I need to take soccer action photographs from pitchside under floodlights using my new EOS-S and 75-300mm image stabiliser lense. I am a beginner so please explain in simple terms.

Thanks

-- Dean Walton (deano@1wbafc.freeserve.co.uk), September 30, 2001

Answers

Presumably this means that you're going to be moving the lens a lot, which makes mode 1 IS pretty useless. You'll want to have IS off, and look out for the reciprocal rule. Use a reasonably fast film also.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), September 30, 2001.

I have experience shooting the beautiful game using a 3 and a 70-200 f2.8, non IS under lights. I suggest you use Ilford 3200 or Kodak TMax 3200 (I prefer the D3200). If your lights allow a 1600 EI meter setting, so much the better, but be prepared for the full rated speed or a push. You might also like NHGII Fuji pushed one stop to 1600 for color. I doubt you'll have good luck with slide film.

I'm often at f2.8 or 4 in order to stop motion, at 1/250 or thereabouts. I use a monopod to deal with my shakes; it sometimes buys me the chance to use a slower shutter in dark corners. Premeter the field and see how even the lights are. I'd use meterd manual mode, aim tho spot meter at the grass out on the lit field and set the exposure so the pointer shows about 1 stop under exposure.

This is a quick answer from someone who's been there, but so have others. Good luck.

-- Jonathan L Barber (jbarber1@nycap.rr.com), September 30, 2001.