Indoor soccer photography - Suggestions solicited

[vsethuram]

Hi all,

I have just volunteered to cover the indoor soccer event that is being organised by my workplace in couple of weeks time. This is the first time I am attempting to shoot sporting action and am quite excited at the prospect of learning from this experience.

I have a Nikon D3100 with the 18-55mm kit lens and a Nikon 70-300 VR zoom lens. I'm not sure how good the lighting within the indoor stadium will be. I do not have an external flash, and I've heard that using even the built-in flash maybe distracting to the players.

1. Obviously, I want to freeze the action - so a fast shutter is required. Any thoughts on the minimum shutter speed?
2. Since the maximum aperture opening I can get out of my lenses is F3.5 @ 70mm, what would be the highest ISO setting I can go for before noise sets in?
3. I generally shoot Manual, however in this case, should I go with Shutter priority mode?
4. Is a tripod recommended or can I shoot hand held with VR on to reduce camera shake (tripod obviously will reduce my mobility)

I look forward to your advice,
Thanks!

[Donald]

I would suggest, Vish that it's pretty important you have some idea of what the lighting is going to be like. I suspect in an indoor arena, unless it's set up fro media coverage, the lighting will be pretty poor, from a photography perspective.

1. Obviously, I want to freeze the action - so a fast shutter is required. Any thoughts on the minimum shutter speed?
To freeze the action, you're going to have to fast. I'd have thought that 1/1000 would be the slowest you could go. But the action folks on here will be better able to advise.

2. Since the maximum aperture opening I can get out of my lenses is F3.5 @ 70mm, what would be the highest ISO setting I can go for before noise sets in?
The key to success is getting the exposure right. That what determines how significant the noise will be. If you under-expose, then the noise will be high if you try and recover light in post-processing. With what you've got, I'd think you'd need to be pushing your ISO well up. So, push the ISO as high as you need to push it to get good exposure. Do you have the facility on your camera to go onto Auto ISO?

3. I generally shoot Manual, however in this case, should I go with Shutter priority mode?
I always shoot manual, but you may get better results in Shutter Priority. I'd probably be thinking about matrix metering, but, again, those who shoot sports action will be better able to advise.

4. Is a tripod recommended or can I shoot hand held with VR on to reduce camera shake (tripod obviously will reduce my mobility)
I think a tripod would be a nuisance. You're going to have to be mobile. And, anyway, you're going to be shooting a sucha high shutter speed that you don't need a tripod to avoid movement.

[JR1]

I doubt if you would be allowed flash anyway and unless you have something like my SB910 you would have no where enough power.

Treat it as any other indoor shot, use ISO 6400 or above and later reduce grain in "noisware" community edition, free.

I shoot a lot indoors at gigs and never use flash, just as I say 6400 and above and 1/500th

I would never use a tripod for a 300

[Geoff F]

I would certainly shoot in Shutter Priority, Vish. But how much speed will be wanted? Certainly not below 1/500 and even this would be slow for those faster action shots.

You may get away with something between this and 1/1000 if you are able to pick scenes when the action is a little slower. But that would mean having a lot of rejects due to shutter speed.

And watch your aperture doesn't get too open so you have insufficient depth of sharp focus. I would take a few test shots before the match to decide what would be feasible.

Excessive noise is bound to be a problem if you over set your Iso in a dark scene. Personally I would be nervous going over Iso 1200 and would prefer to be more like 800. I find I can increase Iso if I want to have a faster shutter speed and narrower aperture in good light; but as soon as I start doing this in poor light the shadows in particular give me unacceptable results.

[JR1]

I would certainly shoot in Shutter Priority, Vish. But how much speed will be wanted? Certainly not below 1/500 and even this would be slow for those faster action shots.

You may get away with something between this and 1/1000 if you are able to pick scenes when the action is a little slower. But that would mean having a lot of rejects due to shutter speed.

And watch your aperture doesn't get too open so you have insufficient depth of sharp focus. I would take a few test shots before the match to decide what would be feasible.

Excessive noise is bound to be a problem if you over set your Iso in a dark scene. Personally I would be nervous going over Iso 1200 and would prefer to be more like 800. I find I can increase Iso if I want to have a faster shutter speed and narrower aperture in good light; but as soon as I start doing this in poor light the shadows in particular give me unacceptable results.

The above shot and most of mine are 6400 and above, people are too concerned about iso 6these days, in the old days when 400asa was fast and 800 was an emergency ok, but these days with software such as noiseware that is not an issue

[vsethuram]

Donald, Jeremy, Geoff

Appreciate the advice and apologies for the delayed acknowledgment. Yes, my camera allows an ISO auto setting. My greatest unknown at this stage is the lighting in the stadium. I will post some of the shots I take after the event.

Cheers again!