Sports Photography Help - R6

Also, forgot to ask what causes that shadow on the edges? Anything I need to do specifically to eliminate it?

I'm not sure what shadows you're referring to... there's some vignetting from the lens, which you can remove (or enhance) in most software in the lens or vignetting sections...

Yes sorry I meant vignetting instead of the term shadow. I've added vignettes to photos in LR but never had it happen in camera. Will be good editing homework for me.

Tazz93 wrote:

Jdubkc wrote:

Also, forgot to ask what causes that shadow on the edges? Anything I need to do specifically to eliminate it?

I think you're referring to vignetting. You have two options to mitigate that, stop down (tough at ISO 4000), or use post processing lens corrections (probably your best choice).

Honestly, I feel like you need to get the 70-200 off the bench and in the game. Try going over to Best Buy and setting up a stock "notify me" reminder for the EF to RF adapter. If you react quickly you can get one in the next shipment. Also another trick, do some searching for small camera shops around the country that have online shops. They tend to have the adapters just sitting on the shelf.

Unfortunately, with a 24-70 you'll literally have to be lucky to have all the action happen right in front of you, which it seldom does.

Funny you mention the ISO 4000. I know the importance of low ISO to prevent grainy photos but in camera they were so dark and I just kept increasing the ISO based on what I was seeing. It was way too high! I also agree you have to be very close for the 24-70 and as for basketball I don't want to sit right under the basket. I am dying to use my 70-200 with this R6. I took it outside and practiced on kids using the R6/RF 24-70mm and Canon 7D 70-200mm. There was no comparison. The 7D photos were terrible (my camera is ten years old) so I need to get that 70-200 on the R6. I'm confident that will be answer for sports.

As for the RF 24-70mm, I took it out to shoot my son's senior photos on a beautiful fall day today. It was AWESOME. I love it and it will be the perfect versatile lens for me for travel, everyday shooting, etc. I was shocked at how well it did for portraits because I had the understanding I would need a prime. Very pleased I purchased this lens.

Will take your advice & order an adapter asap.

Sorry didn't realize there was a sports forum. Will check on tips posted there. Thx! And yes, I need to get that 70-200mm on my R6. My old camera body is the problem.

Wow Gavin. You are my inspiration. Beautiful photos. I especially loved your photos of Japan since we can't travel right now! We do business in Tokyo, Kyoto, & Osaka and miss it terribly. I only had my iPhone when we were there last time, and I'm dying to take this R6 with me. You have inspired me. Jill

Jdubkc wrote:

Yes sorry I meant vignetting instead of the term shadow. I've added vignettes to photos in LR but never had it happen in camera. Will be good editing homework for me.

I think pretty much all lenses have some natural vignetting, especially at wider apertures. If you shoot jpegs, then a camera might add profile correction to remove it. Depending on what you're doing, natural vignetting can be part of the character of a lens, especially for portraits, sports, etc., but can often be undesirable for architecture or landscapes.

Hi there, I'm not on here too often so just seeing this. Thanks for all of the advice. Here are my thoughts based on your points:

1. You are so right. Basketball is so fast-paced that I feel like I'm chasing them and get so frustrated. This was my first time really shooting volleyball and I thoroughly it. HS basketball starts next week so we'll see how I do with the new R6. I have a feeling I will do much better. LOVE this camera. Have a feeling I won't like the 24-70mm for hoops because I won't want to sit at the baseline so trying to think of my plan B. Club volleyball starts mid-December so I will give it a shot (if Covid doesn't shut down).

2. Oh talk to me about it. I absolutely despise these yellow HS gyms and then in these photos I got the red all over the gym. It was awful. We have a great arena here that AAU played in this summer and I'm kicking myself for not purchasing this R6 in time for those games.  Albeit it has fluorescent lighting but I'll take it over this yellow!

3. I got the vignetting worked out. My photos are much better now.

4. Yes, I'm a fan of shooting in RAW. I hadn't quite figured out all of these darn settings prior to this volleyball game lol.

I will refer back to this as I get back into sports (have had a bit of a break) so I'm sure I will be PMing you with questions. Appreciate the help!

Jill

mikeyL wrote:

Hi,

You have already gotten a lot of good feedback and comments, but since I became the unofficial team photographer for my daughters club volleyball team for a few years a number of years ago, I thought I would pass on a few possible tips. I did not read all of the posts above, so if you already got a number of these comments already I apologize.

1) Volleyball is pretty fast paced, but as a photographer, you benefit from the fact that the key action is often constrained to predictable areas of the court. You know the back line will be receiving most serves, you can often tell when the setter is going to set, and it is not to hard to predict where and when the hitters/blockers are going to be doing their thing. That means you can pre-focus and frame certain areas and wait for the action to come to you, instead of trying to chase the ball through the air all the time.

2) Indoor gym lighting sucks. Indoor high school and or middle school gym lighting really sucks. But the R6 is decent at higher ISO, so don't be afraid to push the ISO up to allow you to capture the action without motion blur. That lens you are using should be good for that.

3) It is possible those dark lines are vignetting, but it could also be caused by light flicker interacting with your shutter speed. Not sure but you might try ant-flicker.

4) Shoot raw to allow for the best editing options. With gym lights mixing with some outside light through windows you will often get wonky white balance problems. But in raw you can fix those in post.

Drop me a private message if you want to discuss more. I never shot any basketball but shot lots of volleyball...

ML

danferrin wrote:

I probably should keep this to myself because I’m going to want one of these before too long, but having had daughters who played high school and college tennis, I get how important those photos are.

https://mpex.com/canon-eos-rf-adapter.html

it’s listed right now as in stock. I have done business with these guys for forty years. They are based in Columbus, Ohio, and have always taken good care of me.

Oh my thank you SO much. I'm a busy parent and haven't even tried to find one elsewhere yet so you don't know how thankful I am! This is also a blessing because our season starts next week and I was so bummed because I'd be stuck with the 24-70mm not able to use my 70-200mm due to no adapter. My senior son would really like to play college ball but covid-19 has really made recruiting challenging. Our season could get shut down any day and this could be it. This means so much.

I really have only one EF lens I'm keeping that I want to try with the R6 (my 70-200). Very curious how it does because it is the original and if I don't like the images I may eventually buy a better RF telephoto lens. Just don't want to spend the $ if I don't need to. I need to see what Canon comes out with and watch the used market. Please stay in touch because who knows how long I will keep the adapter. I will also keep this company in my contacts for future purchases!

You are so right. This fall was perfect practice for me. My youngest is a freshman JV volleyball player. I would stay for the varsity games and take photos for practice (she would be mortified if I went to practice to take pictures lol).  All of these gyms are different!  Our home gym has windows which helps but most of them do not. I was able to really get to know my R6 better and I now feel confident/prepared for club volleyball and my senior's HS basketball season.

Photographing indoor sports in venues that are not lit for professional sport is rough.

Terrible light ( with colour temps usually all over the place ) , usually too dim and super junky backgrounds. It’s worth shooting with a custom white balance if you have a grey card.  At least then you can sync any WB tweaks all at once in post.

when I have done it I try and find a clean back ground and use that. Also, I have shot for example boxing as low as 500 -1000 shutter speed. You will get a lot of useless images but you will get a lot where the persons head is in focus but the ball and arm will have motion blur. I actually quite like that look. 
I have found in bad light that it’s wort trying to keep the ISO down. High iso looks fine in good light and terrible in bad light.

Maybe experiment with your shutter speeds and see what is tolerable for you personally.

Funny story. I ordered the adapter from your shop in Columbus. Almost at the same time Canon sent the adapter. So I wound up with two adapters AND had made the decision to bite the bullet buying the RF 70-200mm. So here I sat with two adapters and no EF lenses as I sold them off. Long story but I was outside of Canon's 14-day return & of course they wouldn't budge. (luckily I found a buyer) Your shop in Columbus had no issues with me being outside of their return window. They gladly accepted my return. Needless to say I will be ordering from them in the future. I appreciate the referral.

danferrin wrote:

I probably should keep this to myself because I’m going to want one of these before too long, but having had daughters who played high school and college tennis, I get how important those photos are.

https://mpex.com/canon-eos-rf-adapter.html

it’s listed right now as in stock. I have done business with these guys for forty years. They are based in Columbus, Ohio, and have always taken good care of me.