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General discussion

HOCKEY PICTURES

Apr 17, 2005 11:02PM PDT

I would like to know if anyone could suggest what camera is the best for taking pictures of sports. my son plays hockey and my digital doesn't alway get the fast action.

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Hockey Pictures
Apr 18, 2005 12:13AM PDT

Action photos in low light is difficult for any camera.

If the hockey rink is well lit, you need a camera that will let you adjust the shutter speed.

If you are sitting in the stands, you also need a camera with a big zoom range.

I will assume that you will not be using flash.
So make sure that it is turned off, to prevent it from interacting with your manual settings.

If you are on the sidelines and don't need a big zoom you can get by with a less expensive camera like the Canon A75 with has been replaced with the A510. This camera has a "shutter priority" setting which lets you set the shutter speed to a fast speed and the camera will set the correct aperture. If there is enough light in the rink, this should do. Start with a shutter speed of about 1/250th of a second.

If you are in the stands and there is good lighting in the rink, just about any of the big zoom cameras will do. Because they all have a "shutter priority" feature. A camera with "Image Stabilization" is preferred.

If you are in the stands and the lighting is not so good, I would suggest the Panasonic FZ20 because it has a lens that does not lose light as you zoom out.

If the lighting is really poor, you will have to start looking at the Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras, with some expensive lenses.

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Hockey Pics
Apr 20, 2005 12:07AM PDT

I got a Canon EOS 20D. I had a Sony P7 handheld point and shoot before. Missed all my boy's best shots. Now with a 75mm-300mm zoom lens and this incredible camera I can get the freckles on my boy's nose through his face cage on the other side of the rink. Lag time is non existent. Auto white balance means not having to take chances with weird mercury sodium lighting in arenas. The Rebel can do the same for a a lot less I hear. Not as many optoins but the CCD remains the same as the higher priced 20D.