Basic Help with Ice Hockey Pictures - Please ??

Birty

Birty

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James
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I have just bought my first DSLR :help: (Canon 30D with a Sigma 300mm DG macro lens) and am just getting to grips with it, but I wondered if anyone could give me some basic tip for taking better Ice Hockey pictures (my 2 sons play) - its usually fast moving and sometimes can be a bit dark (I realise to get GREAT pics I will need some investment in a lens) but the budget has been wiped out with the camera purchase at the moment. Any help would be appreciated....
 
Set your camera to AV mode and run the lens at the widest aperture possible (lowest f number). Up the ISO setting to somewhere around the 3200 mark, and use a monopod if you have one available.

Then cross your fingers :lol:

(Depending on the light in the rink, the above may or may not get you up to a fast enough shutter speed. If it does, drop the ISO a little to see if you can maintain a fast enough shutter so as to reduce the noise a little)
 
Depending on the ice rink lighting will determing your settings. You will need a min of 250th at proberbly f2.8 so set your ISO for these. If you can manage higher than 250th then you are in a brighter rink. One major point you need to note is the ice will affect your meter reading so you will need to overexpose by 2/3-1 stop.

With a 300mm you will need a monopod or something to steady it. Try to shoot over the perspex rather than through it. Finally just be watchful of the WB. The lighting in these venues can give a slight cast due to the recycling. Your AWB may be ok but you may have to set a custom WB. If the recycling does present a problem you may have to alter it in CS or LR or similar.
 
Have a look in the Sports section of the photo sharing area. There are a few recent threads about ice hockey that should give you a fairly good idea of how to take the best pictures.
 
snapzz said:
With a 300mm you will need a monopod or something to steady it.
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Graham, looking at the wording, and in particular the word Macro, I'd guess that the OP is talking about the 70-300mm Sigma!
 
DemiLion said:
Graham, looking at the wording, and in particular the word Macro, I'd guess that the OP is talking about the 70-300mm Sigma!
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Really? I'm not that up on the Sigma range and just assumed when he mentioned 300mm he ment 300mm prime. If the 70-300 is not f2.8 then hes gonna struggle with his exposure as the shutter will be too low. May get a few "static" shots but keeper rate will be low.
 
I might well be wrong actually. Having just checked, their old f4 prime was listed with a Macro designation, but it's certainly not an f2.8.

If it's the zoom then it's f4-5.6.
 
Even f4 will be a struggle. Some of the rinks I visit I'm as high as 6400ISO! Judging by his location he could be visiting either Blackburn or Altchrinham. The latter is a new rink and never been there. I've been to Blackburn a few times but never photographed on ice. I think Kipax has so he'd know better than me how good the lighting is and settings he's used.
 
It is not an f/2.8 I'm afraid. Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro Super DG Lens
 
Thanks for the replies & Yes its the Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro Super DG Lens that was with the camera when I bought it which I know isn't ideal but all I can afford at the moment.
 
Birty said:
Thanks for the replies & Yes its the Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro Super DG Lens that was with the camera when I bought it which I know isn't ideal but all I can afford at the moment.
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I ahve shot ice hockey at both Blackburn and Altricham.. Important question...Where are you going to be shooting? Lighting and positioning are different for both...else other venue?
 
Mostly Blackburn, but will be travelling to away games all over
 
Actually Blackburn is very bright this season.. It has been poor the last couple of years but I was amazed when I went recently.. massive difference... i was getting iso 3200, f2.8 and a shutter of 500 but could have used 640 as i was over exposing slightly..

when it was dark i used to shoot at 320.. lot of lost shots but some good ones.. therefore it depends what iso your camera can go to and how it handles high iso..

look here at latest on those settings http://icehockey.fotopic.net/c1923712.html
 
My camera will go upto iso 3200 - I think I will just have a play around at weekend - see what happens as we are at home Saturday and away at Solihull Sunday

Apologies for the Novice-ness (if thats even a word) but can I just clarify some potential settings to try first ??

Camera in "Tv" mode - Iso @ 3200 - Shutter around 500 ? - I think the shutter goes upto 8000 - what would happen if the shutter was up around that figure ??
 
Birty said:
My camera will go upto iso 3200 - I think I will just have a play around at weekend - see what happens as we are at home Saturday and away at Solihull Sunday

Apologies for the Novice-ness (if thats even a word) but can I just clarify some potential settings to try first ??

Camera in "Tv" mode - Iso @ 3200 - Shutter around 500 ? - I think the shutter goes upto 8000 - what would happen if the shutter was up around that figure ??
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put camera in MANUAL mode
set iso to 3200
set aperture as wide as you can.. lowest f number.. i think your lens is f4...
set shutter to 320

fire away

look at screen and if pic too dark then lower the shutter speed..

dont zoom with the 70-300 stay at 70 so you ahve f4

thats yer best settings for what you have at blackburn
 
Birty said:
Apologies for the Novice-ness (if thats even a word) but can I just clarify some potential settings to try first ??

Camera in "Tv" mode - Iso @ 3200 - Shutter around 500 ? - I think the shutter goes upto 8000 - what would happen if the shutter was up around that figure ??
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You'd almost certainly get a screen full of black when you went to view the image! :D

At f/5.6 you'd need to be at 3200 and 1/125-160 to see the same exposure that Kipax is getting.

Given the possible speeds that you are going to get it might be worth mugging up on panning shots and motion blur to see if you can get some usable shots that way. Nothing wrong with taking a different approach! :)
 
Thanks a lot - REALLY appreciate all the help - I will give it a go and let you all know how it goes - If I get brave enough I might even post a picture (If I get one decent one that is !)
 
Birty said:
Thanks a lot - REALLY appreciate all the help - I will give it a go and let you all know how it goes - If I get brave enough I might even post a picture (If I get one decent one that is !)
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What age group are you shooting?
 
This weekend its the U18's (I have one son U18's & 1 in U16's)
 
Oh well, better get the batteries on charge for tomorrow - let you all know the results
 
Best of luck, and don't be afraid to experiment if things aren't going according to plan! :D
 
Birty said:
This weekend its the U18's (I have one son U18's & 1 in U16's)
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I was at the under 18s today.. latish decision to go as my footy was off.. went early to do the under 10s first..i couldnt remeber what age group you said.. was you there.. I noticed 5 other people photographing the game.. I got all there pics:)
 
Yes I was there, wish I'd known you were there. I filled my 4gb card up on the game (circa 750 shots) - I was stood next to Nick F.
 
I was opposite nr where the ice truck thingy comes out... Got pic of you and all the other photogrpahers haha... What number was your lad playing?
 
Thanks for all the help with this - I think I got some decent pictures (even with the above lens) mostly shot @ Iso 3200 and played around with shutter 250/320 and seemed to be the best for me on the day.

So thanks again everyone !!! :D
 
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