Sharpness of Moving Subjects Indoors

[mgrabow]

So I was a wedding photographer for years and shot square format using lots of different techniques both indoors and outdoors. The subject rarely moves unless dancing. So there was lots that can be done.   Now, I shoot a Mark4 and a Mark3 but mostly of my children during their life’s events. Yes I shoot at work (not my primary role but rather an ancillary duty), but typically outdoors where ample light is not a problem.

When shooting my kids at their karate tournaments, it is typically in a gymnasium. Yes there are some windows and lots of metal halide lights. But when trying to freeze the type of a katana during karate forms demonstration, one must crank up the shutter speed.   Like 640 plus. This just kills the ability to use a non grainy ISO. typically at 12,800iso at F3.2 just to keep the exposure in the ball park.

And of course it never fails some mom posts a pic with an iPhone that is tack sharp and I need to hear why are my photos grainy.   Granted the iPhone was not freezing the action to the same degree, but it is pretty damned good.

I guess my question, without using a flash, any recommended settings that will offer good results at freezing the action with keeping the ISO out of the grain.

[mgrabow]

Thanks amfoto1... My big telephoto is the 100-400L.  Not a big fan of it.  I have a 300L but way too much for that distance.  But crazy sharp.

What is funny about shooting an a gym with big windows is it seems to the eye loke there is plany of light.   and for not trying to freese the action, there is.   When I shoot slower like around 1/250, I get good images but there is always that one captured moment that is ruined by the blur of an arm or leg or weapon.  Sometimes you can have fun with dragging the shutter to get some great motion blur, but I have not had such great luck in getting the perfect shot. 

Thanks for the education on the lights.  That makes sence...