Mom needs your help, advice

[b8sballmom4two]

Hello All:

I just discovered your site while searching for optimal settings for Friday night football. Very good information found here. I just upgraded to a Canon 10D and thought all my existing equipment, Sigma 70-300mm 1.4/5.6 would work. That lens does a beautiful job for daylight games, but the Friday night games were horrible. All blurry. I think I've adjusted the settings enough to get about 1/2 the pictures right. Is that normal, or should I expect all the pictures to turn out perfect every time? I realize I'm going to have to get a lens with f2.8...and I'm looking on Ebay right now. Even though I have no idea what all that means. Any other useful info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[BLS439]

Search "aperature" related to photography on google - sorry I don't have a link off hand. F-stops, or f2.8, f4, f5.6, f8, etc are all aperatures. The lower the number the faster the lens and the more light that is allowed into the lens thus allowing faster shutter speeds.

A couple things to play with if all of your shots are blurry may be ISO. That's the "film speed" your camera uses to capture exposures. The higher the ISO the faster the shutter speeds. Yeah, I know you have a digital body, but it's the same prinicipal. However, do be careful the higher you set the more digital noise you'll get in your exposures.

By the way, your second shot of the QB with his helmet blocking the sunset is really good! That came out really well. The little bit of motion blur in his left hand really adds to the shot and is typical of low-light photography.

[CWatsonJr]

Hi there -

I was in the same quandry last year when I came to this site. My (then 14 yr old) son wanted to take football pictures last year, so I showed him how to use my Canon 20D and sent him on his merry way (well, not too far from me anyway).

Everything was fine until the Varsity game and night fall... that is when we learned that my 100-300 lens was inadequate. I purchased a Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS lens and LOVE it.

I have included a picture from last year... probably not the best one, but it was the first I could find.

The settings that others from this site have given me are

ISO 1600
f/2.8
Shutter 1/250
with a good flash (I have 420EX Speedlight)

The lens worked pretty good for basketball and baseball too. I have included a baseball shot that I actually shot through the backstop on a dark cloudy day and my son the photographer (well, I have to shoot basketball and baseball because he plays) make a shot at a basketball game.

I still have a lot to learn with this lens and I love stepping into the action with it...

[Old Timer]

Excellent advice fro the first two replies. another thing to keep in mind is that no two fields lights are created equal. You will need to adjust for each shooting location and situation. There is no one right setting. Learn your camera and it's capabilities and you will be able to adjust to each situation as it arises. You are off to a great start don't let a small set back get you down. I agree that second shot is awesome. Well done.

[b8sballmom4two]

Thanks, guys, for the feedback. I've been looking on Ebay for a faster lens and found a Canon 200mm F/2.8 L USM for $500. Is that what lens I need? Will that work OK with my Canon 10D. I also have a 540EZ Speedlite for a flash, if needed. I just don't know what the L or the USM stands for and want to make sure I get the right equipment. Thanks!