Comments on: Camera Settings – Basketball (D300)

By: The Sports Photo Guy

The Sports Photo Guy — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:10:41 +0000

The Secret D300 High-Speed Auto ISO Trick is usually the way to go. Set the aperture to f2.8 and shutter speed as high as you reasonably can and keep the ISO (on the D300s) at 3200 or lower. I'm usually able to shoot at 1/500 or 1/640 and can keep the ISO at 1600 or better, but I have an unusually bright arena I call home. Assuming you are looking to bring out some of the shadows, Active D-Lighting will be much more effective than exposure compensation, though it will limit the length of high-speed bursts.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:52:09 +0000

Hey can you give me some settings advice? I shoot indoor sports, mostly lowlight. I have a D300′s and I use the nikon 70-200mm vr2. What settings advice can you give me for shooting in these lowlight conditions? Also does cranking up the the exposure compensation a few degrade and add noise to the picture?

By: The Sports Photo Guy

The Sports Photo Guy — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:14:11 +0000

A good photographer can get useable photos with any equipment. But equipment designed for specific purposes definitely gives you greater flexibility. The 105/f2.8 would be better for your purposes, since it will allow for both a faster shutter speed in low light and a shallow depth of field, both key elements of most sports photos. Depending on how close you’re able to get to the action, I’d consider adding one of Nikon’s affordable fast prime lenses – 35/f1.8 AF-S, 50/f1.8 AF-S, or 85/f1.8D (with a rumored, but probably fairly expensive, AF-S version on the way in early 2012).

By: Atul Vijay

Atul Vijay — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:20:17 +0000

Hi there, very helpful site and lot of learning information. I need your advice on settings for D300 for shooting indoor gymnastic where flash is not allowed. I know that ideal lens will be Nikon 80-200 f2.8 but not in my budget for coming few years but I do have Nikkon 18-200 and 105mm f2.8 tele macro lens. Can I use these lens to get good photos?

By: L.Moff

L.Moff — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:25:51 +0000

Good info. Recently purchase Sigma 70-200 2.8 lens. Curious as to the other photograpers use the d300 modes. Which one, what set up`s? etc.?

By: Grosda

Grosda — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:50:53 +0000

Dan, as someone who upgraded from the D90 to the D7000 for basketball and volleyball you should be pleased with the better performance from the D7000. I’ve been able to shoot at ISO 2200 to 3200, f/2.8, 1/350s with excellent results.

By: The Sports Photo Guy

The Sports Photo Guy — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:25:15 +0000

Yeah, thanks to WordPress’s last update all my bulleted lists were broken. Try now, though they’re presented a little less clearly.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:17:49 +0000

can’t see the settings on the web page. Is it my browser or your site.

By the way, great work!

By: The Sports Photo Guy

The Sports Photo Guy — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:26:10 +0000

If you find you’re having to shoot in such bad lighting, I’d definitely go with the D7000.

By: Dusty

Dusty — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:18:45 +0000

I am just getting started really shooting sports. I ‘ve done a limited amount for the past two years and gotten decent results and sales. I am currently shooting a D90 most of the time but am not happy with the dimly lit gym we have for basketball (ISO Hi 1, 1/320, f2.8). The FPS and noise at 6400 are issues.

I have recently found your blog and really like the way you write but here’s my question. I have read on a couple of your posts that the D7000 is a great general camera and better in low light but the D300s is somewhat better with focus and FPS but similar to the D90 in low light noise.

Since they are in essentially the same price range, which would you recommend? The d90 would go to second body status a HUGE improvement over the D40x I’m using now (sigh) for outdoor sports.