EOS Rebel T5 shooting at night

[Greggersam]

HELP!  what is the OPTIMUM setting for shooting stop action sports at night under the lights?  (think High School football)!   I have the Rebel T5 and a normal and zoom lens that all came together when I bought the kit.

[diverhank]

---

@ebiggs1 wrote:

"Makes no sense...irresponsible, really."

It may make no sense but irresponsible?  Hardly, this isn't the game of life here.  There is really little difference in this situation between using Tv or Av.  As I succinctly pointed out, Tv would work.  However, the lens in question can only open so far. When the light fails, the T5 will not fire.  Using Av at least there is more than likely going to be a picture.  Whether it is good or even usable might be a problem. I grant.

This is a case where the lens is the weak link not the T5.  It is best advice to give the lens the best opportunity to do what it can. All camera and phoyo gear have a limit on what they can do.  This will test what the OP had for sure.

Irresponsible?  Hmm, strange really strange!

---

Irresponsible may be too harsh of a word...so I will take that back.  What I'm trying to say is if I were to start out learning, I'd really get confused by your advice and may ended up with many ruined shots.  Aren't we here to help the less experienced folks get more interested in and learn more about photography?  As I stated before, once you know what you're doing...you can make anything work and work well...including letting the camera decides shutter speed for you for action shots -- but for people starting out, relying on the camera to help...they are most likely to get all messed up.

I got to the stage that I shoot mostly using full manual mode except for action, especially BIF, I will use M with auto-ISO...action is too fast and furious to be fumbling with setting ISO and/or depending on the camera setting SS for me.  Take this shot, if the Shutter speed is any lower, the result would have been unuseable...moments like this don't come by very often...I don't want to let the camera decide the SS for me...It took a mere 4 seconds for the osprey to dive down from 200 feet, scooped up the fish and flew away...no time to set anything once the action started.  And it can dive anywhere making you facing the sun, with the sun or anywhere in between so getting the light right is a real challenge.  That's why I use Auto-ISO.

Canon 7D2, Canon 600mm f/4L IS + Canon 1.4X II - 840mm; f/5.6; 1/1600; ISO 1600;

[ebiggs1]

There is no doubt, you are a talented photographer. You can make it work.  You know what you are doing.  We all have to learn and start somewhere.  And when it comes right down to it, there is not a great deal of difference between Tv and Av.  You just give priority to one or the other but you still have to follow the photography rules of exposure.

Like I said his lens is the limiting factor.  Not the camera.  This means you need to give it all the help you can. If Tv is used there will be times the T5 will not shoot at all because it can't open the lens anymore.  In Av even if it takes 30 sec, he will get a shot.  Of course that is nonsense but it does show why I say use Av in this case. Hopefully Av will allow some shots at least at 1/250 or that range?  However if not maybe 1/100 or even 1/60 will work.  But the camera will still get a shot.

Now let's say we choose Tv. What are we going to set it to? Certainly 1/60 or even 1/100 is not a good idea, Right? We set it to 1/250 but f5.6 doesn't allow enough light in.  Nothing!

I come from a world where manual is all we had.  You either learned, made it work or you didn't get the shot.  You can do that obviously form the example of that great shot of the osprey.  You and I do what is necessary.  We must educate these new folks so some success is there. Not why is my camera not shooting. The only way from there is getting better.