 Tracy Gold |
Action Shots and the Disappointing Result Is it possible to take action shots without the image blurring? It just seems that with this cameras range (up to 114 feet) the images remain rather small, BUT if the object was in motion (summersault, for example, or a jog) the image would be blurry. Is this just a downfall of this type of camera, that you can't get images (as if taken using 800 speed film, as if with conventional film use)?
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John A. Lind |
Tracy, A few more details would be helpful. Was this indoors? Outdoors - day - dusk - night? Were you using flash (what make/model)? What film speed? Some of my response here is based on guessing these from your question. A "range" of 114 feet and the description of one photograph (sommersault) sounds like it was indoors with flash. A flash "guide number" is its power level and even though it's given in distance for a specific film speed, it's not necessarly the maximum range. Guide numbers were first used with flash bulbs which could not be adjusted for light output, and the guide number varies with film speed. In use, the guide number (for the film speed in use) would be divided by the subject distance to determine lens aperture setting. With an electronic flash with output power level controlled by the camera, its guide number can be divided by the lens aperture you are using to determine its maximum range, but remember the guide number in the flash specs is usually for ISO 100, and it will be different for other film speeds. I have several "mondo" flash heads that can be mounted to a camera body . . . with power levels well beyond what the average non-professional owns. In practical use, they max out at about 45-50 feet. I can eek out about 70 feet if needed, but it's with some compromises in lens selection and depth of field. NONE of them is capable of a proper exposure at 114 feet. If I need to photograph action at that distance indoors or in low light outdoors, I forget about flash and use very fast lenses wide open (f/2 preferred, but no slower than f/2.8) and high speed film (ISO 800 or 1600). I was faced with this situation at a wedding this past weekend . . . not only was flash banished during the ceremony (not that uncommon) but I was also restricted to shooting from a balcony in the back between the beginning (hand-off) and end (first kiss) which is much less common. Used Fuji Press 1600 with f/2 and f/2.8 telephotos from the balcony, and had shutter speeds varying between 1/60th and 1/125th second. Enough to stop action at a wedding, but for what you've described, I'd want shutter speeds no slower than 1/125th with ability to use 1/250th preferred. Press 1600 is a pro film and pretty forgiving of the light imbalance (daylight versus indoor tungsten). The trade-off is not being able to make large prints from a film that fast (4x6 or 5x7 max), but it's still not as grainy as an inexpensive consumer ISO 800 film. Blurriness can also be caused by camera shake, especially if you're trying to use a telephoto longer than about 135mm. The maximum for hand held is about 180-200mm, but going that long requires ability to brace very well to hold composition and panning with fast action can be very difficult. -- John
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