Autosport Pictures

[James_N]

Hi

I got a canon 400D just after xmas, and my first proper outing today was the autosport show. These are a selection of what i took:





















Now if you'll excuse some of the pictures for a second, I took over 200 pictures on the day, and quite a few turned out ok, but the majority turned out crap, considering what I know the camera can do (ive seen pics taken on a 400D and they are stunning).

Now, I havent had any practise on this camera before hand. All i was going on was what a few friends had told me.

For those that know canon, I left the camera on AV setting with the F number around 5. The camera automatically dealed with the shutter speeds.

Also, after the live action arena, I forgot to knock the ISO speed back down (i had it on high because it was dark, this is right i hope) but for the most part, i didnt know what setting to put the camera on, so i left the ISO speed on 400.

IMO these pictures are bloody awfull, and im fairly disappointed that ive spent all this money, and got as good a pics as my dad gets from his £80 point and shoot.

I should point out i have a VERY shaky hand, its awfull, but still, i NEED some feedback on these pics. I know they are awfull, but i need advice on how to improve, not telling that my pics are awfull, I know that.

Lense was the standard canon one you get with the 400D.

Many thanks.

Edited by James_N on Sunday 14th January 20:32

[landy_girl]

cant view photos

[irm]

don't work can you put [pic] [/pic]

thanks

[James_N]

Fixed Sorry guys

[autofocus]

Hi there,

Had a great day out at Autosport International yesterday took loads of pictures and want to share a few of them with you.

James, your pictures are good for a beginner. The lighting was really tough in the NEC and made it really difficult to take decent photos. Keep practising.

Just so you know these pictures were taken with my Olympus E500 DSLR, I have had this camera since May 2006 and have probably taken around 3000 photos with it so far. I had the camera on a mixture of Auto and P (program) settings. I took some last year in the live action arena with my Canon film SLR and none of them turned out so i did not bother even trying to take any this time round.

Let me know what you think.

















Regards

Tim

[_dobbo_]

James, firstly, don't feel that your money is wasted, it isn't. You have explained the reason for your results in your own posting.

You mention that you left the ISO at 400, and the aperture at f5. What this means is that in the low light environment inside the NEC, and without a flash, the camera is forced to use a longer shutter speed in order to expose the pictures correctly.

Because of the longer shutter speed you have lots of camera shake which is the cause of your problems. Shooting indoors at things like car shows can be quite hard to do well, and so you've given yourself a hard task as your first outing with the camera.

Have a go outside during the day and you will see that the camera is capable of taking excellent photographs. To have got better results from the autosport show, in my opinion you would need to either:

1.) Use flash.
2.) crank up the ISO (probably to 1600)
3.) Open the lens as wide as it would go, using a lens that is faster than the kit lens.

Given the conditions you describe - IS0400 & f/5 in the lighting available, you never really had a chance I'm afraid.

[Furyous]

And yet the Exif's for Autofocus' pics dictate he was running as low as ISO 100 ?

And they are really pin sharp.

[James_N]

Many thanks for your comments, and not totally slagging my attempts off

Ive taken everything onboard thats been said. Guess im just gonna have to go out one nice day and experiment more!

[Marc W]

I've posted the links elsewhere, but in case anyone hasn't seen them here's mine;

Show

www.flickr.com/photos/19193662@N00/sets/72157594477454401/

Celebrity kart race

www.flickr.com/photos/19193662@N00/sets/72157594478781112/

[_dobbo_]

Furyous said:

And yet the Exif's for Autofocus' pics dictate he was running as low as ISO 100 ?

And they are really pin sharp.

Most of those are shot a couple of stops faster (f/3.5), which cancels out the ISO difference. More importantly the flash fired in those which is why they are sharper, because that allows a faster shutter speed.

[cannedheat]

Just out of interest, were you using the kit lens with the 400d and why did you leave it in AV mode?

[Trackside]

Autofocus, love the last 3 pics (Panoz, Silvia and Veloqx Audi). Especially the overhead R8 shot, very good.

[monkeyhanger]

James_N said:

Many thanks for your comments, and not totally slagging my attempts off

Ive taken everything onboard thats been said. Guess im just gonna have to go out one nice day and experiment more!

The vast majority of the time when i shoot racing it's either Shutter Priority or Full Manual mode, as conditions require...

However at the NEC on Saturday i just put the flash gun on the 20D and left the camera in "P" mode. Let the camera do the work as there's no time to be messing around with settings at a busy Motor Show. Don't be too dis-heartened on the strength of those shots, the lighting in the NEC is awful.

Here's a few of my meagre efforts. EXIF is intact if you have the Opanda viewer

Edited by monkeyhanger on Sunday 14th January 23:53

[graebob]

Looks like I need to invest in a proper flashgun for my Minolta DiMage Z3 (or maybe a new camera ), as I'm suffering from most of the same problems as those above!

Edited by graebob on Monday 15th January 00:09

[RobDickinson]

As said kit lens is to slow to be shooting ISO 400, f2.0 & a higher iso would have helped (nifty 50 mebe, or a fast 30mm prime).

Otherwise a big flash always helps.

[James_N]

cannedheat said:

Just out of interest, were you using the kit lens with the 400d and why did you leave it in AV mode?

Though that would be the best one to use, obviously not . Those ones above are bloody stunning!

[Marc W]

I also used the kit lens for a lot of shots, I don't have many lenses for that sort of thing. I also used AV mode as I was told by a professional that was the best mode to use for that sort of photo.

[gregorio!]

Don't lose heart James !
Taking shot at car shows is always tricky, and yesterday there were red carpets and dodgy lights which made it even harder. It was tough. I wasn't happy with most of my shots either. The best stand for lighting was the prodrive/aston one i thought. I think you might have been better off leaving the camera in Auto yesterday.

[Marc W]

I tired a couple of shots on auto with mine and they looked really dark even with my 430 flash.

[James_N]

gregorio! said:

Don't lose heart James !
Taking shot at car shows is always tricky, and yesterday there were red carpets and dodgy lights which made it even harder. It was tough. I wasn't happy with most of my shots either. The best stand for lighting was the prodrive/aston one i thought. I think you might have been better off leaving the camera in Auto yesterday.

Yeah, the best pics of mine were from the Aston Stand

Least im not the only one struggling a little bit!

Again thanks for all the comments - much appriciated.