Fast Moving objects, no flash = loads of blur?

BalSanghera

BalSanghera

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Bal Sanghera
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What am I doing wrong? I thought I would turn of the flash off and take some pics of my cousin before his boxing fight to capture the moment kinda thing whilst he was warming up but all the pictures I took were blurred and not focusing. Should I have left the flash on? I had my camera set to continuous focus and iso was set to auto :help:

1.
DSC01426.jpg


2.
DSC01429.jpg


3.
DSC01436.jpg


Was using my Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens
 
Hi BalSanghera,
I can't see the exif info in your photos so I'm not 100% sure.
I'm guessing that in order to expose your photo well you have had to use a slow shutter speed. As such you have ended up with a lot of subject blur/camera shake.
Flash would have helped to freeze the action.
 
Ahh I think I saved for web, I will reupload them that should have the exif data.

Re-uploaded them exif data should now be there.
 
Your shutter speed is too slow. To get the shutter speed up and retain a correct exposure, you need to either use a higher ISO, wider aperture or get more light (ie Flash).
 
Your shutter speed is 1/8, 1/6 and 1/6 respectively - this is causing the blurring you are seeing.

You'll need to get the shutter speed up to 1/60 (at least) I would think. You'll be able to do this either with the use of flash, or by increasing the ISO, but you'll get more noise (grain) in the shots.
 
Having looked at the EXIF:

- Exif Specific
Exposure Time = 1/8 sec [0.125]
F Number = 14/5 [2.800]
Exposure Program = Action program (biased toward fast shutter speed)
ISO Speed Ratings = 400
Exif Version = 0221
Original Create Time = 2009:02:28 20:47:52
Digitalization Time = 2009:02:28 20:47:52
Components Configuration = YCbCr
Compressed Bits per Pixel = 8
Brightness Value = -5/4 [-1.250]
Exposure Bias Value = 0
Max. Aperture Value = 300/100
Metering mode = Pattern
Light Source = Unknown
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 17 mm
User Comment =
Flashpix Version = 0100
Color Space = sRGB

...we can quantify this. Your 0.125 second exposure is much too long for a fast-moving subject. I would say at wants to be below 1/60th of a second. Given that your ISO was already at 400, you really only have 2 more usable stops there. You were already at your maximum aperture of f2.8, so more light is about your only viable option (IMO). ISO 1600 and 1/32s exposure would have been better, but would still not give a sharp picture. Flash is the key!
 
OutLore said:
Your shutter speed is 1/8, 1/6 and 1/6 respectively - this is causing the blurring you are seeing.

You'll need to get the shutter speed up to 1/60 (at least) I would think. You'll be able to do this either with the use of flash, or by increasing the ISO, but you'll get more noise (grain) in the shots.
Click to expand...

Sorry, posts crossed....
 
Looking at the EXIF, the shutter speed of 1/8th is way to slow. Was there any particular reason you decided not to use flash? Otherwise a much higher ISO would have been needed.

Did you have the camera in "sports" mode? This could explain the shutter speed, the camera will only raise the ISO so far and the fastest speed it could get was 1/8th. I would think that to get the correct shutter speed any other way would need the ISO too high for usable pics. In this instance I would have said that the best way would have been Manual with f2.8 and around 1/80th shutter speed, using flash.
 
This is the reason I want a D700.
Flash indoors generally looks pretty poor, and without flash it's really hard to get a decent shutter speed.
A camera that is clean at ISO6400 with a f/2.8 or faster lens is the best solution.
 
FYI: Having looked at the shots again, there's some corruption on the 3rd one - from the right, all the way across the subject's neck.

You might have a dodgy memory card on your hands....
 
with f2.8 it looks, to me, bright enough in there to take pictures without flash. I am guessing however, the guy was bouncing around a lot :)
 
Up ISO and shoot RAW, go for 2 stops exposure compensation at PP.
Are there any drawbacks doing this?
 
OutLore said:
FYI: Having looked at the shots again, there's some corruption on the 3rd one - from the right, all the way across the subject's neck.

You might have a dodgy memory card on your hands....
Click to expand...

Pic has been uploaded again, think it was caused to the crappy ftp prog I was using.

cressers said:
with f2.8 it looks, to me, bright enough in there to take pictures without flash. I am guessing however, the guy was bouncing around a lot :)
Click to expand...

Yep adrenaline was pumping and he was jumping and punching all over the place :lol:
 
Suvv said:
Up ISO and shoot RAW, go for 2 stops exposure compensation at PP.
Are there any drawbacks doing this?
Click to expand...

cyclone said:
Yep, loads of noise.
Click to expand...

If flash is out, and there isn't a D3 to hand - might be the only way though. I would think with that kinda subject matter a little noise could actually be used to improve the final image, although this may be a little cliche....
 
tell them all to stand still or you'll punch their lights out:D ;)
 
The other problem I had was shooting through the ropes as my flash gun left a horrible shadow on lot of the pics, I saw another togger with a flash on the side of his camera does sony do anything like this?
 
Ok 7 months on I know have another fight tomorrow and wanted to clarify a few things. I have now upgraded to the A700 and plan on shooting .jpg and RAW. Secondly would it be better to shoot in aperture priority or shutter priorty?

I was thinking as there is going to be a lot of fast moving, and low lighting I would be better of using with fast shutter speed, f/2.8 and iso around 800.

I will also have my flash but because the fight is at another venue I dont know what the restrictions are. Hopefully I will be good to use it.

Any sugguestion or tips will be highly appriciated :thumbs:
 
If flash is a no-no:

I have no experience with the sony's noise levels but I would put it in AV mode, 1600 ISO, take a test shot and see how it looks.

If its not giving you quick enough shutter from AV, put it in TV and select the shutter you think will be sufficient, check the image and adjust accordingly if needed.

If your having to under expose the shots, shoot RAW and pull them up a bit in PP, it will give noise but a noisy shot is better than no shot.
 
If you can't even bounce flash up off the ceiling then the only solution is something like this

F/2.8
Shutter speed 1/400 (if he's doing a punch)
ISO 3200

Adjust ISO and shutter speed on the night and shoot the thing in manual. It's a closed room with constant lighting.
 
Raymond Lin said:
If you can't even bounce flash up off the ceiling then the only solution is something like this

F/2.8
Shutter speed 1/400 (if he's doing a punch)
ISO 3200

Adjust ISO and shutter speed on the night and shoot the thing in manual. It's a closed room with constant lighting.
Click to expand...

I'll go with Raymond and say forget TV and Av and shoot it manual.

The best thing longer term is to learn how to work with the three things that affect your exposure. ISO, shutter and aperture.

The shutter speed will need to be about 1/400. At 1/60 you can just about get people standing still, at 1/500 I can get the dog running.

Aperture, well, that's as wide as you have got so let's go with that. The wider it is, the more light it lets in so you have more chance of getting those shutter speeds.

ISO? Take it as high as you have to to get the shots, you can improve things in PP with noise reduction which is better than no shot at all.

The trick is to get the shutter speed you need to get the shot at the lowest ISO to preserve quality. It's a balancing act.

A good book, either bought or from the library, will help understanding the three things, what they do and how they fit together to make an exposure.
 
hello,
i had the same problem - shooting runners - late @ night
got loads of blur
so turned on the flash
then got loads of -- f*** off - i can't see - who was that
follow by me saying - come on mate - were going LOL
 
Bal, I see you have a Minolta f/1.7 in your kit bag, why not use this instead of the zoom? It'll let a lot more light in the camera, and the short tele effect should work well for getting in close to the boxers without flash?
 
Im going to put the minolta on my a350 and use two bodies and see what results I get... hopefully I can get some great pictures but as im assuming its going to fairly jam packed im worried about people bumping in to my equipment.
 
Thanks for all the tips by the looks of it the pictures came out well... will post later in sports section :thumbs:
 
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