Is this camera good for shooting supercross?

Ddavis
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Ddavis
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 12:55pm
My aunt works at a photo editing business and has a Canon EOS Digital Rebel with a Tamron SP DI 90mm MACRO 1:1 lense.





I know alot of you are camera/photography gurus, your thoughts on this camera? good settings for shooting from the stands?
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Sparkalounger
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Sparkalounger 2/3/2011 9:02pm
2/3/2011 9:02pm
are you going to borrow or buy it?
carlosmacho
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carlosmacho 2/3/2011 9:30pm
2/3/2011 9:30pm
The camera is not that great for taking Supercross. It can do it but the rebel xt is better, it works better for higher ISO. With that lens at f2.8 you will need an ISO of minimum 800 which will not get you a lot of keeper but 1600iso is better.

The lens is a little short minimum 200mm is needed if you are shooting from the stands. If you have a press pass and can get on the track it would not be bad.

I would recommend a better camera and a longer lens a sigma 70-200 2.8 is better and the new rebel x2i would be much better and get a lot more keepers and a lot better images.

But you could do it with that combination but most newer photoraphers will not be happy with that combination.
Loose
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Loose 2/3/2011 9:37pm
2/3/2011 9:37pm
Try this
WhipMeister
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WhipMeister 2/3/2011 9:44pm
2/3/2011 9:44pm
To buy? If you're just getting started, I'd invest my money in a decent pro- sumer a generation or two removed from the bleeding edge. They can be had relatively cheap and the lenses can be carried forward to current generation stuff. A Nikon D100 or D90 or the comparable Canons. I personally prefer Nikons, but you won't go wrong with either.

The Shop

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Ddavis
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Ddavis 2/3/2011 9:48pm
2/3/2011 9:48pm Edited Date/Time 2/3/2011 9:48pm
She's just letting me borrow it for saturday.. It's my aunts.


I just wanna know if i'm gonna look like an idiot sitting there with that camera at supercross.
Loose
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Loose 2/3/2011 9:56pm
2/3/2011 9:56pm
I'm not sure they will let you in with a camera like that. In Aus you can take a small digital but n othing with a removable lens.

Gibby?
FreshTopEnd
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FreshTopEnd 2/3/2011 9:58pm
2/3/2011 9:58pm
The camera's not going to make a difference on whether you look like an idiot.

Stop worrying about what you look like and shoot some pictures. Set it to aperture priority (AV mode) and shoot with the lens wide open. Make sure the focus is set to AI-servo.
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WhipMeister 2/3/2011 10:00pm
2/3/2011 10:00pm
Ddavis wrote:
She's just letting me borrow it for saturday.. It's my aunts. I just wanna know if i'm gonna look like an idiot sitting there with that...
She's just letting me borrow it for saturday.. It's my aunts.


I just wanna know if i'm gonna look like an idiot sitting there with that camera at supercross.
Nah. My daughter has one just like it. I've used it many times. It can take a decent shot. Just run down to Frys or wherever and buy yourself a 4gb memory card or bigger for it. Then you can just set the shutter to auto repeat and press the button and hold it down with no worries of running out of room. You're bound to get something decent. Just try to study up in the manual, stay away from the flash (no good unless you're close). Others will chime in with specific pointers
Ddavis
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Ddavis 2/3/2011 10:06pm
2/3/2011 10:06pm
Ddavis wrote:
She's just letting me borrow it for saturday.. It's my aunts. I just wanna know if i'm gonna look like an idiot sitting there with that...
She's just letting me borrow it for saturday.. It's my aunts.


I just wanna know if i'm gonna look like an idiot sitting there with that camera at supercross.
WhipMeister wrote:
Nah. My daughter has one just like it. I've used it many times. It can take a decent shot. Just run down to Frys or wherever...
Nah. My daughter has one just like it. I've used it many times. It can take a decent shot. Just run down to Frys or wherever and buy yourself a 4gb memory card or bigger for it. Then you can just set the shutter to auto repeat and press the button and hold it down with no worries of running out of room. You're bound to get something decent. Just try to study up in the manual, stay away from the flash (no good unless you're close). Others will chime in with specific pointers
Thanks

She recommended putting it to action mode and moving with the object.
FreshTopEnd
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FreshTopEnd 2/3/2011 10:12pm
2/3/2011 10:12pm Edited Date/Time 2/3/2011 10:12pm
Ddavis wrote:
Thanks

She recommended putting it to action mode and moving with the object.
Not a great idea. Panning is, but action mode is a compromise for soccer moms. Put it on AV and shoot wide open aperture at as high an iso as you can (probably 800-1250 on that camera). Whip is right; don't try to use the flash.
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WhipMeister 2/3/2011 10:22pm
2/3/2011 10:22pm Edited Date/Time 2/3/2011 10:24pm
Ddavis wrote:
Thanks

She recommended putting it to action mode and moving with the object.
Like FTE sez, action-mode is for daylight, Read the manual that came with it (or look it up online). Look up setting the ISO to 1000 or more (but not too much more as it makes the shots grainy), put it in aperture priority mode, open it up 'wide' (lowest F number) leave auto-focus on, leave the rest of the settings at default or 'Auto (especially the 'enhancers' like 'Vivid' mode - sounds sexy, ummm, not so much - and White Balance) and then pan with the motion and hold the shutter release down like you're shooting a movie (on your subject; not the entire event!) and let the camera do the rest,

Come home and dump the whole batch to your computer and see what you wind up with. Be bold. Have fun.
Ddavis
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Ddavis 2/3/2011 10:26pm
2/3/2011 10:26pm
WhipMeister wrote:
Like FTE sez, action-mode is for daylight, Read the manual that came with it (or look it up online). Look up setting the ISO to 1000...
Like FTE sez, action-mode is for daylight, Read the manual that came with it (or look it up online). Look up setting the ISO to 1000 or more (but not too much more as it makes the shots grainy), put it in aperture priority mode, open it up 'wide' (lowest F number) leave auto-focus on, leave the rest of the settings at default or 'Auto (especially the 'enhancers' like 'Vivid' mode - sounds sexy, ummm, not so much - and White Balance) and then pan with the motion and hold the shutter release down like you're shooting a movie (on your subject; not the entire event!) and let the camera do the rest,

Come home and dump the whole batch to your computer and see what you wind up with. Be bold. Have fun.
Thanks alot! Even though I don't understand anything you said i'll take in as much as I can!
Antipodean 2/3/2011 10:30pm
2/3/2011 10:30pm Edited Date/Time 2/3/2011 10:31pm
Ddavis, I assume you're gonna shoot A2. If so, and if you get the chance, please take a few photos of Ryan Marmont (in the team pit and on the track) for us Aussies. Apparently, and regrettably, this weekend is Ryan's last SX ride before returning down under to get ready for the Australian Motocross Nationals. Consider it a kind of farewell photo-tribute.

For the last six weeks Ryan's literally been livin' the dream, and as much as we're all going to appreciate having him racing down here again we can't help but feel a little disappointed that the dream has to end - well, at least that it has to end before Vegas.

Thanks in advance.
Nerd
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Nerd 2/3/2011 10:32pm
2/3/2011 10:32pm
Ddavis wrote:
Thanks

She recommended putting it to action mode and moving with the object.
FreshTopEnd wrote:
Not a great idea. Panning is, but action mode is a compromise for soccer moms. Put it on AV and shoot wide open aperture at as...
Not a great idea. Panning is, but action mode is a compromise for soccer moms. Put it on AV and shoot wide open aperture at as high an iso as you can (probably 800-1250 on that camera). Whip is right; don't try to use the flash.
Listen to FTE. Also, make sure you get a floor pass for your first-ever time using a camera that isn't also a telephone.
Ddavis
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Ddavis 2/3/2011 10:35pm
2/3/2011 10:35pm
Right now the ISO is at 400 and i'm trying to figure out how to get it higher.
Nerd
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Nerd 2/3/2011 10:37pm
2/3/2011 10:37pm
Ddavis wrote:
Right now the ISO is at 400 and i'm trying to figure out how to get it higher.
A very smart photographer used to throw this acronym at me all the time:

RTFM
GuyB
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GuyB 2/3/2011 10:46pm
2/3/2011 10:46pm
Nerd wrote:
A very smart photographer used to throw this acronym at me all the time:

RTFM
Hahaha!

Link for DD to click.
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Aaryn234 2/3/2011 10:51pm
2/3/2011 10:51pm
D Davis,

I have a pretty similar Camera i use, i have been using the Cannon 400D for three years now, It is the camera i learnt to Shoot with, would love to upgrade but that then becomes a choice between new bike or new Camera, Im sure the guys who shoot on here will tell you how quickly Shooting becomes expensive even for an amature photog.

I have Shoot at a Few rounds of the Australian MX Nationals over the last few years, Camera is fine for outdoors with good sunlight, have a lot of good shots and every now and then manage a great shot or two. Have also used the same Camera for Shooting a few rounds of the Australian SuperX series, Great for day time practice and Qualifying, not really upto the job once the sun goes down and you are relying on stadium lights, though a good lense will help. If you have a Media pass and can get close to the track you maybe be able to get some good shots with that camera and lense on parts of the track with good lighting, if not you may struggle.

Also if you get out on track hopefully there will be another photog or two that may give you some handy hints with settings that may help.

Good luck look forward to seeing the pics up here.

Pit Row

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Ddavis
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Ddavis 2/3/2011 10:57pm
2/3/2011 10:57pm
Im mainly going to take pictures of practice, rather than the night show. Just saying..
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Aaryn234 2/3/2011 10:58pm
2/3/2011 10:58pm Edited Date/Time 2/3/2011 11:06pm
Should be fine then Ddavis, and if you are shooting in the day light only you wont have to worry about cranking up the ISO , leave it on 100 or 200 max, there are probably a lot better photographers on here that can can you better advice then me though. Try the AV mode the guys above were talking about above, also try it onTV mode if you get a chance, instead, this will leave everything else on auto and give you control of the shutter speed, in full day light a high/fast shutter speed will give you nice crisp photos, if it gets overcast or you do shoot at night slowing the shutter speed down will also help with shooting with that camera though it does again limit your shots, slow corners are good to shoot at night with a camera like that with a slow shutter speed.
Ddavis
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Ddavis 2/3/2011 10:59pm
2/3/2011 10:59pm
I just think i'm over thinking everything.
skidsteer16
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skidsteer16 2/3/2011 11:09pm
2/3/2011 11:09pm Edited Date/Time 2/3/2011 11:29pm
@Guy B or Nerd, Can you guys give me a heads up as to Feld's limitations about shooting practice from the stands? I have a 7d w/ 70-200. I'd really like to shoot practice at Lucas Oil Stadium when the series roles into Indy. Do you guys know if they let non-press shoot from the stands? Thanks.
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Nerd 2/3/2011 11:12pm
2/3/2011 11:12pm
skidsteer16 wrote:
@Guy B or Nerd, Can you guys give me a heads up as to Feld's limitations about shooting practice from the stands? I have a 7d...
@Guy B or Nerd, Can you guys give me a heads up as to Feld's limitations about shooting practice from the stands? I have a 7d w/ 70-200. I'd really like to shoot practice at Lucas Oil Stadium when the series roles into Indy. Do you guys know if they let non-press shoot from the stands? Thanks.
My secret to getting my equipment in is to either wear one of those sumo suits they used to use in the Toyota halftime thing at the races and put all of my cameras inside it, or to get a press pass. One of those two has always gotten me in with my cameras.
FreshTopEnd
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FreshTopEnd 2/4/2011 7:55am
2/4/2011 7:55am
skidsteer16 wrote:
@Guy B or Nerd, Can you guys give me a heads up as to Feld's limitations about shooting practice from the stands? I have a 7d...
@Guy B or Nerd, Can you guys give me a heads up as to Feld's limitations about shooting practice from the stands? I have a 7d w/ 70-200. I'd really like to shoot practice at Lucas Oil Stadium when the series roles into Indy. Do you guys know if they let non-press shoot from the stands? Thanks.
To butt in, I don't know if the policy changed when Feld took over the group that runs SX, which is pretty much the same folks as before, but they have not been the ones making an issue of shooting from the stands. It has been venue specific depending on the policies of the stadium. Or depending on the policies made up by the rent a cop at the moment. Some places are cool and some NAZIs.
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Torco1 2/4/2011 8:13am
2/4/2011 8:13am
skidsteer16 wrote:
@Guy B or Nerd, Can you guys give me a heads up as to Feld's limitations about shooting practice from the stands? I have a 7d...
@Guy B or Nerd, Can you guys give me a heads up as to Feld's limitations about shooting practice from the stands? I have a 7d w/ 70-200. I'd really like to shoot practice at Lucas Oil Stadium when the series roles into Indy. Do you guys know if they let non-press shoot from the stands? Thanks.
Nerd wrote:
My secret to getting my equipment in is to either wear one of those sumo suits they used to use in the Toyota halftime thing at...
My secret to getting my equipment in is to either wear one of those sumo suits they used to use in the Toyota halftime thing at the races and put all of my cameras inside it, or to get a press pass. One of those two has always gotten me in with my cameras.
This is how I get away with it.......fools em every time.

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captmoto 2/4/2011 9:04am
2/4/2011 9:04am
skidsteer16 wrote:
@Guy B or Nerd, Can you guys give me a heads up as to Feld's limitations about shooting practice from the stands? I have a 7d...
@Guy B or Nerd, Can you guys give me a heads up as to Feld's limitations about shooting practice from the stands? I have a 7d w/ 70-200. I'd really like to shoot practice at Lucas Oil Stadium when the series roles into Indy. Do you guys know if they let non-press shoot from the stands? Thanks.
FreshTopEnd wrote:
To butt in, I don't know if the policy changed when Feld took over the group that runs SX, which is pretty much the same folks...
To butt in, I don't know if the policy changed when Feld took over the group that runs SX, which is pretty much the same folks as before, but they have not been the ones making an issue of shooting from the stands. It has been venue specific depending on the policies of the stadium. Or depending on the policies made up by the rent a cop at the moment. Some places are cool and some NAZIs.
My wife hauled in a D700 with 70-200 2.8 mounted and a 80-300 3.5 in a backpack to Dodger Stadium and the security goons only wanted to make sure she had no WMD's or drugs. She's never had a problem at Anaheim, Phoenix or Vegas. DDavis, Samy's Camera in Pasadena rents lenses. Isn't that on your way to A2? Look into a 70-200 lens minimum. They would probably even set the camera settings where you need them to be before you leave the store.
noob
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noob 2/4/2011 9:14am
2/4/2011 9:14am
I wanna know if this 'copter is for shooting supercross:
500guy
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500guy 2/4/2011 9:42am
2/4/2011 9:42am
I used to try and get some photo's until I realized I missed everything and I had guy's like Guy-b,Nerd,TFS,Kardy , Stone and FTE who were professionals putting out stuff I could view.

The people shots in the crowd and Pits with a decent hand held will make a better deal and give you time to enjoy the race, why make work out of it?
WhipMeister
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WhipMeister 2/4/2011 10:12am
2/4/2011 10:12am
Ddavis wrote:
I just think i'm over thinking everything.
Daytime? The purists will get all aflutter, but in that case, if I were you, I'd stick it on full 'Auto', repeat shutter with that big mem card, and shoot away. It'll do a decent job and will be far less stressful to muck around with. You do want to have fun, right?
carlosmacho
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carlosmacho 2/4/2011 10:19am
2/4/2011 10:19am
If you are shooting daytime practice the ISO does not have to be high. If you are shooting the race you will need a much higher ISO.

No matter what ISO you are shooting probably best to shoot at f2.8 so the shutter speed is as high as it will go, less motion blur shots that way and more keepers. You should use AV and set to f2.8. You will get the best images from that setting. As you become a better photographer and learn the camera and settings, you will be able to use lower shutter speeds and get blurring effect on the wheels or background while leaving the rider sharp. but that takes practice. Good luck.

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