ice hockey photos! please help!

[jaybich96]

I've recently started shooting indoor ice hockey, but the rinks are so damn dark usually. I am poor and I'm wondering if someone can tell me how to improve my photos with equipment I already have.

The problem is my pictures are coming out too dark. They aren't terrible, they just look pseudo amateur because they are grainy.

I'm using a nikon D50. Shooting on digital with a 70-300 mm zoom lens. The lowest setting I can get my appature to is 4 when the lens is zoomed all the way out and 5.6 when it is zoomed all the way in. So naturally, my farther shots are more grainy.

I have been shooting with the apature as low as I can get it (between about 4-5.6) and the Asa/iso at 1600. And I am able to get the shutter speed to 1/180 sec and stop the the motion just fine. I obviously can't afford to buy a new lens with a better apature. Is there something I'm overlooking with the equipment I have. Is there anyway to make my shots come out less grainy and dark?

[Dylan8i]

the grainyness is comming in because you have your iso set to 1600. that is the only way to lessen the grain is to lower the iso. but in doing that you need more light. however i think the only way to do that is to get a new lense, or blurr the action. unfortunantly some situations you can't get around and do need the best equipment.