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D200 and sports photography

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pixelfixer

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On my D300:

Continouous
WB = Auto or I'll use my Expodisc if lighting does not change
ISO= your call
Ap Priority ALWAYS!

21 AF Zone, Matrix Metering...sometimes spot metering if your subject is "predictable" in movement
--
Dejan Smaic
http://www.dejansmaic.smugmug.com
 
Depends entirely on what sport you're shooting.

For me, it's mostly ice hockey and the following are routinely my settings while using a 80-200mm 2.8:

Manual exposure mode
ISO 1200-1600
f2.8 always
Dynamic AF (21 point)
1/320-1/500 shutter speed
Continuous High shutter release
WB custom off the ice
 
Thanks for replies but I don't think people read the post properly.

I'm not really interested in what camera setting you use i.e. WB, exposure mode, ISO and so on.

what I asked, were what focus settings you use for sports, i.e. people on the move

is it single servo or continuous, or manual?

Single Area AF, Dynamic Area AF, Group Dynamic AF or Dynamic Area AF with Closest Subject Priority?

Normal frame 11 area or wide frame 7 area?

I know that all sports aren't the same, but in general for medium paced people movement, such as Football, Rugby, Hockey, Basketball that sort of sport.

--



Website
http://www.pixelled.co.uk
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http://pixel-fixer.blogspot.com
 
when I shoot Wrestling. I find that works better than Continous. Dynamic, but not wide area, I tried that and it didn't seem to work as well for the Wrestling I was shooting. Wide area might work better for Rugby, though.
--
You're welcome to peruse my Flickr images at:
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All the Best,

JMJ
 
well i use AF-C and continous shooting at 5 fps on the D200. i prefer using just one focus point over any form of groups etc. this means that i have to keep my focus point spot on, but i also know exactly where the camera focusses. on the D200 i would mainly use the center AF point (it's the only cross type point). i'm not yet sure wheter to use normal or wide AF point (i only have my D200 for 2 weeks and use a D2H normally, which doesn't have that wide AF point option and thanks to 9 cross type sensor i have more options here). still i think wide center point could be a decent choice on the D200. gives you some room to keep a player on the focus point and is still a precise AF point. and i use short or no focus lock option. i prefer release priority over focus priority, but if you want to shoot many fast bursts, focus priority can be better, as it gives the camera better time to refocus. hope this helps
--
Mario

My Gallery
http://www.mg-photo.ch
 
If I had it, I would use the closest subject priority mode. Shooting the D300 there is only one initial sensor or full Auto AF with a big matrix. In single sensor acquisition you may have the assistance in tracking with other sensors becoming involved as the target moves within the frame, but you have no ability to rely on acquiring a subject via a cluster of sensors and prioritizing the input from those sensors. In that respect the D200 would work better for me than the D300. I find when I am acquiring a clutch of players in frenzied action coming across the field that I often latch onto a player or part of a player/stick that is a foot or two behind the face and shoulders of the primary subject. My only solution (other than being a better photographer) is to bias my focus point with an AF fine tune setting that gives me slight fore focus .... and then on slower action either know to pick a part of the subject that is slightly behind or turn off the fine tune.
--
Marabou Muddler
http://MMuddler.smugmug.com/Sports
 
Lovely work, pixel. I'm starting to shoot a local club team next weekend, so your shots were really helpful. I noticed no kicking shots, though. I'd think some of that would be good too. Love the scrums. Cheers, Tony C
 
Shutter priority 1/500 or up (if possible) or manual set at1/500 and up if it's closed conditions).

If I'm using my 300 4.5 it's a MF lens, otherwise, I'm fidgiting with the focus point on AF mode (though I"ve tried some of the CF too), follow focus.

White balance auto for outdoor, tungsten indoors, or perhaps do a preset WB if lighting is really bad (do they still make strontium vapor lights anymore?)

--
'Nice pen, bet you write good stories with it.'
 
pixelfixer said:
what I asked, were what focus settings you use for sports, i.e.
people on the move

is it single servo or continuous, or manual?

Single Area AF, Dynamic Area AF, Group Dynamic AF or Dynamic Area AF
with Closest Subject Priority?

Normal frame 11 area or wide frame 7 area?

I know that all sports aren't the same, but in general for medium
paced people movement, such as Football, Rugby, Hockey, Basketball
that sort of sport.
Click to expand...
AF-C, single area AF, 11 area, no focus lock - the most responsive set up for D200 AF

I also use AF-C release priority and the AF-on only to operate AF - a really useful sports technique when you get used to it. And the multi-direction switch to initiate AF which is very useful when switching AF points.

--
Hamish

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://theflyingpie.zenfolio.com
 
Thanks Tony for your reply and kind words. It was fun shooting the Rugby and I'll definitely be doing it again very soon. I did get some kicking shots, but they turned out poor, a little blurry. Which was my main reason for enquiring about focus settings, I want to try some other settings to see if it helps at all.

Mainly I used the 70-200 and put the 17-55 on during the medal presentations.
The weather was nice, probably a bit too bright really.

Good luck next week with your shoot, post some pics and tell us how you got on.

Best regards
--



Website
http://www.pixelled.co.uk
Blog
http://pixel-fixer.blogspot.com
 
I shoot some soccer and have shot a few rugby matches. I find that using continuous focus is great when you are tracking moving players, but for shooting large groups it can sometimes lead to the wrong things in focus.

Here are a few examples of stuff I shot with a D200. Luckily you can try many different things and see what works for you. I use AF-S when shooting groups of people in scrums or bunches and Af-C when trying to track a specific player around the field.
Ted









--
http://photobucket.com/albums/y260/tdkd13/
 
tdkd13 said:
I shoot some soccer and have shot a few rugby matches. I find that
using continuous focus is great when you are tracking moving players,
but for shooting large groups it can sometimes lead to the wrong
things in focus.
Here are a few examples of stuff I shot with a D200. Luckily you can
try many different things and see what works for you. I use AF-S when
shooting groups of people in scrums or bunches and Af-C when trying
to track a specific player around the field.
Ted
Click to expand...
Great shots!
--
http://dslr-video.com/blogmag/
 
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