topic Re: Indoor Action Shots w/ EOS Rebel T3 in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Indoor Action Shots w/ EOS Rebel T3

oesterle — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 23:06:28 GMT

Will the EOS Rebel T3 take decent action indoor photos like at a dog trial where the dogs are running and going over high jumps?

Re: Indoor Action Shots w/ EOS Rebel T3

Skirball — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 00:28:20 GMT

Compared to a cellphone, yes. Compared to a full frame camera and good telephoto lens, no.

I don't know if it's because winter is here and it's getting dark early, but this topic has come up a lot in the last week. There are some pretty good threads on it if you look around. Long story short: a Rebel T3 with a kit lens will struggle to freeze action indoors.

Here's a couple:

http://forums.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS-Rebel/Help-me-with-night-football-on-a-Eos-T3i/m-p/125281#U125281

http://forums.usa.canon.com/t5/Speedlites/canon-50d-I-have-a-canon-ef-s-55-250-IS-lens/m-p/125715/highlight/false#M1232

http://forums.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS/Trouble-with-low-light-action-shots-on-70d/m-p/125259/highlight/true#M10878

Re: Indoor Action Shots w/ EOS Rebel T3

ScottyP — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 10:54:07 GMT

Freezing action requires a fast shutter. A fast shutter doesn't allow ambient light much time to bake an exposure onto the sensor. There is usually not enough light indoors to work with a fast shutter so one of two compensation measures must be employed: 1.) use a wide lens opening (aperture) and/or 2.) boost the ISO sensitivity.

1.). Aperture solution not possible with basic kit lenses. You would like something like an 85mm f/1.8 or a 70-200 f/2.8, which allow over 4 times or over 2 times more light (respectively) into the camera as compared to a kit lens.
2.). A crop sensor camera will look worse at equivalent high ISO than a full frame camera. I don't think you much want to exceed ISO 800 on the Rebels. You would probably get about the same image quality on a FF 6d at 2 stops higher ISO (about 3200).

Between the 2 stops you'd gain with a 1.8 lens and the 2 more stops you'd gain in high ISO image quality on a full frame sensor you could be getting something like 16x more light to work with than what a Rebel and kit lens allow. Divided up between raising shutter speed and lowering the digital noise that is a big difference.

The 85mm or the similar 100mm Canon lenses are only about $325 or $375 on sale. That is a cheap way to make a big difference immediately, and both will also mount on a full frame camera if you switch over some day.

Good luck!

Re: Indoor Action Shots w/ EOS Rebel T3

ebiggs1 — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 15:05:28 GMT

The question is not whether the camera, the T3, can do it but whether your lens can. What lens are you using?

Re: Indoor Action Shots w/ EOS Rebel T3

oesterle — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 19:21:14 GMT

EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

Re: Indoor Action Shots w/ EOS Rebel T3

ebiggs1 — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 21:19:45 GMT

"EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens"

If it is very dark, you are going to have issues with this lens. It quickly slides down to f5.6 and that won't help.

Any lens you choose with a constant f ratio of f2.8 or bigger (smaller number) will help. A lot!

Re: Indoor Action Shots w/ EOS Rebel T3

oesterle — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 21:26:10 GMT

Can't it be forced to stay at f3.5?

Re: Indoor Action Shots w/ EOS Rebel T3

ebiggs1 — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 21:34:50 GMT

"Can't it be forced to stay at f3.5?"

Yes it can as long as you stay at 18mm and never zoom it. Otherwise, no.