Canon Rebel XSI

[emsplawn]

Hello

    I was wondering what is a good setting for taking pictures of a livestock show? My images are coming out really blurry.

Thank you in advance

[emsplawn]

Thank you greatly this was super helpful

[ebiggs1]

"As for which mode, I would use Tv and experiment with ISO."

The problem here is the lens.  You are going to be at wide open aperture all the time most likely anyway. That is the description of Av mode not Tv.  Your SS is the only real varabile you have, not the aperture. If you fix your SS doing so with Tv mode you have basically locked the only adjustment you had left.

It is true when using Av mode that you may still get a blurry photo but you will at least get a photo. If you have Tv mode and a fixed 1/200 SS, for example, the lens may not and most likely will not be able to open the aperture engough for proper exposure.

[FloridaDrafter]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"As for which mode, I would use Tv and experiment with ISO."

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"The problem here is the lens.  You are going to be at wide open aperture all the time most likely anyway."

Exacttly, so why bother with Av. You know it's going to be wide open.

"Your SS is the only real varabile you have, not the aperture. If you fix your SS doing so with Tv mode you have basically locked the only adjustment you had left."

As mentioned, aperture will be fixed at "wide open" so you don't need control, that is, in this situation. However, you do still have control over ISO which will better serve Tv with this camera/lens at this venue. Exposure compensation may help, but I have never used that feature with the XSi, so I can't say for sure.

"It is true when using Av mode that you may still get a blurry photo but you will at least get a photo. If you have Tv mode and a fixed 1/200 SS, for example, the lens may not and most likely will not be able to open the aperture engough for proper exposure."

He already has blurry photos. The objective is to get at least sharper photos. Stopping down aperture in poor lighting, in my experience, will not do that. They need more "action stopping" and SS is the only way in these conditions. DOF will get deeper, even wide open, at distance using a tele, so I seldom worry about DOF for anything over 30 feet when using a tele and that is the only reason I use Av, when I do, to control DOF. Also, 200 may be to fast, agreed, but that was just a starting point.

The OP may indeed end up at ISO 1600 as the XSi only has 6 ISO options (1600 being the highest) and that may be acceptable for them (different strokes). That is why I suggested DPP. Even if he gets a poorly lit or noisy image, they can still get acceptable images in post, provided they are in focus with no motion blur.

[ebiggs1]

"Exacttly, so why bother with Av. You know it's going to be wide open."

Because you have basically put the OP in manual mode. If the aperture is known to be open as wide as it will go and you then fix the SS in Tv mode that is the same as being manual. If you think that is best practice you better select auto ISO unless you truly want full manual.

"He already has blurry photos."

Correct so nothing is lost and perhaps sharper photos with proper exposure is the reward.

"I seldom worry about DOF ..."

I do not recall the OP asking or worrying about DOF. Maybe they did and I missed it.

Av mode is the most useful semi auto mode.  That is why the very first fledgling AE film cameras had it and not Tv.

[FloridaDrafter]

Ironically, we are discussing technique from a picture taken off the cameras LCD with probably a cell phone. Neither of us knows what the arena lighting is actually like, although we have probably both been there and done that. Our clues are the OP says "blurry" and  we can see that along with the shutter speed being 1/15th - aperture f/5 (wide open for this lens). My, and apparently others in this thread, initial thought is to raise shutter speed.

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

"Exacttly, so why bother with Av. You know it's going to be wide open."

"Because you have basically put the OP in manual mode. If the aperture is known to be open as wide as it will go and you then fix the SS in Tv mode that is the same as being manual. If you think that is best practice you better select auto ISO unless you truly want full manual."

The same can be said for aperture priority.

"He already has blurry photos."

"Correct so nothing is lost and perhaps sharper photos with proper exposure is the reward."

It's just my opinion that a faster shutter is going to sharpen up his photos.

"I seldom worry about DOF ..."

"I do not recall the OP asking or worrying about DOF. Maybe they did and I missed it."

They didn't, I got off on a tangent. My primary use of Av is to adjust DOF. My bad! But the comment is still relevant. If the OP does get proper exposre using shutter and ISO, DOF is not a worry at 255mm and the distance they appear to be at.

Av mode is the most useful semi auto mode.  That is why the very first fledgling AE film cameras had it and not Tv.

That hasn't been my experience, but you and I probably shoot different subjects. I shoot almost exclusively in low light and need to stop action as best I can. I don't have a problem using Tv and ISO to get proper exposure and if I do, I rescue it in post.

They added Tv pretty quickly, IIRC, so they must have seen some value in it. My wife, in those days (1977-1999), was the pro, so I'm not sure what features her older 35mm slrs had. I wasn't interested in photography, except for the paycheck, but I do remember her being very happy with her first EOS even though she had to change out her glass to EF. I did help in the darkroom sometimes, and on site, changed her film, which was either ISO 200, 400, 800, or the beloved 1000, and handed her the propper camera/lens/ISO combo. I did learn though and was the first to go digital after she retired. It was hard to get her to pick up a digital, but she eventually took one of my hand-me-downs and is shooting again (not for sale). She just bought the R6. But, I digress, LOL!

[emsplawn]

Can y’all recommend a good lens for sports shootings.

[Waddizzle]

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@emsplawn wrote:
Can y’all recommend a good lens for sports shootings.

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That would really depends on the sport, and whether you're indoors or out.  You cannot go wrong with a 70-200mm f/2.8.

[jrhoffman75]

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@Waddizzle wrote:

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@emsplawn wrote:
Can y’all recommend a good lens for sports shootings.

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That would really depends on the sport, and whether you're indoors or out.  You cannot go wrong with a 70-200mm f/2.8.

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Excellent lens. I have both the f/4 and f/2.8 versions. 

But the OP has the 55-250 and given the theme of the thread and some of the OP's questions I wouldn't recommend spending that kind of money on a lens like that. IMHO OP would be better served by first investing in a newer camera body. The capabilities offered by a current model Rebel will far exceed the two stop advantage of an f/2.8 lens. 

[ebiggs1]

"...OP would be better served by first investing in a newer camera body."

Absolutely, 90% of the time a better lens is the answer. But certain cameras are just way too far behind what is available today. A better camera, in this case, will make a lot of difference. Rebel T8i for example and all lenses will still work as the currently do.

[ebiggs1]

"I don't have a problem using Tv and ISO to get proper exposure"

What you are missing is in Tv mode you generally have fewer settings available.  Most of the time Av mode offers more. However, in this case, we agree the lens is most likely going to be wide open.  It doesn't matter if you shoot in Av or Tv for that to  be true.  It is a fairly slow lens. In Av you still have the entire range of SS available.  Now on the other hand you select Tv mode you have eliminated any SS adjustment for exposure. The lens is wide open so it is fixed too!. Essentially putting the XSi in manual mode. Plus the XSi has a very limited ISO range. Whether the photo is sharp or blurry is secondary if exposure can't be successfully accomplished.

It is good you don't have problems getting proper exposure using Tv mode but we are not dealing with your shooting but trying to help the OP get proper exposed and sharper photos. You must keep in mind all camera/lens combos have their limits.  It is possible this is the case here and nothing short of better gear is the answer. In this case, adding light is also probably not an answer.