Tips for High School Wrestling Pics with EOS Rebel T7 & EF 75-300mm f4-5.6 III

[Kelle]

I NOW know I do not have a good lens but still need help with new camera settings (noted in subject) in taking my sons High School Wrestling Pictures; I am NOT on the floor, I am up in the stands. Low lighting and far away. In case anyone here is familiar with lighting in the venues: USAWKS Districts is at FHSU Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Ks and USAWKS State is at the Expo Center/Stormont Vail in Topeka, Ks.

Must have CONTINUOUS shooting and NO flash and desperately need crisp clear pictures. I have a good eye for shots, so usually no need for cropping.

? Manual, AV, TV, etc. 

Please help me with the following settings:

Shutter Speed (60-4000), Aperture (5.6-45), ISO Speed (Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400), Exposure Comp./AEB Setting (-5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5), Flash Exposure Comp. (assuming 0), Picture Style (Auto, Standard, Landscape), White Balance (Auto, 5200K, 7000K, 6000K, 3200K, 4000K), Lighting Optimizer (Off, Low, Standard, High), AF Operation (AI Focus, or AI Servo), Metering Mode (Evaluative Metering, Partial Metering, Center-Weighted Average), Image Quality (6000x4000 jpg A2, 3984x2656 jpg A3, 2976x1984 jpg A4, 1920x1280 2.5 megapixel jpg, 720x480 .35 Megapixel jpg, 6000x4000 RAW+jpg, 6000x4000 RAW) 

ANY help/advice/opinions would be GREATLY appreciated...please keep it positive in feedbacks as I am just a Mom trying my best to keep up with my 3 kiddos; My son just WON KSHSAA District and State Wrestling and I was unaware I didn't have a good quality lens until I saw the blurry pictures (even though what I saw through the lens looked GREAT)....ugh...I literally almost cried over this, thankfully a family member used their iPhone and got a decent video....but no still pictures.

In short, I need to work with what I have at this time, to the best of its ability, so looking for problem solving knowledge here and maybe what I need to plan ahead/save up to add to this purchase to get better quality pictures specifically catered to High School WRESTLING.

Thank you sooo much in advance for taking the time to read and look into this with me - I greatly appreciate any and all help.

[deebatman316]

Avoid using AI Focus use One Shot (Still objects) or AI Servo (Moving Objects). I assume this is indoors you’ll have to push the ISO up quite high. ISO 100 isn’t going to cut it. You’ll need to use a more wide open aperture since the ambient lighting is low. F/11 for instance would be too dark for an already dimly lit area. FEC (Flash Exposure Compensation) doesn’t apply because no flash is being used. I also would NOT recommend Manual Mode for beginners. Please post example pictures in the forum to show how your pictures are coming out. Make sure the metadata is attached so we can review settings. Blurry pictures sounds like camera shake from a long shutter speed. Your lens doesn’t have any Image Stabilization. Which leads to blurry pictures in low light.

[kvbarkley]

The best advice is to take lots of pictures. If they allow it, get a monopod to help steady the camera so that you can at least limit camera shake.

[Tintype_18]

Good advice. As mentioned, take a trainload of photos with different settings. I like to experiment with settings. Example: I took photos on our local Greenway that runs along a creek. One photo looked like a polar bear in a blizzard! Took several photos to get the proper exposure, lens speed, etc. Good luck and look forward to your photos.

[stevet1]

Kelle,

I think in the short term, I would use the Av mode on your camera, and do as Demetrius suggested by setting a fairly low or wide aperture to allow as much light in as you can. Your depth of filed will be smaller, but you don't really care about the background all that much. And as kvbarkley suggested and try to get ahold of a monopod.

The movement speeds are not going to be that fast, so your camera will probably pick a shutter speed in the 250-400 range, which should be enough to freeze the action. Set your ISO on Auto since you will probably be in relatively dim lighting, and use AI Servo.

Do you know how to re-assign your focus to back button focus?. If you don't, look in your Manual on page 265 (Custom Function-8. Choose Option# 1). That way, you can use your thumb to do your focusing, and your index finger to press the shutter and take your shots. If you are in AI Servo, the camera will continue to focus as long as your you keep that button pressed down and move your camera from side to side or up and down.

As far as the metering, partial or center-weighted averaging might work, as long as your subject is in the center of your screen. You don't really care if the ceiling lights get blown out. You can always crop them out if they get too obnoxious.

Steve Thomas