Indoor soccer anyone?

tenthumbs · 03-30-2011, 11:25 AM

I have a Kx with a 55-300 kit lens. Typically I'm taking pictures of my kids playing outdoor soccer with great results. However, indoor soccer action shots are proving to be much more difficult.

I rented a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and tried bumping the ISO to get a higher shutter speed but lighting at this indoor field still didn't allow crisp unblurred action shots.

Any suggestions for a technique or lens that will allow me to get better indoor soccer shots?

eddie1960 · 03-30-2011, 11:36 AM

Samples with the Exif intact would help get better feedback. the Kx should be capable of at least iso 6400 though you may need to do some noise reduction in post (shoot raw for this)
at 6400 iso and 2.8 you should be able to shoot indoor sports at at least 1/500th if it is proper arena lighting (why the shot would help we could see what kind of light you are talking about
even in an auditorium i would think at 6400 1/250th would easily be attainable. (halve these speeds of course at 3200, but a lot less noise to contend with

tenthumbs · 03-30-2011, 11:50 AM

Thank you for the reply. I'll upload some this evening. I appreciate the quick reply.

slip · 03-30-2011, 11:50 AM

Originally posted by tenthumbs

I have a Kx with a 55-300 kit lens. Typically I'm taking pictures of my kids playing outdoor soccer with great results. However, indoor soccer action shots are proving to be much more difficult.

I rented a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and tried bumping the ISO to get a higher shutter speed but lighting at this indoor field still didn't allow crisp unblurred action shots.

Any suggestions for a technique or lens that will allow me to get better indoor soccer shots?

try to prefocus, manually choose you focus point instead of letting the camera decide as this saves precious time when you need to focus fast (plus it gives you more control over where it will be infocus)
I looked online at that lens and it looks big. If you rent it again I would use a monopod to help keep it steady.
you could also try a 50 1.4 but you will loose the versitality of a zoom..... you could shoot with the 50 1.4 and just post crop it.

good luck

randy

psychdoc · 03-30-2011, 12:58 PM

Try renting the DA*50-135, [smaller lens, easier to hold. Also wider than the 70-200 which is helpful in indoor situations for certain shots].

Try shutter priority 1/500, and see what iso 6400 vs 3200 looks like.

High iso will need noise reduction. Download trial version of something like Noiseware, noise reduction and just click the auto noise reduction settings. Imagenomic - Imagination at Shutter Speed

twitch · 03-30-2011, 02:38 PM

I take pictures of my kids playing indoor soccer with some success. I use manual mode setting the ISO at ~3200, f2.8, and ~1/200, the kids are young and not very fast so 1/200 is just enough. I use a 50-135 and it does really well. I also use noise reduction software on all the shots I like.

**ramseybuckeye** · 03-30-2011, 04:56 PM

I've had mixed success on indoor, it's so fast, and besides poor lighting at our local place, netting around most of the field does hamper AF. Good advice from Randy to pre-focus, even then at wide apertures it's going to be a very slim focus area. You may do the best on a fast prime, preferably one that focuses to infinity pretty close. It's definitely harder to stay steady also when you following the game, Randy's monopod idea may be helpful. Most of all. you need faster lenses, you just may not get the zoom you want.

Reportage · 03-30-2011, 05:52 PM

If only Pentax would launch a 85mm f/1.4 for modern bodies.

In a lot of jobs, i specifically had to rent C/N body so that i could use that lens. Made life a whole lot easier.

slip · 03-31-2011, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by Reportage

If only Pentax would launch a 85mm f/1.4 for modern bodies.

In a lot of jobs, i specifically had to rent C/N body so that i could use that lens. Made life a whole lot easier.

Sigma has a 85 1.4 but full frame for Pentax, but would work just as well with digital 1.5 crop factor. I read it is a great lens for the price.

cheers

eddie1960 · 03-31-2011, 08:32 AM

it runs about the same price as an FA 85 1.4 used does, for my money i'd rather buy the sigma and have the warranty then a lens that may well need a repair in the same price range

tenthumbs · 03-31-2011, 08:41 AM

Thanks again for all the replies. I went home after work yesterday and looked at the pics I took with the Sigma 70-200 and the highest ISO I went to was 1000 and shutter speed was no higher than 1/120 or something close to that. I had read that 1/250 or higher is likely where I'll find success. That info and your replies should set me straight. I did attempt to upload a few pics but kept getting an error and gave up. Not that you're missing anything. Overall a poor effort on my part. Again I appreciate your replies. Very helpful.

Reportage · 03-31-2011, 04:15 PM

Originally posted by slipchuck

Sigma has a 85 1.4 but full frame for Pentax, but would work just as well with digital 1.5 crop factor. I read it is a great lens for the price.

cheers

Exactly. Why doesnt Pentax have its own now?

eddie1960 · 04-01-2011, 06:53 AM

Originally posted by Reportage

Exactly. Why doesnt Pentax have its own now?

Because they have the FA77 to compete (which may also be a good choice for you) and it's less expensive. Remember pentax doesn't seem to be looking towards FF and an 85 classically is a ff portrait lens. maybe they just can't think outside the box on alternate uses (though i suspect it's lens manufacturing capacity that is the real issue - given they have to support 645 and apsc with lenses - the new evil looks like the lenses may well come from the cosmicar line)

03-30-2011, 11:25 AM	#1
tenthumbs New Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14	Indoor soccer anyone? I have a Kx with a 55-300 kit lens. Typically I'm taking pictures of my kids playing outdoor soccer with great results. However, indoor soccer action shots are proving to be much more difficult. I rented a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and tried bumping the ISO to get a higher shutter speed but lighting at this indoor field still didn't allow crisp unblurred action shots. Any suggestions for a technique or lens that will allow me to get better indoor soccer shots?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Sports Women Soccer	Pedro Ernesto Guerra Azevedo	Post Your Photos!	6	09-29-2009 08:21 AM
Women Soccer	Pedro Ernesto Guerra Azevedo	Post Your Photos!	6	09-13-2009 03:26 PM
Women Soccer	Pedro Ernesto Guerra Azevedo	Post Your Photos!	2	08-30-2009 09:19 AM
Women Soccer	Pedro Ernesto Guerra Azevedo	Post Your Photos!	2	08-29-2009 02:45 AM
Soccer!	mel	Post Your Photos!	17	04-28-2009 10:07 AM

03-30-2011, 11:36 AM	#2
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	Samples with the Exif intact would help get better feedback. the Kx should be capable of at least iso 6400 though you may need to do some noise reduction in post (shoot raw for this) at 6400 iso and 2.8 you should be able to shoot indoor sports at at least 1/500th if it is proper arena lighting (why the shot would help we could see what kind of light you are talking about even in an auditorium i would think at 6400 1/250th would easily be attainable. (halve these speeds of course at 3200, but a lot less noise to contend with

03-30-2011, 11:50 AM	#3
tenthumbs New Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14 Original Poster	Thank you for the reply. I'll upload some this evening. I appreciate the quick reply.

03-30-2011, 11:50 AM	#4
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	Originally posted by tenthumbs I have a Kx with a 55-300 kit lens. Typically I'm taking pictures of my kids playing outdoor soccer with great results. However, indoor soccer action shots are proving to be much more difficult. I rented a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and tried bumping the ISO to get a higher shutter speed but lighting at this indoor field still didn't allow crisp unblurred action shots. Any suggestions for a technique or lens that will allow me to get better indoor soccer shots? try to prefocus, manually choose you focus point instead of letting the camera decide as this saves precious time when you need to focus fast (plus it gives you more control over where it will be infocus) I looked online at that lens and it looks big. If you rent it again I would use a monopod to help keep it steady. you could also try a 50 1.4 but you will loose the versitality of a zoom..... you could shoot with the 50 1.4 and just post crop it. good luck randy

03-30-2011, 12:58 PM	#5
psychdoc Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bham Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 949	Try renting the DA*50-135, [smaller lens, easier to hold. Also wider than the 70-200 which is helpful in indoor situations for certain shots]. Try shutter priority 1/500, and see what iso 6400 vs 3200 looks like. High iso will need noise reduction. Download trial version of something like Noiseware, noise reduction and just click the auto noise reduction settings. Imagenomic - Imagination at Shutter Speed

03-30-2011, 02:38 PM	#6
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	I take pictures of my kids playing indoor soccer with some success. I use manual mode setting the ISO at ~3200, f2.8, and ~1/200, the kids are young and not very fast so 1/200 is just enough. I use a 50-135 and it does really well. I also use noise reduction software on all the shots I like.

03-30-2011, 04:56 PM	#7
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,296	I've had mixed success on indoor, it's so fast, and besides poor lighting at our local place, netting around most of the field does hamper AF. Good advice from Randy to pre-focus, even then at wide apertures it's going to be a very slim focus area. You may do the best on a fast prime, preferably one that focuses to infinity pretty close. It's definitely harder to stay steady also when you following the game, Randy's monopod idea may be helpful. Most of all. you need faster lenses, you just may not get the zoom you want.

03-30-2011, 05:52 PM	#8
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	If only Pentax would launch a 85mm f/1.4 for modern bodies. In a lot of jobs, i specifically had to rent C/N body so that i could use that lens. Made life a whole lot easier.

03-31-2011, 08:13 AM	#9
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	Originally posted by Reportage If only Pentax would launch a 85mm f/1.4 for modern bodies. In a lot of jobs, i specifically had to rent C/N body so that i could use that lens. Made life a whole lot easier. Sigma has a 85 1.4 but full frame for Pentax, but would work just as well with digital 1.5 crop factor. I read it is a great lens for the price. cheers

03-31-2011, 08:32 AM	#10
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	it runs about the same price as an FA 85 1.4 used does, for my money i'd rather buy the sigma and have the warranty then a lens that may well need a repair in the same price range

03-31-2011, 08:41 AM	#11
tenthumbs New Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14 Original Poster	Thanks again for all the replies. I went home after work yesterday and looked at the pics I took with the Sigma 70-200 and the highest ISO I went to was 1000 and shutter speed was no higher than 1/120 or something close to that. I had read that 1/250 or higher is likely where I'll find success. That info and your replies should set me straight. I did attempt to upload a few pics but kept getting an error and gave up. Not that you're missing anything. Overall a poor effort on my part. Again I appreciate your replies. Very helpful.

03-31-2011, 04:15 PM	#12
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	Originally posted by slipchuck Sigma has a 85 1.4 but full frame for Pentax, but would work just as well with digital 1.5 crop factor. I read it is a great lens for the price. cheers Exactly. Why doesnt Pentax have its own now?

04-01-2011, 06:53 AM	#13
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	Originally posted by Reportage Exactly. Why doesnt Pentax have its own now? Because they have the FA77 to compete (which may also be a good choice for you) and it's less expensive. Remember pentax doesn't seem to be looking towards FF and an 85 classically is a ff portrait lens. maybe they just can't think outside the box on alternate uses (though i suspect it's lens manufacturing capacity that is the real issue - given they have to support 645 and apsc with lenses - the new evil looks like the lenses may well come from the cosmicar line)