Ok, so tommorrow is the last game of my daughters softball season.

She wants me to come and get some photos and then some of the team.  Seems the coach took one that is "funny" according to her and she wants a better one.  The coach took a snap of the whole team and with a little p & s "like mine"  (which is a HP 3 mp two year old camera)  great camera for a kid, but I am not sure that in the hot sunny mid day that it was the best choice for a team pic.

So, she wants me to come and get these pics tommorrow.......about 5:30 at night.....still sunny here then right now, but I think I can get some ok photos, but........

HELP....what setting are the best for action shots?  What is the best to shoot the team?  I have the 50mm 1.8 lens.........would that be better than the kit lens?  I hate how my photos are not that sharp with the long lens I have.  I was thinking the 50 mm, but if I have to wing  it, most likely I will set that sucker on auto and PRAY they are "ok".

So........long I know........help???

oh yeah..... how is the best way to post a softball team anyway??  One by one??

ok...going now to search the forums too !

thanks in advance guys (and gals)

I'd try either AV or TV mode.. most likely I'd choose TV and set at least 80-100 to stop any blur.. let the camera pick up the exposure.. unless you're blending the background and fence, etc.  it's hard to tell people settings. 

Now I just realized I assumed it a posed picture and not an action shot... if it's an action shot (like someone batting) set the shutter real high.. I have a sport setting that I use. I think it uses 700 for the shutter speed and pics up the exposure for me. 

what camera are you shooting with? 

Calm down ! R  E  L  A  X...............breathe...........in and out........again. Take a cleansing breath.........let it out  ............and relax.  ( Giggle)  

I would use the 50mm. The kit lens is ok. but you have to sharpen the photos in PS.

Do some test shots, change settings accordingly.  Shoot in shade if possible.....shoot raw/jpeg.......(whatever your liking on that. ) You can change the WB and exposure in your raw converter if need to.

Shelly 

Thanks for the fast reply.

I was actually thinking AV ot TV mode...but I am always afraid that I will choose the wrong ISO or something and mess them all up.  (yeah...chicken).

Anwyay.... if I just set the shutter speed fast for the action ones in the game and lower it down for the posed ones before or after the camera should get the rest of it on it's own...right?

Oh yeah....  I shoot with a Canon XTi
Canon 50mm 1.8
Canon Kit lens 18-55mm
Macro lens
Promaster 70-300mm 1:4 - 5:6
tele-macro 1:2
Promaster 1.7x teleconverter

Thanks again!

I shot this in the sport mode..  

74Pinto:

Thanks for the fast reply.

I was actually thinking AV ot TV mode...but I am always afraid that I will choose the wrong ISO or something and mess them all up.  (yeah...chicken).  Just be sure to check your screen and histogram, adjust as needed.

Anwyay.... if I just set the shutter speed fast for the action ones I use the sport mode for the action ones and it's fantastic in the game and lower it down for the posed ones before or after the camera should get the rest of it on it's own...right? Exactly what I'd do.  I am shooting a lot in manual, but when conditions change fast.. as they will in this situation, I go back to tv and av.. please no lashes with wet noodles by the pros..

Oh yeah....  I shoot with a Canon XTi  me too
Canon 50mm 1.8
Canon Kit lens 18-55mm the only lens I have right now.
Macro lens
Promaster 70-300mm 1:4 - 5:6
tele-macro 1:2
Promaster 1.7x teleconverter

Thanks again!

this was also sport mode.. I just found a good angle in the stands of behind the ump and stuck my lens in the fence.. and hoped no kids were climbing the fence..

good luck and you'll do fine..

Thanks guys !

I am going to practice some this morning with the kids in the yard, and just go do it this afternoon.

What is the worse that can happen???  i will end up with photos that are as good as the coaches p&s right?  LOL

Anyway...thanks for the help everyone!

The 50mm lens should be fine if you can get close enough.

I use the 70-200mm f/2.8 or the 300mm f/2.8 lens for baseball/softball depending on where I am shooting from. I don't think the 50mm would get you as close as I'd like to be - but at least it's fast enough. If you zoom lens is giving you not so sharp images it could be bceause it's not all that fast.

Well.....

the 50 mm did not work....could not get close enough even standing right next to the fence.

I used the long lens....and I have a few to share....just trying to get photobucket to work.  Some days I swear that site hates me :(

I did not get a team pic, but I got some shots of the kids....and a few of dd that she will like.

Thanks again everyone for the help.

BTW....tv mode, iso 100, ss like 1600 or something crazy......they should have been a bit lighter....I know that now!

here is one.....

did nothing to it, just resized to fit here.

two...

again SOOC

I have to say this....

the team....

well.......

they...

suck.

yeah...........whole game.......

3

kids

hit

the

ball !!!

They all walked !

So, action shots.....

not too many.

LOL

74Pinto:

Well.....

the 50 mm did not work....could not get close enough even standing right next to the fence.

I used the long lens....and I have a few to share....just trying to get photobucket to work.  Some days I swear that site hates me :(

I did not get a team pic, but I got some shots of the kids....and a few of dd that she will like.

Thanks again everyone for the help.

BTW....tv mode, iso 100, ss like 1600 or something crazy......they should have been a bit lighter....I know that now!

I think my settings were ss 700, iso 100.. I think that's what they were.. but 1600 would certainly darken the image... shots look great, glad your dd liked 'em.

 Turn your iso up to 400, you'll get faster shutter speeds to freeze action.