Here are some pics that I need help with.

[JETA]

None of these are touched up. This is from the first game. I set the camera at aperture priority and awb.

Tons of my pics are/were out of focus and/or blurry/smeared looking..








Here are a few from the second game that need help. Mind you these are not my horrible pics. LOL Pathetic eh? ;)

This time the settings were the same except my wb was set for flourescent for the night time pics and for the pics where there is still daylight I had it on cloudy.

blurry


pics like this bug me because part of it is in focus and the rest isn't. I have my camera set to focus on the middle dot.


would this pic clean up in adobe? Too dark. I know this is a weird pic, but there's my boy on the right blocking for the QB.

[Scott_F]

What camera and lens are you using?

[JETA]

What camera and lens are you using?

I should add this to my siggy.

I'm using the Cannon Rebel and my lens is the Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS.

[JSPhoto]

Ok JETA,
Time to work! What are your shot settings for each of these? Look at the properties and tell me:

1: shutter speed
2: ISO
3: focal length
4: flash y/n
5: mettering mode
6: Lens aperature
7: exposure mode

These will give a clue as to how to help ya out!

JS

[swmdrayfan]

You on auto focus? In some of these shots the background is in focus, and the subjects are not. You might want to make sure to try manually focusing.

[JSPhoto]

JETA,

Well I could have done better with the original, but here is what I got.

What I did:
1: Auto Levels
2: auto color
3: fill flash

Hmmm, theres a ball on the left side!

JS

[JETA]

You saw the ball! I love it!

Here is the info on this picture.


Shooting Mode
Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/125
Av( Aperture Value )
2.8
Metering Mode
Evaluative
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
1600
Lens
70.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length
75.0 mm
Image Size
3072x2048
Image Quality
Fine
Flash
Off
White Balance
Auto
AF Mode
AI Focus AF
Parameters
Contrast +1
Sharpness +1
Color saturation +1
Color tone Normal
Color Space
sRGB
File Size
3300KB
File Number
221-2191
Drive Mode
Continuous shooting

[JETA]

You on auto focus? In some of these shots the background is in focus, and the subjects are not. You might want to make sure to try manually focusing.

Is it hard to get the camera focused in time for split second action?

[JSPhoto]

It's NOT the Auto focus causing the problem! Here it is:

first your settings:
Shooting Mode
Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/125
Av( Aperture Value )
2.8
Metering Mode
Evaluative


Now try this!
Manual mode
Set shutter speed to 250 for starting point
ISO 800 for start
Metering Mode - Pattern (not sure why but this actually works!)

Try a couple shots and look at them. If it;s too dark start by bumping the ISO up until you can't (1600), then and only then start lowering your shutter speed but do not go under 160!

The problem your having on the focus is the Evaluative mode is trying to pick the spot for you instead of letting you do it.
Your shutter speed is too slow at 125 to work for football or soccer as well.
Also make sure you keep the camera set f2.8

That should get you a good starting spot. Those setting with a flash and your all set!

JS

[JSPhoto]

Is it hard to get the camera focused in time for split second action?

Shouldn;t be for your lens.... it's the metering mode thats causing the problem... see below

JS

[Old Timer]

JETA I would kill for this good of lighting on my home field. With some minor adjustment you should be able to get some great pics here. I might add that you should not think that every shot is going to be a keeper. We all have plenty that go straight to the trash can. Keep snapping away and trying different combinations as suggested till you have it dialed in and your keeper rate will increase.

[JETA]

Wahoooooooooo! The boys play tomorrow home, so I look forward to trying something new.

Every game I'm trying to suck in what you guys tell me and each game trying one new thing to help .

What about my white balance? Do you think the flourescent light mode is ok?

OT, you should see the pics I toss. I'm taking about 350-500 a game. The pic I gave the stats for was at my first game. Last weeks game I did get some better pics so there has been a little improvement with the help of you guys.

The field is actually the hs I went to and even my Mom. They totally redid everything 2 years ago. The lighting is super.

JS, I can't thank you enough for my step by step instructions. I'm really excited to get out there tomorrow. You've given me quite a bit more confidence. Thank you all so much for your help and putting up with my newbie questions.

[JSPhoto]

Your WB is ok, unless your using flash this time...w/flash you need AWB or Flash setting on WB or you'll get blue pics.


Glad it's helping you!

And as OT said, we trash a lot of pics.... just because someones a pro dosn't mean they are perfect. Equipment controls most of the bad shots after a certain point. Things like not focusing quick enough and so on. Once you start getting good shots all the time you start noticing other things like background. Nothing can ruin a great shot more than the background. Not such a big deal in football but it can be in soccer and volleyball.

JS

[JETA]

I've been messing around with my camera, and I'm ready to go for tomorrow.

I'm going to be leaving here in a couple of hours. My nephew plays soccer for a local university and I'm going to go watch him play today. I'm hoping to sneak a few shots of him. I may be too far away though. I have a feeling they aren't going to give me on field access.

[JETA]

Oh no.... No wonder I was having problems figuring out my metering. With my camera I can't choose. When I'm in the mode the metering is automatically set for "centerweighted average metering". My camera only has 3 metering settings which I have no control over. Evaluate, partial and centerweighted average.

I have a small business I'm starting. I better get rolling with it because I keep running into road blocks with this camera.

How do you think centerweighted average metering will work for me?

[JSPhoto]

hmmm, I got the same camera... what firmware version is yours? Anway center will work, just make sure you have it set so it is only focusing on the center dot, not to right or left, up or down (I forget, can the DRebel do that? lol sooo used to my 1D I forget what DRebel can or can't do....

JS

[JETA]

hmmm, I got the same camera... what firmware version is yours? Anway center will work, just make sure you have it set so it is only focusing on the center dot, not to right or left, up or down (I forget, can the DRebel do that? lol sooo used to my 1D I forget what DRebel can or can't do....

JS

Mine is the 300D. From what I understand is there are two models. One with the capability to set metering and the other without. I guess there are a few differences. At the time I bought the camera I had never even heard of metering, Kelvin settings, etc....

Yep, I can pick dots! l It is on the center dot now.

I need to go look at the 1D, drool and wish.

[JSPhoto]

Hey, keep your eyes open, you can find some real deals now on the 1D as the papers dumped them for the new MKII version.

JS