Action Photography: AV vs. TV

[skraw]

I just purchased a telephoto zoom lens (Sigma 170-500mm). I am practicing surfing action photography. I used to just use the action mode, but I want more control. Everyone recomends using TV mode with the fastest shutter speed possible. When I reach shutter speeds faster than 1/500, the whole picture becomes kind of fuzzy and blurry, even if there isn't any fast movement in the picture. When I use shutter speeds lower than that, the picture is clearer, but fast movement blurs. Basically, when ever I reach extreme highs or lows of the Tv or AV spectrum, the picture quality declines a lot. If I use a narrow aperature, the whole picture is in focus, but the quality is fuzzy. The same goes with the oposite end. Is this normal? Why make the shutterspeed go as fast as 1/3000 if the whole picture will be fuzzy? Any advise would help.

[savona]

Well I am not an action photographer but I can tell you it is not the faster shutter speed that makes the picture fuzzy. My guess is one of two things:


1) The aperture go really wide and you are missing focus. Try using the center focus point for accurate focus.

2) On my camera (20d) there is different focus settings. You should be using AI servo AF for action shots from what I hear, again, I do not shoot action so this is just what I read.
-AI Servo AF is an autofocusing system designed exclusively for Canon EOS cameras. It uses a form of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to determine the speed and direction of moving subjects, then focuses the camera lens to a predicted position (Focus Prediction Function) in order to increase the probability of obtaining a sharp photograph.

Also a good rule of thumb is the shutter speed should be at least double the focal length. If you are shooting at 500mm you should be using at least 1/1000 shutter speeds or higher.

I hope this helps.

[TX_Gulf_Coast]

Are you shooting in daylight or in "light challenged" conditions? I have the Sigma 170-500mm and while that lens is a good lens, the aperature is rather limited and the AF suffers when challenged for light.

As Savone said, alot maybe focus issues, and the operator missing focus. (Don't feel bad, even the best sports shooters only have about a 10% keeper rate all things conisdered.) Pratice makes perfect. Depending upon your camera, you can set the Auto Focus to only work when you push a button on your camera enabling the function. This allows you to focus on the player, action and not have the lens "search" around for focus.

Alot of the success in sports photography and action photography in general depends on the photographer KNOWING the sport or action and where to concentrate and focus attention. Best way to learn is pratice, practice and more practice.

[skraw]

I Just got the lens actually. I have used it once. I was in bright daylight, and I was in TV mode at 1/2000 - F7. The results were fuzzy, so I did some tests on still objects about 250 meters away outside with good light. I used a tripod and even a remote. The same results: the higher my shutter speed, the fuzzier the picture (anything over 1/500). I am pretty amateur, so I assume it is user error. But I worry about the performance of the lens. Does anyone else have this lens? Anyone use it for action?

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I don't know what camera body you're using, but I like TV mode for sports. Always a motion-stopping shutter speed, and you just put the ISO as high as you're willing and overexpose 1/3, and you'll almost always come out on top. If you're using a Canon 1-series body (don't know if others do this), you can set the minimum and maximum aperture you want your body to use, as well as shutter speed, via custom/personal functions.

[MillerPhoto]

Whats your ISO level and do you have any experience shooting in Manual mode?

Seems like you might be at 800 ISO with too high of a shutter speed for your subject at that distance.

For a bright sunny day for what your shooting. I would reccomend 100-200 ISO f:8 and that should give you a shutter speed of about 1/640 sec. Thats in Manual Mode.
I shoot everything in manual.

[skraw]

Thanks for the help. I have a Rebel XT... amateur. I shoot in AV or TV, I don't have a lot of experience in action. Most of the action shooting I have done was in auto action mode. I was using 100, 200, and 400 ISO. Is it possible to have too high of a shutter speed? Does it depend on distance, and the lens?

[MillerPhoto]

What is your focal length that your photos are mostly done at?

[TX_Gulf_Coast]

What camera are you using? Not knocking Sigma, but they do have some lemons in their lens that they produce. You may have a bad copy of that lens. Post more details, camera info and maybe we can get to the bottomof this.

[MillerPhoto]

He posted up previous message that he was using the Rebel XT..

Now to think about it.. take your lens off and look at the glass on the end that attches to the camera.. sounds like maybe you got a finger print in there. I managed that one time and didn't have a clue till I took a close look.