Focusing on camera settings
Presets can enhance your indoor sports photography skills.
Be sure to check out my other article, Part 1: Tips for Indoor Sports Photography, for more great ways to take indoor photography.
Recommended Lenses and ISO for Sports
Event |
Recommended lenses |
ISO setting |
Shutter Speed |
Notes |
Baseball | 70-200 @ f 2.8 | Make sure it hasn’t been switched to manual | 1/1000 and faster | Depends on light, have sun at back |
Basketball | 23-70, 16-35 @ f 2.8 | 400 | 1/500 (minimum) | No matter what, have at least 1/500 minimum shutter speed |
Football | 70-200, 300 @ f 2.8 | 4000/5000 | 1/500 | 4000 ISO, eventually switching to 5000 ISO @ f 2.8 |
Golf | 70-200 @ f 2.8 | 400 | 1/2000 | |
Soccer | 70-200, 300 @ f 2.8 | 400, (4000/5000 at night) | 1/500 | |
Softball | 24-105 A f4, 70-200 @ f 2.8 | 400 | 1/640 | Night, same as football |
Swimming | 70-200 @ f 2.8 | 400 | 1/1000 and faster | Settings depend on the time of the day |
Tennis | 24-70 @ f 2.8, 24-105 @ f4 | 400 | 1/500 | Sun at your back |
Track & Field | 70-200 @ f2.8 | 400 | 1/500 and faster | Light meter determines shutter speed |
Volleyball | 24-70 @ f 2.8 | 4000 | 1/500 (minimum) | |
Water Polo | 70-200 @ f 2.8 | 400 | 1/2000 | Light meter determines shutter speed |
Wrestling | 70-200 @ f2.8 | 4000 | 1/500 (minimum) |
Preset Camera Settings for Sports Events
GOAL |
SETTINGS |
NEXT STEPS |
Autofocus setting on the lens | Documented a 4 year usage trend for all facilities. | Make sure it hasn’t been switched to manual |
Assess utilization of energy management systems across facilities. | Performed a detailed audit of facilities and gathered best practices. | Educate all facilities on reduction best practices. |
Assess current recycling practices across facilities. | Developed metrics required to capture current recycling practices. | Use new framework to assess and measure progress. |
Develop a team to lead development of new environmentally friendly products. | “manual” | Establish an environmentally focused product roadmap by product category. |
Shutter | 1/640 second | 1/500 would be the minimum shutter speed to use |
Aperture | widest setting (usually f2.8) | |
ISO | “auto” | If no “auto” setting, start at 4000 ISO and move up to 5000 ISO |
Auto ISO setting in camera menu | 100-12,800 ISO | |
Color Space | sRGB | Don’t choose Adobe RGB |
Save images as… | Large JPEG | Can also use RAW for more control in editing the images |
Focusing Cases (canon) | Case 1 for track & field Case 2 for swimming, wrestling, and tennis Case 3 for track & field Case 4 for soccer, basketball, volleyball, and football Case 5 for tennis and volleyball Case 6 |
Case 1 is the default |
Pro Tip
Things you should always carry in your camera bag:
- Camera body
- Wide angle and telephoto lens (preferably f2.8 or faster for shooting indoor sports)
- Extra camera battery
- ExpoDisc or gray card to set custom white balance
- Backup camera body and memory card, if available
- A monopod and beanbag for steady shots
![Hm-sports-action-leanna-siupinys.jpg](https://qacdn.jostens.com/contentAsset/image/3aaf9782-621e-46e6-9d1c-2c9788c27ef1/fileAsset/filter/Crop,Scale,Jpeg/crop_w/5760/crop_h/3840/crop_x/0/crop_y/0/scale_w/768/scale_h/512/jpeg_q/85/jpeg_p/1/14bf493f-dee9-4022-b74d-e3ca2a14bea4.jpg)
Written by:
Chris Bledsoe
Arroyo Grande High School [CA]
Chris has been the choral director at Arroyo Grande High School for 34 years and currently teaches choir, piano, AP music theory and advanced graphic arts.