Which SL settings for sport (e.g. basketball)?

[MRJohn]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I haven't used my SL for sports a lot but would like to try out the 90-280 on a few games, in particular basketball, to get some practise. Which settings would you recommend? Thanks a bunch.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[celticursa]

I recommend you set your SL on the sidelines and rent a Nikon D850...world class continuous focus tracking.

[fotonutzz]

I have the SL and 90-280. 

Used it to try and capture my dog running towards me as well as some soccer matches.  

Success rate is 20% only despite setting my SL to the following settings:

High Continuous Shutter

Continuous AF

AF Tracking

High ISO

Shutter priority

So, maybe your hit rate may be better for basketball games.  

 

[frame-it]

11 hours ago, MRJohn said:

I haven't used my SL for sports a lot but would like to try out the 90-280 on a few games, in particular basketball, to get some practise. Which settings would you recommend? Thanks a bunch.

 

 

[sarkis]

Try these setting for starters:

ISO = AUTO (recommend setting the ceiling to 6400)

Continuous AF

Shutter Priority 

Drive Mode : High Speed 

Turn Auto-Review off - it's a distraction when you shoot action.

Auto Focus:  try Dynamic, Zone, and Spot to see which one works best for you.

File format:  record jpg to both cards or...DNG to Card 1 and jpg to card 2.  Don't record DNG to Card 2; it's too slow.

Make sure that the image stabilization is enabled.

If you want to freeze the action, start with a shutter speed 1/500 or 1/320.  See how sharp the shots look and adjust accordingly.  If you want a little bit of motion blur, you can play with slightly slower speeds.  

It's not perfect for action but it does a decent job if you set it up correctly.  I've shot lots of action with my Canon 1D series cameras and, while my SL doesn't track as well as the latest generation of those, it does okay.  Have fun with it.  The jpgs can look great straight out of the camera.

[sillbeers15]

1 hour ago, fotonutzz said:

I have the SL and 90-280. 

Used it to try and capture my dog running towards me as well as some soccer matches.  

Success rate is 20% only despite setting my SL to the following settings:

High Continuous Shutter

Continuous AF

AF Tracking

High ISO

Shutter priority

So, maybe your hit rate may be better for basketball games.  

 

If you want higher AF success rate, drop to medium continuous mode. At high, the AF is locked on first frame. By the way, the buffer runs out fast when you stay on high. I find medium a much better balance.

[helged]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

19 minutes ago, sillbeers15 said:

If you want higher AF success rate, drop to medium continuous mode. At high, the AF is locked on first frame. By the way, the buffer runs out fast when you stay on high. I find medium a much better balance.

+1.

[caissa]

You could also try switching to fully electronic shutter. Sometimes it does result in producing more keepers.

Why exactly ? I do not know, I just try it from time to time. Also because it is completely silent, maybe I’m less distracted.