More Netball Action - Swifts v Steel

[dviv]

Played around a bit more with focus modes at this game with very mixed results.

Also dropped the ISO down to 800 and did a bit of exposure comp in DPP to see if I get a better result (noise wise)

C & C would be appreciated - Semi's next week at Acer arena

For those interested, The swifts went through the regular season undefeated.

[Matt. K]

These are outstanding netball images. The figures are larger than life and your low point of view adds to the already impressive impact in the pictures. Netball, like volleyball and basketball are notoriously difficult to photograph and it's almost a specialised field of photography for that reason. bloody good work!

[Big V]

You have it nailed now - well done

[surenj]

with Matt and BigV.

I am however concerned about the noise in these? I assume that's the JPG conversion?
If not, then you need to use ISO1600 and 'correctly' expose rather than underexpose at ISO800. I assume you are using the 7D which has a ceiling ISO of 12800.

Which focus mode and lens are you using?

[zafra52]

Fantastic action shots! As above, I am curious about
the camera and lens you used. I am considering my
next camera upgrade and half of me wants the 5D II;
while the other thinks the 7D would be more realistic
because of the lenses I already got.

[biggerry]

Which focus mode and lens are you using?

me too, I am interested in your focusing technique, do you have consistent focus during these games?

The first comes across a bit OOF, however the second and third are real crackers, the timing and composition is nailed, even if there is noise in the image this is offset by the frame timing!

you must really be enjoying this netball and getting to know it well now!

[-=Monty=-]

Very, very well captured; love them.
Have you tried playing around a bit with the white balance? I understand that the floor is reflecting some orange-coloured light up, but skin tones seem just a little TOO unnatural in my opinion.

[dviv]

Thanks for the kind comments everyone - Much appreciated.

Have you tried playing around a bit with the white balance?

Nope But you're right, they may be a bit warm.

I am curious about the camera and lens you used.

These were all with the 7D and the 50 F/1.4 shooting at 1.8. I had the same decision to make but chose the 7D for a few reasons: Master Flash, Better focus mode, EF-s lenses and Price.
I'd love to have a 7D and a 5DII so I could use the 7D for sport and the 5D for outright image quality... but don't have the dosh

I am however concerned about the noise in these? I assume that's the JPG conversion?

Pretty sure it's from the conversion. (I think I may have oversharpened a couple as well) They were converted in DPP (apparently the worst converter for the 7D) and I didn't do any NR. Once the season is over I plan to go back and find the best shots and run full PP and NR over them.

Which focus mode and lens are you using?

These were done in a few modes as I was playing around. I found the best (most keepers) was using centre point expanded and AI Servo mode. Even doing that the keeper rate is not good. As Matt said - even with practice it's really tough to nail the focus on such fast moving objects.

I am interested in your focusing technique, do you have consistent focus during these games?

I use the AF-ON button to aquire focus and the shutter to take the shot. The players are all over the place so it's pretty hit-and-miss.

[surenj]

Once the season is over I plan to go back and find the best shots and run full PP and NR over them.

Would like to see those results. Hopefully you can use the latest adobe camera raw.

50 1.4 is not the fastest focusing lens though? How does the Tammy 17-50 do in those situations?

[dviv]

50 1.4 is not the fastest focusing lens though? How does the Tammy 17-50 do in those situations?

Haven't tried it - I wanted to use F/1.8 so the Tammy doesn't cut it.

I might give it a go on Sunday for a quarter to see how it goes. I'm hoping the light in Acer Arena is a bit brighter than the state sports centre (where all the other games were located) so 2.8 won't be as much of a problem.

[zafra52]

Thanks for the information. Despite some noticeable grain in them that
I attributed to a higher ISO, I don't find it unattractive and besides I
thought you wouldn't be allow to use flash in sporting events and specially
at such close range. Very well done!