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Shooting Indoor Sports (Basketball)


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6 replies to this topic

#1
EagleEyes

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Hi fellow photographers. I have a D60 with kit lens (55-200mm) and I’m trying to capture my daughters basketball games with it. I tried shooting today but most of my Pictures were blurry. What settings should I set my camera to? I just want decent action pics. Can you educate me with some knowledge please. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

#2
Fletch

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At least 1/500 of a second in my opinion and a high ISO so you don’t need a flash, there’s a couple of folks here with much more experience than me hopefully they will chime in.

#3
ScottinPollock

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The three main factors for freezing motion are focal length of your lens, distance from your subject, and the speed of your subject. For example: you need a much higher shutter speed for college athletes than grade school girls, or with a 200mm lens than a 55mm (given the same distance).

Given the specs of your camera and lens, you can calculate what's necessary for any given speed and distance using a little trigonometry. I have an article and spreadsheet that will let you plug in the numbers to see the results.

#4
EagleEyes

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Thank you for your input. Looks like this hobby can get really expensive. I need a faster camera and better Lenses. I think for now I’ll shoot team pics rather than action shots. Again thank you again for your input.

#5
Ron

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Well, your D60 is a bit long of tooth and your lenses are a bit slow. If you wish to invest the time you could probably learn to pan with the action and get a few usable images. Lacking that, or using flash, I guess it may be time to consider an upgrade.

 

Photography, like sailboats or golf, can easily consume your entire income (and savings) if you let it.

 

--Ron



#6
fallout666

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here some info from someone that shoots indoor volleyball. since you have D60. you have few options to choice from. you want one holly trinity lenses the 24-70mm or 70-200mm. it will be cheaper to get third party one or great used gen 1 nikon 70-200mm or used third party 70-200mm. and same for 24-70mm. also 70-200mm is best option right now since around 1k new and used for lens. also you can find used low shutter count D7200 or if price still low for D7200 too. since nikon stop making them. so could get one brand new for around $800 or so now last time i checked was 1/2 to month ago. also good starting point to look at. all info i can give since when i shoot indoors its F/2.8 1/500 iso 5000 for poor lighting gym which all three coach for college hate. since both basketball and lady volleyball coach said. and school photographer said too. 

 



#7
TBonz

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The big issue you have is your lens although the D60 isn't optimal either.  The simple answer is to keep the speed high, the aperture open and adjust from there.  How high depends on the player's age.  1/500 can work, but you will probably want to be faster than that by the time high school rolls around.  Yes, you will get grainy images and you will get lots of images that can be culled out quickly.  But, you will get some that you will be happy with.  If nothing else, take the opportunity to work on the things you can control including your timing, what works / doesn't work, etc.  Just have fun with it and hopefully you can grow your skills and equipment as she grows!