Indoor basketball settings

silvertip

Senior Member
Just curious to know-- what are the rest of you using for indoor basketball pics? I use the D200 and 2 different lenses-- 24-70 f2.8 and a 70-200 f2.8. Focus seems to be the biggest downfall. Any suggestions would be helpful.:cool:

thanks,
silvertip
 

jmaas

Senior Member
Great question I'm so glad you asked. I will be taking Indoor highschool basketball photos this year and Im using the D5000 with a 55-200 mm 1:4-5.6G and a 18- 55mm 1:3-5.6GWould love to hear anyones thoughts on settings
 

Katsz

New member
Hi..curious what the distance of your subject is??? I've done quite well with my D40 using the 55-200 AF VR lens..but in bigger stadiums..I would need the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR which is on my "wish" list!
 

jmaas

Senior Member
Well I'm taking pics in a small high school gym so I guess it really depends on how much Im aloud to move around with out blocking play LOL but most likely I will be low in the stands.
 

Katsz

New member
Well...either of those lenses should be fine in a small gym...I am partial to my 55-200...it is the lens I keep on camera most of the time. It works great for getting shots of the whole team as a whole playing..but also takes great close ups of individual players if needed. Better off not using any flash...but you probably already know that. The lighting in some gyms is poor..so you just have to work with it..and maybe turn your ISO up a notch..to accomodate.
 

silvertip

Senior Member
Since I started this discussion I will let you all know my settings that I use for the home gym. I use continuous high shooting at 1/250 sec. (shutter priority) which will give me an f2.8 to 4, ISO set to 1600, group dynamic focus pattern one. I usually stand between the 3 point arc and the key and always on the opposite that the referee is standing. I shoot jpeg normal-medium, which gives about 1600 shots per game (more than what my battery will last). I do not use the preview as the action is to fast. I use matrix metering. I do have a preset WB for the home gym but rarely use it.

silvertip
 

goz63

Senior Member
Hi..curious what the distance of your subject is??? I've done quite well with my D40 using the 55-200 AF VR lens..but in bigger stadiums..I would need the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR which is on my "wish" list!
You might want to consider the new Nikon 55-300 VRII zoom. It is cheaper than the 70-300 VR, is crystal clear and gives you the ability to have a shorter focal length with the 55 on the short end. You get the best of both worlds with that one.
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Yup, I concur on the 55-200 and even the newer 55-300. Great choices. As for the flash issue.....why not use a difuser on your external flash (if you have one). I use mine on a SB-600 flash, which doesn't produce that annoying flash in the eyes effect that you're not allowed to use on inside sporting events. Also, boost your ISO to about 800. It's a trial and error thing really.
 

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
One other thing I'm thinking about is what ISO are you using, if you have it down too low and have the lens opened up for light the focus issue could be the shallow depth of field, don't be afraid to crank up the iso...
 

elkman

Senior Member
You might want to consider the new Nikon 55-300 VRII zoom. It is cheaper than the 70-300 VR, is crystal clear and gives you the ability to have a shorter focal length with the 55 on the short end. You get the best of both worlds with that one.

As I have mentioned in other posts today, my D60 with a 55-300mm, in shutter mode, at 1/250-1/400 ss, has been working well for me in our high school gym for volleyball. Basketball is next!!!!
 
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