Do you shoot with just the LCD screen?

[Ovacheerdad]

So I picked up an R6Mii recently. I used to shoot with a 60D but it was never sports, just family and landscapes so this is a whole different animal. This weekend was the first real time out with it. I know I want the 70-200 2.8 and the 24-105 2.8 just not sure which to get first. So I rented the 70-200 for my daughter's cheer comp this weekend since I'm not as close to the stage. Well it got canceled this weekend due to snow, but I did end up being able to go to a middle school basketball game and shoot some pictures. After watching 2 other full time photographers at this game im trying to figure out how they shoot the way they do. I know camera's that one guy shoots with are both r6miis and he mainly uses the rf 24-105. The guy never used the viewfinder the whole game. Always held the camera low and used the back screen. He posted some of the photos to his page today and they are perfect. 

Does anyone else shoot like that? How do you keep focus like that? Are you always holding down the focus button while taking pictures?  

[Waddizzle]

I have only seen a handful of event photographers only use a rear screen.  Most of the time they are shooting still subjects, indoors, and usually with a flash.

I have never seen it done by a sports photographer before, except for this guy on YouTube with a big Fro. 

[March411]

For sports I only use the EVF, old dog new tricks and I just find it easier to follow the action and zone. 

The only time I use the rear screen is for landscapes and when I want to shoot low on an upward angle. It's whatever you used to and how you trained yourself to use your gear.

[ebiggs1]

"I have only seen a handful of event photographers only use a rear screen."

I've never seen any pro use the LCD screen and I never did either. None of my 1 series even has one. I am not sue if the R1 has one or not since I haven't used one yet. When you shoot NCAA basketball you are assigned a certain place and you aren't allowed to move form it. Most use two zoom lenses. A 24-70mm f2.8L and a 70-200mm f2.8L are extremely popular but some guys use others. I bought my Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports Lens from a pro NCAA photographer that was switching over to Sony. It is another popular lens with them for basketball.

"... since I'm not as close to the stage."

That is a problem and it is well more important than the lens you buy. Being a long way form the subject or play makes everything more difficult. As they say the three most important things in photography are location, location and location. Where you shoot from is by far the most important thing. Second thing is know your sport as knowing what is going on and what is likely to happen next is invaluable to get good shots. And don't forget to d/l DPP4 form Canon. It is free. Learn it and use it. "He posted some of the photos to his page today and they are perfect."

I double dog guarantee you, he used a post editor probably Photoshop but PS is not free. Whether you decide to use the LCD or VF it is not as important as the three things I listed above.

"I know I want the 70-200 2.8 and the 24-105 2.8 just not sure which to get first."

As to which to buy first I would go for the 24-70mm f2.8L Not the 70-200mil or certainly not the 24-105mil there is no value in duplicating 35mm in both lenses. The 24-70mm will be by far your most used lens not just for BB but in general.

Last tip always, always shoot raw never jpg. Good luck.

[March411]

---

@Ovacheerdad wrote:

He posted some of the photos to his page today and they are perfect. 

---

ebiggs nailed it on the post production. I would be willing to bet that the images you are viewing are not SOOC. 

Let’s not be mistaken a good or great image starts with the photographer and camera, a quality capture always rules. Post production is a tool to help refine, most if not all professionals will tighten images in some type of editor like Adobe or ON1 as well as using something like DXO or Topaz to remove noise and sharpen the images. 

[Ovacheerdad]

So what lens would you suggest for here? Most generally you are about this far from the stage. You can see the team camera man along the rail. I could get up there but did not have a camera at this point in time. 

 

[LeeP]

I am always suspicious of "perfect" pictures because they are often "Frankensteined" through software trickery. The result is an image but not a photograph.

[Waddizzle]

"I have only seen a handful of event photographers only use a rear screen."

I've never seen any pro use the LCD screen and I never did either. None of my 1 series even has one. I am not sue if the R1 has one or not since I haven't used one yet.

——————-

They were capturing both stills and videos. It seems to have become a trend among some MILC shooters.  In most cases, these were not private events. The person I spoke to worked for Getty Images. 

[March411]

I would ask Lee, when someone used sodium sulfide to create a Sepia print or burning and dodging to improve range, improve shadows and heights, were those prints Frankensteined? Enhancing film and print in post production has been occurring in a lab/darkroom for as long as I can remember, how is that any different then what occurs today?    

[ebiggs1]

"... how is that any different then what occurs today?"

It's not any different. A big chocolate sundae is good but a cherry on top is even better. 😁