 Kevin Chick |
Shutter speed questions
Today I used the TV mode (Shutter priority), with only a center focus point and AI servo. The only problem I am having is deciding what shuuter speeds I should be using. The sun was in and out so that made it difficult too. I first tried the shutter at 1/15 and this was giving far too much exposure and light. Then I was trying shutters between 1/80, 1/100, 1/125 and 1/160 and the photos all came out quite well as you will see from my Super Touring picture in my gallery. Is there really much different between using 1/80 - 1/125 and what do the experts here suggest I should use? I know there is no perfect setting but I kept changing up and down in case one might turn out better? The slow shutter speeds were not much good but the best photo of the day (T-car pic in the gallery) was taken at 1/25. This is exactly the effect I was looking for and this picture has not been adjusted at all. I would take all my pics at this speed but all the others at this speed were a total blur but this one came out almost perfect. Any advice on this or is it just trial and error? i would love any comments on my photos to help me learn, I do think there is a huge improvement but you can compare them all if you want to at http://www.brandshatch.co.nr thanks for your great help.
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Autumn Hernandez |
If you find that your longer exposures are giving you too much light, but you still want a fairly low shutter speed, make sure you're on at least 22 or higher aperture and maybe try throwing on a polarizer. This seems to work for me when it's really bright, and my camera can't do what I want it to on its own. I think the examples you gave look great. If you're just starting out panning and you only got a few good ones, don't be too hard on yourself. It definitely takes practice. It's STILL hit and miss for me in panning shots. I don't practice as much as I should. lol Keep up the great work! They look awesome.
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BetterPhoto Member |
You can get several grades of neutral density filters at any camera shop. I believe these filters range from 1/2 stop to 4 stop light reduction. You may want to check into them.
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Samuel Smith |
welcome kevin, i really have to wonder about what you want? it's hard for me to believe your freezing the action that way with such a slow shutter speed.i know there's plenty of light but,huh? longer exposures at a road race? a neutral density ? trust the sports mode in your camera and pan. i am not trying to cause trouble here. now if you would have said 1/500 or maybe even 1/250?? quit laughing mark.not mark h. here's my thinking: iso 400.shutter speed 1/1000 to 1/1250. am I really that far off?remember panning? f22? now the polarizer with a fast lens might be a good idea.glare.depends on which side you would be on as far as the suns angle. hey folks if i'm wrong straighten me out. your pictures are good.i just got a problem with the settings. i'm hoping you don't say you had your camera on a tripod. sam
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Kevin Chick |
Well I am new to photography so I am still playing around trying to get the correct settings and find my own style. But I have found that wehn using sports mode I am not gettnig the blurred background effect that I want. The touring car pic was definitely taken with 1/80 shutter, believe it or not. I was hand-panning, I do not yet own a tripod. But im only a rookie, so have another day of testing ahead but I need to get this right as I want the best motor sports pics :-)
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Jon Close |
You're doing fine, Kevin. Panning takes a lot of practice, and even then not every snap is going to be perfect. To show the motion of the spinning wheels and blurring the background, keep the longer shutter speeds. You want to avoid stopping the aperture all the way down to f/22 since you'll get unsharpness due to defraction. Make sure you're shooting at lower/lowest ISO setting. Turn off AUTO ISO and set it directly. If you're still overexposed at ISO 100, 1/60, and f/8 or 11, then use neutral density filter. WRT autofocus, it'll sometimes want to shift focus to the fencing between you and the car. Since the cars usually take the same line each lap, you can turn the autofocus off and manually prefocus on the point of the track where you anticipate snapping the picture.
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Christopher A. Vedros |
Sam, The high shutter speeds you're talking about will freeze motion. In order to get the "sharp car with blurred background" effect, you need to use slower shutter speeds and pan. Kevin, you are definitely on the right track. These two images are very good examples of this technique. Like Autumn said, even with a lot of practice, this type of shot is still hit & miss sometimes. It may take a few laps for you to get your timing right. But that's why those cars keep going around & around - to give you more chances! ;-) If you are using Tv mode, and getting overexposed images, make sure your ISO is set to its lowest setting (100). Chris
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Jon Close |
d'oh. spelling error. should be "... you'll get unsharpness due to DIFFRACTION."
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Samuel Smith |
wow that would take some smooth action while panning and that slow of a shutter speed. thanks for the very good explanation and not getting upset with my questioning. best of luck kevin,sam
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Kevin Chick |
Thanks for all your advice everybody, believe me I am taking notes of everything I hear. I never thought photography would be easy but now I have a good camera, I am finding that with so many settings, I am never totally sure which ones to use. I now have a rough area to aim for in terms of shutter, but even then I can still swap between 1/80 to 1/400 and get some shots very similar in quality and then some are off. But you never find out till you are home and its too late so I end up having to take some at each shutter speed :-/ You all sound very knowledgeable, where did you learn the real fine points or is it just through trial/error and experience? P.S. Chris - I was using ISO 100 but the shots came out dark so I moved it back to ISO 400 as I read this is better for motion. Is this the correct thing to do or should I be looking to get down to iso 100 for better quality? thanks
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Kevin Chick |
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Kevin Chick |
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