Speedlights...

[DKilla]

Hey there, I've been the photographer for my high school's yearbook for a while now and I've really started to notice that my pictures of football games at night are starting to look grainy or fuzzy. I use 800 speed film with a 300mm zoom and whatever aperture the lens will allow me.

Typically when I'm using the manual settings I'll set my shutter speed to around 500, aperture to f4-5.6, and use 800 ISO film. My pictures have been coming out poopy lately so I thought it'd be a better idea to just switch to the little guy running. I didn't see much of a difference.

I was thinking about purchasing a speedlight to help fix this problem so that things come out a little clearer. As you may know, it is hard to get good, clear pictures from the sidelines when teams are in the middle of the field.

Would a speedlight help solve my dilemma?

[another view]

No.

I'm guessing that you're talking about night games under lights, but not sure because of that 1/500 shutter speed. How did you arrive at the settings you're using? I'd expect (unless it was NFL) you'd be a long ways underexposed, assuming that a 300mm zoom probably is somewhere in the f5.6 range.

Speedlites or other on-camera flashes are made for much shorter distances. They may be able make the subject stand out but the background will be black.

I think the best answer would be a faster lens - like a 300 f2.8, but that's a lot of money. If you've got Nikon, their 300 f4 is fantastic and a fraction of the price.

But, let us know for sure we're talking about night games and how you arrived at that exposure. Excessive grain and flat looking shots can come from underexposed color negative film when the lab lightens the print a lot.

[JSPhoto]

Hey there, I've been the photographer for my high school's yearbook for a while now and I've really started to notice that my pictures of football games at night are starting to look grainy or fuzzy. I use 800 speed film with a 300mm zoom and whatever aperture the lens will allow me.

Typically when I'm using the manual settings I'll set my shutter speed to around 500, aperture to f4-5.6, and use 800 ISO film. My pictures have been coming out poopy lately so I thought it'd be a better idea to just switch to the little guy running. I didn't see much of a difference.

I was thinking about purchasing a speedlight to help fix this problem so that things come out a little clearer. As you may know, it is hard to get good, clear pictures from the sidelines when teams are in the middle of the field.

Would a speedlight help solve my dilemma?

DKilla,

check out the Sports Forum here, there is a lot on night football. That said, first your shutter speed shouldn't be more than 250. You may need to go to a higher ISO even at that. Don't go below 125 shutter speed. Try some shots between those shutter settings and see whats working for you.

As for a Speedlite, yes they WILL help, as will higher ISO. So would an f2.8 lens though, anything that gives you more light to work with will help!

Remember to check out the sports forum here.

JS

[DKilla]

Well, I was using the automatic settings for sports and that's what it gave me so I just assumed...unless as I was looking down at my little screen i had the lens pointed straight at a light...lol

I wish I could purchase an f2.8 lens, but I don't really have that kind of money.

Yes, they are night games. So I should just stick with a shutter of 1/125 and a f4-5.6? I'd really appreciate your help because I'm tired of my pictures looking grainy.

[JSPhoto]

Using an f4 lens you HAVE to use a flash, no if's about it. Not sure what you can afford but you may want to look into a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 which you can find new for around $650

Try shooting manual at 800 ISO, shutter 160, flash on 1/2 power, then up your ISO to 1000 see how that works.

JS

[DKilla]

So when using a flash, should I wait until the subjects get closer to me?

[JSPhoto]

So when using a flash, should I wait until the subjects get closer to me?

Look through the sports forum photos. I have some in there that were shot from a pretty good distance with flash and with good results.

JS