what camera setting is best for D80/sports

[bwilke]

I have a D80 and I have ordered a nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 ED-D AF lens...
I shoot soccer games and fast pitch softball games some in low light situations and some in day light....

My question is which priority setting is best for these actions...Aperature priority or Shutter priority.

Prior to this new lens I used a nikon 18-135 DX AFS lens and shot most on shutter priority with a 1/400 shutter speed for daylight and a iso on 200.

I am a beginner and would appreciate any advice on my new lens and settings..thanks.

[retroactiv]

I would tell you to learn to use total manual, that is what I do total control of your photos is the only way to go in my book, I shoot a ton of sports something else you might want to look into is a flash.

[bwilke]

OK..thanks....I will play around with the lens and manual setting once I get it on Monday...however if I am having trouble figuring out shutter speed, aperature, iso, etc..would it be better to shoot on the fixed aperature of 2.8 and only change the iso to get the right shutter speed to freeze the action.....

What flash do you recommend? I have the D80.

I thought the flash didn't help out that much when you were some distance away?

Thanks for your help.

[retroactiv]

I don't know how things work in florda, I just got a sb-800 flash if you can afford it get it.

My humble advice to any photographer shooting sports, set your aperture low, shutter 1/125 or higher, and keep the iso as low as you can. (in that order) the flash will help with the lighting, it will reach out.

[deckcadet]

Maybe you could try using Auto ISO in manual mode? Set your aperture and shutter, then you activate auto ISO with your maximum ISO set and it will vary your ISO to achieve the metered exposure. Of course you will need to have a reasonable setting for aperture and shutter speed or it will over/underexpose once it goes out of the possible ISO range.
Shooting this way is probably how I shoot 90% of my sports and well over half of my overall shooting

[bwilke]

I will try that tonight/ I got my new lens yesterday 80-200mm f/2.8 ED-D so the aperature will be set at 2.8 and I will try to shoot with low shutter speed (preventing blur) and see what happens. I shoot high school fastpitch softball so any suggestions are helpful. I've never used manual only shutter priority but will give it a shot...thanks.

[Frog]

Not sure what you are saying about shutter speed.
Low shutter speed, 1/60th and lower will cause blur. You'll want high shutter speed to freeze action, 1/250, 1/500, etc.

[Dylan8i]

also 2.8 lets the most light in, but if you can stop down to 3.5 or more while maintaining a fast shutter speed you will gain more DOF, depth of field. and some lenses will be sharper if they arn't wide open (not sure about the 80-200).

[bwilke]

To stop down to 3.5 or more do I set from my camera body D80 or the lens?
Thanks

[Dylan8i]

Nikon DSLR "Digitutor" Links

check that link, which is stickied at the top of the nikon forums. it has a good overview of all nikon digital camera controls... specific for each camera.

[Frog]

you can't set the lens on the d80 to anything but smallest aperture or you'll get FEE flashing at you. Aperture is set by camera body.

[Dylan8i]

sounds the same as the d200 then. you can either manually set it in M (Manual) mode or A (apature priority) mode, or let the computer set it for you in the s (shutter priority) or p (Program) modes

[theginkamos]

Thanks for the helpful info.

[bwilke]

Thanks guys...it was set by the sub dial on the D80