. A 300/2.8 lens is probably the lens of choice, however. Remember, f/2.8 lets in FOUR TIMES as much light as f/5.6. That's four times the shutter speed.

Mercphoto - Thanks for the info. I never even considered a prime lens because of the cost but the 200/2.8 is a great price. I can't believe the difference in price between the 200 & the 300! OUCH!

FYI - I tried ISO1600 but as mentioned before, I was lucky to get 1/100th.

Thanks again!

[THE TOUCH]

Any other comments or suggestions? :dunno

[xtnomad]

My two cents. I am sure you are shoting with stadium lighting. I shot the stadium cross event under stadium lighting and even in the LCd screen all the shots looked blue in tinting. My D-50 has a light sorce setting and I thought I would shift settings and with the flouresent ( Did I spell that wrong ) setting i started to get some usable shots. My settings slowed ( ap & shu ) so i started to catch the riders in a stop ( or turning or stopped mode of action ) and the shots got better. Hope this helps, just my two cents.

[52Caddy]

I'm not an expert, but have you tried ISO 3200? I shot this at 3200, granted it was with my 70-200 at 2.8 with some fairly good lighting, but it doesn't look too bad.
The iso 3200 is available under the custom functions, I had to search a bit to find it. It's listed as ISO expansion, custom function 8.

http://cadillac.smugmug.com/photos/74881885-L.jpg

[Daddio]

Here's an example of 200MM at f/2.8 and ISO 3200 (using the 70-200). Grainy? Yes, but I needed the shutter speed. White balance is a little off between the two due to the changing stadium lights. Seems like each one was a different color:dunno

http://daddio.smugmug.com/photos/73186994-L.jpg

One more.

http://daddio.smugmug.com/photos/73185455-L.jpg

I think the 200 2.8 prime is probably your best bet for the $$.

[JoeL]

I agree with everyone else, you will need faster glass to shoot at night, a 300 f/2.8 or 80-200 f/2.8 will work.

[mercphoto]

Here's an example of 200MM at f/2.8 and ISO 3200 (using the 70-200). Grainy? Yes, but I needed the shutter speed.
Which goes to show, a grainy picture is better than no picture at all. Or, grain (but with a faster shutter) is bettern than no grain (but with too much motion blur due to slow shutter speed).

[THE TOUCH]

Thank you everyone for your comments! Since I just purchased the 100-400 I'll have to wait on faster glass.

I completely forgot about ISO3200! Thank you for mentioning that! :thumb I'll give that a shot next time. The grain really isn't that bad for 3200. The last tournament was such a big event, they wanted it documented more than anything so this would have been fine. Once the sun went down, I felt like packing up and going home!:D

Thanks again!

[Bodley]

Thank you everyone for your comments! Since I just purchased the 100-400 I'll have to wait on faster glass.


There is no substitute for faster glass - I'm amazed you were able to shoot @f5.6. I struggle with a 200/f1.8 under our lighting conditions (without flash).

Have you seen the Better Beamer Flash Extender? (http://www.naturephotographers.net/gs/gsbb.html) I haven't used or seen one but it claims to increase your range and light output by 2 stops.

[THE TOUCH]

There is no substitute for faster glass - I'm amazed you were able to shoot @f5.6. I struggle with a 200/f1.8 under our lighting conditions (without flash).

Have you seen the Better Beamer Flash Extender? (http://www.naturephotographers.net/gs/gsbb.html) I haven't used or seen one but it claims to increase your range and light output by 2 stops.

Actually, I wasn't able to shoot at 5.6!:D I was forced to use the flash and my range went for 75% of the field to maybe 20%.

I'm not happy with using a flash, since my frame rate goes to ONE and the coverage stinks! :cry So, faster glass would be my answer. The Extender is pretty cheap though - if I keep doing night sports I might have to get it until I can afford another lens.

Next weekend I'll try ISO3200 and see how it goes.:dunno

Thanks Bodley for the link!:thumb