Post by: scoyoc5 on January 12, 2010, 09:48:33 AM
I need some advice on taking Basketball pictures..I have no idea what I'm doing wrong but for some reason my pics are blurry I'm using the auto setting on my camera I have also tried the sports/action setting ( that didn't help either) The camera I'm using is the Nikon D40 with a AF-S nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6g lens. any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,John
Post by: jackelope on January 12, 2010, 09:57:51 AM
Post by: robodad on January 12, 2010, 10:03:10 AM
Post by: scoyoc5 on January 12, 2010, 10:06:26 AM
Post by: jackelope on January 12, 2010, 10:11:17 AM
Post by: huntnphool on January 12, 2010, 12:12:12 PM
Set your camera on aperture priority (Av) and aperture as low as your lens is rated, leave the ISO at 800 or move it to 1600. Dropping to f4 you should have plenty of light to stop the movement. A good rule of thumb is you should have twice the shutter speed as the focal length. Unfortunately I cant see what the speed was shot at but it should have been at least 1/125th. If you can get it to 1/250th of faster you should be okay. You may even drop the exposure 1/3-2/3 to help increase speed, remember its better to have the images a little too dark than too bright. Moving the ISO to 1600 will increase noise as well but its better to have a sharp noisy image than a blurry non noisy image. Lightroom and CS series Photoshop can help clean up the noise post processing as well as the white balance.
Post by: huntnphool on January 12, 2010, 12:19:31 PM
Post by: scoyoc5 on January 12, 2010, 02:39:10 PM
thanks again all,John
Post by: wapiti hunter2 on January 12, 2010, 03:17:46 PM
Post by: huntnphool on January 12, 2010, 04:50:49 PM
Post by: scoyoc5 on January 13, 2010, 09:10:33 AM
Post by: elk311 on January 13, 2010, 03:36:44 PM
can be fixed at home if shot in RAW.
Definately shoot in "RAW" or "NEF" for Nikon camera's (same thing). I too would use the Aperture Priority mode and stay away from "manual" mode. You won't be able to focus as fast as your camera and in sports photography you gotta be fast. RAW can fix any under/over exposures. Your Nikon probable has an adjustment near the lens that says "C" "S" and "M". Set it on "C", it stands for Continuous Focus and in this mode all you need to do after the above ajustments is hold down the focus/shoot button and follow the action. The camera will stay in continuous focus while you move your lens to follow the action. Just like shooting a shotgun, you want to follow-through the shot. Also try to use your elbows against your torso/chest as a stabilizer, this will help replace the missing tripod that most of your spectator friends will not appreciate in the bleachers. Try your pop-up flash just for fun, it may be enough to fool your camera and help in focusing. I doubt that the "guide" number is high enough but it could help to fool the sensors and is worth a try. When shooting above ISO 800 use NR, I believe that the D40 has a "Noise Reduction" NR function. Good luck !!!
Post by: scoyoc5 on January 13, 2010, 04:27:47 PM
Post by: quadrafire on January 13, 2010, 05:39:37 PM
Post by: huntnphool on January 13, 2010, 05:55:18 PM
If you shoot in RAW and get the motion stopped, you can crop the pic to the focal length you were looking to get anyway.
elk311, his exif info shows his flash fired.
Post by: scoyoc5 on January 13, 2010, 07:24:22 PM
John
Post by: danceswitharrows on January 13, 2010, 07:40:44 PM
Post by: scoyoc5 on January 13, 2010, 07:44:29 PM
Post by: huntnphool on January 14, 2010, 10:16:05 AM
Post by: Jeffrey on January 17, 2010, 07:00:08 AM
I think something is wrong with your color function...I see all white guys on the basketball court :chuckle:
Now that is funny...I don't care who you are!!!