First softball photos with new Canon 40D

[allanb]

I just purchased a Canon 40d with Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS USM lens. This is my first attempt at sports photography at my daughters softball game. Thought they turned out better than the team played. Still trying to figure out optimal settings. Most of these are ISO 400, 1/1200 - 1/1600 shutter, and f/3.2 - f/5.

[BFiredup]

Great shots.....can you bring it to f/2.8.....I have the same set up you do...and I am still working on all the settings myself.....alot of helpful people here.....

[Old Timer]

Welcome to PR's Sports Forum. Great first outing with a new setup. You have a quality piece of equipment with that combo. Looking forward to more from you.

[retroactiv]

Lower that ISO down, to the lowest you can. With your shutter speeds, you can afford to lower the ISO to the lowest I expect it is 200 on your camera, Lower your shutter speed, and open up that beast of a lens to f/2.8. You should still be able to shoot about 1/800 which is not a prob, I've shot as low as 1/100 and got good stop motion with sports, it might even be neat looking with a pitcher with the ball out of the hand to give some blur at 1/100 shutter.

Good luck with your new equipment, it will serve you well. You have a great eye as I can tell in your pictures. Keep up the good work, and post some more pictures with new settings.

[Lori11]

Great shots! I love how you got the facial expressions, really sets the tone.

[Homer]

Nice shots, I'm curious to hear what you think of the 40D for sports action. I want a second camera (backup) and can't afford the Mk III.

I personally don't have any issues with the high ISO and will often raise my to get faster shutter speeds for stop action. The bigest thing I would do is use that lens to it's full potential by shooting wide open. This is going to isolate you subject from the backgound and put the focus on the athlete, although with these images I don't see anything wrong with your DOF.

Is there any reason why so many of the girls are wearing headgear in the field. I'm just curious as it appears that at least 4 different girls are wearing them.

Jim

[allanb]

Thanks everyone for the comments. We've got another tournament tommorow and I'll be taking alot more shots. I'll try some with a lower ISO and shoot at f/2.8. I guess that's why a few picks I took were so overexposed at f/2.8 and 400 ISO. That's why I kept the ISO at 400 but had to shoot around f/4.

As for the headgear, these girls are 10 and a lot of the parents think it's a good idea I guess. My daughter doesn't wear one. She and I both think they are a distraction.

Thanks for the comments and I'll post some more next week

Allan

[rovowen]

Nice shots, the 40D is a nice camera for fast pitch. Wish, I had the f/2.8 for mine.
I too have seen an increase of outfielders with head gear. I know I was throwing with my daughter and she missed the ball and got it in the mouth. Cost about $100 for the Doc to check her braces. Figure parents feel its cheaper for the head gear, then a trip to the Doc.
Great shots for such harsh sun...

[jdanvers]

#3 is great - love the eyes on both girls! ;)

-=- jd -=-

[SmartWombat]

I like the eyes in #3, but the cut off foot bothers me.

[JETA]

Congrats on your new gear. You have a lot of great action.

I like shooting at 400 iso and f/2.8. If it's off the mark bright I'll go down to 200.

I agree with everyone else and am just a parrot at this point. If you have the fat aperture use it. If not just for the light, but blur out the garbage in the background like most sports have.

[dereitz]

Please help me with my canon 40 d settings for BAseball and Softball photos - i bought the sigma 70-200mm lens f2.8 and can figure out the best settings to open it wide open to f 2.8

I have been using ss 800 f4.0 iso 200 any suggesstions

[LightBright]

Hi dereitz, if you got semi-pro equipment, I think you should take the time to fully read the manual. Are you having trouble actually setting your lens to f2.8? If so, set the camera to aperture priority, I think on Canon its called Av mode. After that use the command dial ( the ring next to the shutter) and turn it until it goes to f2.8. You should be fine with iso 200 if the lighting is good. Hope this helped. Good luck and post some pictures.