Best DSLR settings for photographing an NBA game

Ish-Disturber · Post #1 » by **Ish-Disturber** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:58 am

Hello all,

I have some pretty decent seats at the home opener and would love to take some nice photos. Any advice on the most appropriate settings on an DSLR that will give me the best results? I'll be using a Nikon D40 with a 18-200MM f/3.5-6.3 lens. I know its not an ideal lens but its all I have. (I also have 50mm f/1.8... which is tough for me to use since it doesn't autofocus on my camera)

Thanks in advance.

grimlock · Post #2 » by **grimlock** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:03 am

the most important things are focus speed and aperture. The 50mm probably is your "fastest" lens, but you'll have a hell of a time getting focused. If the nikons have a predictive focusing mode, use that instead of the standard auto focus mode. The 18-200 will be useless. x

If your hellbent on getting a good shot rent something like this
http://www.vistek.ca/rentals/details/42 ... -lens.aspx

(Just read again.. your 50mm is manual.. which makes it next to impossible) If you want to get a shot with the 18-200, your going to have to jack your ISO up to unwanted levels.. try find a friend with a decent lens if you don't want to rent)

jeffyjaixx · Post #3 » by **jeffyjaixx** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:12 am

If you really can't get a fast lens in time for the game, you'll just have to try the 18-200mm with high ISO's and fast shutter speeds in order to get decent action shots. Somewhere along the line of 1600 ISO, 1/80 shutter speed minimum.

hkr · Post #4 » by **hkr** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:13 am

Using the 50mm f1.8 is still your best bet. The D40 is a pretty limited DSLR in terms of AF in the first place, so it's not a bad idea to go MF. Usually most actions happen in certain areas (near FT line, under the hoop, etc) so practice focusing in those areas. Set the focus before players arrive, and then just fire away when you think something will happen. Also always keep your lens at f1.8 and be prepared to use high ISOs to get workable shutter speed.

Indoor sports is a punishing test of a camera's capability but if you sit close enough you will get pretty nice shots with your D40 + f1.8 50mm, good luck!

nakedprimate · Post #5 » by **nakedprimate** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:36 am

telephoto lens are NOT allowed at any nba, nhl, etc... games. press credentials are required if you want to shoot with a telephoto lens. if you were to pull out your 18-200 mm lens out, security would automatically make sure you put the down or change the lens to a standard focal length (50 mm or less)... so yea if youre not with the press dont bring any lens with a focal length above 50mm... in your case .. go rent a 50mm lens with auto focus for 5 bucks...

ZKS_STAL · Post #6 » by **ZKS_STAL** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:15 am

The 1.8 will be the better lens if you plan on catching any action - the 200 would be a nice zoom on a cropped sensor, but at 6.3 you'll probably get a lot of close up blur - In response to the telephoto comment above... I don't know if nikon has anything similar to canon's 50-250mm is 4-5.6 but I borrowed one from work to snap some rogers cup shots and was really happy - plus its a very compact lens and looks almost exactly like the kit - as for security: be sneaky

night_day · Post #7 » by **night_day** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:01 pm

nakedprimate wrote:telephoto lens are NOT allowed at any nba, nhl, etc... games. press credentials are required if you want to shoot with a telephoto lens. if you were to pull out your 18-200 mm lens out, security would automatically make sure you put the down or change the lens to a standard focal length (50 mm or less)... so yea if youre not with the press dont bring any lens with a focal length above 50mm... in your case .. go rent a 50mm lens with auto focus for 5 bucks...

Most of the guards have no idea about the lenses. I pull out my 50-200mm from the balcony all the time and haven't had anyone say anything.

MJ23DREAMER · Post #8 » by **MJ23DREAMER** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:14 pm

There are a huge amount of issues you will be dealing with here.

First, typically the lighting at any "large" venue such as the ACC you will be dealing with fluorescent (blue) range lighting. This will mean you have to have a fairly "open" apature setting. Second, you will have to deal with the speed of motion from the players. You could have a fast ISO setting of 1600+ but the amount of grain you will have in your photos will be very noticable (especially without a true telephoto lens). Capturing motion is very tricky from distance (seated vs. courtside). You may want to pick certain times during play such as shooting motion, one on one isos etc. where there is a bit less "fast running" motion. The point made above with reagrds to tele. lenses is valid but I tried bringing in my 500mm but was stopped last year.

In all honesty, I have found that trying to take pictures while at the game becomes a huge distraction and takes away from really enjoying the game even though I am a huge photo buff. I don't even bother bringing my SLR any more and just bring my pocket point and shoot to take some candids. You really need to be pretty close to get some good shots. You can see all the great shots at various websites. I totally know it's not the same as taking it yourself but as I've said you'll probably enjoy the game more without having to worry about not getting all freaked out when people are standing, waving or getting hands in your shot!

Have FUN any way!!

TCL · Post #9 » by **TCL** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:43 am

nakedprimate wrote:telephoto lens are NOT allowed at any nba, nhl, etc... games. press credentials are required if you want to shoot with a telephoto lens. if you were to pull out your 18-200 mm lens out, security would automatically make sure you put the down or change the lens to a standard focal length (50 mm or less)... so yea if youre not with the press dont bring any lens with a focal length above 50mm... in your case .. go rent a 50mm lens with auto focus for 5 bucks...

Absolutely 1000000% incorrect. I went to about 10 courtside games last year, sitting everywhere from behind the Raps bench to Row A Courtside West and for EVERY game I brought my D90 (with 18-200mm) without a single problem. All they ask is that you take the flash off.

Post #10 » by **YogiStewart** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:52 am

night_day wrote:
nakedprimate wrote:telephoto lens are NOT allowed at any nba, nhl, etc... games. press credentials are required if you want to shoot with a telephoto lens. if you were to pull out your 18-200 mm lens out, security would automatically make sure you put the down or change the lens to a standard focal length (50 mm or less)... so yea if youre not with the press dont bring any lens with a focal length above 50mm... in your case .. go rent a 50mm lens with auto focus for 5 bucks...

Most of the guards have no idea about the lenses. I pull out my 50-200mm from the balcony all the time and haven't had anyone say anything.

for the NBA, there aren't any lens restrictions. no need to hide anything.
nhl is a different story.

the lighting at the ACC is pretty damn good. you can shoot with whatever settings you like. keep the ISO low to avoid grain. bump up the shutter speed to 1000 or 1200 or whatever.

Raps in 4 · Post #11 » by **Raps in 4** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:54 am

I have the same camera, unfortunately I don't take any motion shots so I can't help you there. Read the manual though, IIRC there's something in there about sports photography settings, or Google it.

Ish-Disturber · Post #12 » by **Ish-Disturber** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 4:55 pm

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Very much appreciated.

Absolutely 1000000% incorrect. I went to about 10 courtside games last year, sitting everywhere from behind the Raps bench to Row A Courtside West and for EVERY game I brought my D90 (with 18-200mm) without a single problem. All they ask is that you take the flash off.

TCL: How were your results? What settings worked best for you?