Shooting Sports - Having Focus Issues with Soccer Pics

[ostinoh]

Hello -

First time posting and first time using D5100 over the weekend. The D5100 has been a huge upgrade from point and shoot cameras I have used. This past weekend I used it to take pictures at my daughters soccer game.

I'm using the built in Sports Mode with 55-200mm lens. One of the things I saw in a bunch of pictures was the object in the back would be in focus and the objects in the front (which I want to in focus or clear) are not.

I attached a picture for an example. Its not one the worst ones but you can see the two girls in the front are not that clear.

Could I get some suggestions on shooting sports shots to get the most out the image?

Regards,
David

 

[wud]

Can you see the red focuspoint in your camera, when its in sportmode? If not, maybe change to semi-manuel, so you'll be able to se where you are focusing, before shooting.

I normally just use 1 point in the middle, and for sports, center is mostly were you want your focus to be too.

​

 

[AC016]

You need to get out of sports mode. Get into shutter priority and get the shutter speed up to atleast 1/500. The camera will take care of the aperture. If its a bright sunny day, ISO at 100. AF-C for focus mode. Single point. Look at the meter in your viewfinder. If there are bars to the left or right of the center, adjust your settings so that it is more at zero.

 

[ostinoh]

Thank you both for the fast replies...

AC016 - Its still ok to use continuous shooting along with changing the shutter speed? I want to get those multiple moving shots.

Thanks,
​David

 

[wud]

Yes, continuous works fine with both manuel and AP/shutter priority.

I would go for a much higher shutter, maybe I'm shutter maniac ;-) If possible, I would go for 1/1600 or so.

​

 

[AC016]

Yes, i ADVISE you to use continuous shooting. Changing shutter speed has no impact on the continuous shooting setting. Whatever shutter speed you set, the continuous shooting mode will always be engaged unless you change it.

 

[AC016]

Yes, continuous works fine with both manuel and AP/shutter priority.

I would go for a much higher shutter, maybe I'm shutter maniac ;-) If possible, I would go for 1/1600 or so.

​

Yeah, but it does depend on the light. He could always boost his ISO though. But yes, good idea to crank up the shutter speed as much as you can.

 

[wud]

AC016, yes.


David, you should go out and try out the settings, before going to the next game. Just so you'll have a feeling about how to get your settings right. ISO you should also try some settings with, try some pictures where you set it higher and higher (and adjust the other settings, of course). To see when you'll get to much noise on your pictures.

You can have ISO on auto, but if the camera use iso 3200 and that looks bad, well, then you just get home with a lot of noisy pictures..

​

 

[ostinoh]

Thank you both for the great tips...

I will definitely head out even today after work to try these settings. I'll post an update once I plan around with the settings.

Thanks again

 

[ostinoh]

Update -

Ok I had a chance to try some of the settings at my daugters soccer practice.

Time of Day: 7:00 - 8:15 PM
Lens: 55-200mm

One thing I did found out was I had to up the ISO almost to 2000 and the shutter to 1/1600. I found that to be a good setting but if the objects were beyond the 200 MM I did notice that there was some noise and the pics were not as clear. Is that normal?

Also is it uncommon to have the ISO that high while adjusting the shutter? The sun was setting...

I didn't get the full action that I would have wish like in a game.


Thanks
David

 

[Fotojo]

Hi David
You are getting the noise, because your ISO is way to high for daylight shooting. Shooting that high only needed in low light shooting situations. Did you have the Camera set in Shutter Priority, If so and sun was setting but still light out, I would have lowered shutter speed to 1/1200 and lowered the ISO down to at least 800 maybe even 400 depending on level of light still available. You also might want to try setting your Auto Focus on AF-C for continuous Auto-Focus which helps with they fact that they are constantly moving. Also set the focus to a single or a lower end number of focus points, and make sure you are pointing the focus indicator at your main subject and let the rest fall into the depth of field. As with anything else just practice and play with the setting making note of the effects of changes to the setting you make, but most of all shoot a lot and have fun. Hope you find something of use in all this rambling Happy Shooting

 

[SkvLTD]

I personally use single servo and pulse the shutter button half way to "continuously" focus manually until I'm ready to take a shot. I feel it may be a tad more accurate than camera constantly adjusting since I know what I'm getting it to focus on and when.