Shooting Minor League Baseball TODAY

Dramatapix®Dramatapix® Registered Users Posts: 430 Major grins
edited September 1, 2006 in Sports
I managed to get a press pass for shooting the closing game of the Toronto Blue Jays AA team in Manchester, NH today. I've never shot baseball, and have limited lenses. Looking for suggestions and tips to get the best shots.

Will be shooting with

D50
28-75mm f2.8
55-200mm f4.5-6

bipod

Shooting from the dugout.

Thanks for any input I can get on short notice
My Gear: D200, D80, 50 f/1.4, 28-75 f/2.8, 55-200 f/4-5.6, 18-55 f/3.5-5.6, 70-200 f2.8, (4) White Lightning Ultra 1200's, SB600, (2) Lightspheres, 17" Macbook Pro, 24" Apple Imac, Thinkpad T42, Epson R-260, PSCS2, Adobe Lightroom, Apple Aperture, PS Elements 4

Comments

  • DJ-S1DJ-S1 Registered Users Posts: 2,303 Major grins
    edited August 31, 2006
    The Fisher Cats, right? You'll want the 200mm so you don't have to crop so much. But I don't know the D50, how good is it at high ISO? You'll need to bump the ISO to get decent shutter speeds. If you don't want to push ISO, then use the f2.8 but be aware that major cropping will be needed.

    Shoot RAW if possible so you can fix the color cast coming off the lights. Unless you want to mess with custom white balancing while you are shooting.

    I read that some pros pre-focus on a spot and wait for the actiont o come into frame. For example, with a runner on first likely to steal, pre-focus on second base and let him slide into frame. I tried it (from the stands) and it seemed to work okay. I shot in Av, burst mode with as high an ISO as needed.

    Good luck and have fun, sounds like a great time!
  • b&hcyclistb&hcyclist Registered Users Posts: 1 Beginner grinner
    edited August 31, 2006
    Dramatapix® wrote:
    I managed to get a press pass for shooting the closing game of the Toronto Blue Jays AA team in Manchester, NH today. I've never shot baseball, and have limited lenses. Looking for suggestions and tips to get the best shots.

    Will be shooting with

    D50
    28-75mm f2.8
    55-200mm f4.5-6

    bipod

    Shooting from the dugout.

    Thanks for any input I can get on short notice

    The lens will be a little short for action at 2nd base but home plate and the pitchers mound you may be ok. Also, shoot around the batting cage during batting practice. Twenty years ago I used to shoot the Mets and Yankees and used mostly a 400mm lens.

    Steve
  • Dramatapix®Dramatapix® Registered Users Posts: 430 Major grins
    edited August 31, 2006
    Well, I'm purchasing a 70mm - 200 mm 2.8 in the morning, so that will help for future shoots, but in the meantime, I'm pretty excited about the shots I took tonight with the limited lenses that I had...

    92090249-L.jpg


    That's one example... you can see more at:

    http://brettmallard.smugmug.com/gallery/1838792
    My Gear: D200, D80, 50 f/1.4, 28-75 f/2.8, 55-200 f/4-5.6, 18-55 f/3.5-5.6, 70-200 f2.8, (4) White Lightning Ultra 1200's, SB600, (2) Lightspheres, 17" Macbook Pro, 24" Apple Imac, Thinkpad T42, Epson R-260, PSCS2, Adobe Lightroom, Apple Aperture, PS Elements 4
  • johngjohng Registered Users Posts: 1,658 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2006
    Dramatapix® wrote:
    Well, I'm purchasing a 70mm - 200 mm 2.8 in the morning, so that will help for future shoots, but in the meantime, I'm pretty excited about the shots I took tonight with the limited lenses that I had...

    You'll want to get a TC. As mentioned, 200mm is really too short for baseball. You might want to consider something like the Sigma 100-300 instead
  • Dramatapix®Dramatapix® Registered Users Posts: 430 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2006
    johng wrote:
    You'll want to get a TC. As mentioned, 200mm is really too short for baseball. You might want to consider something like the Sigma 100-300 instead

    If I had my druthers I would love a 400mm, but finances as they are are limiting my "hobby"... Laughing.gif

    Thanks for the reply.
    My Gear: D200, D80, 50 f/1.4, 28-75 f/2.8, 55-200 f/4-5.6, 18-55 f/3.5-5.6, 70-200 f2.8, (4) White Lightning Ultra 1200's, SB600, (2) Lightspheres, 17" Macbook Pro, 24" Apple Imac, Thinkpad T42, Epson R-260, PSCS2, Adobe Lightroom, Apple Aperture, PS Elements 4
  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2006
    good job ! you took some really good pic. thumb.gif I've got a d50 also . they'er pretty good for sports. you lucky dog, getting a press pass for the game.:D
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • Dramatapix®Dramatapix® Registered Users Posts: 430 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2006
    dbaker1221 wrote:
    good job ! you took some really good pic. thumb.gif I've got a d50 also . they'er pretty good for sports. you lucky dog, getting a press pass for the game.:D


    I have a friend that is a publisher for the states largest weekly newspaper. He gave me a letter for me to get state credentials for a press ID. I submit photos for freelance work, and can get passes to many events. It is how I am able to get such great access for my concert photography.

    :)
    My Gear: D200, D80, 50 f/1.4, 28-75 f/2.8, 55-200 f/4-5.6, 18-55 f/3.5-5.6, 70-200 f2.8, (4) White Lightning Ultra 1200's, SB600, (2) Lightspheres, 17" Macbook Pro, 24" Apple Imac, Thinkpad T42, Epson R-260, PSCS2, Adobe Lightroom, Apple Aperture, PS Elements 4
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