Shooting high speed targets

[RB Will]

Hi all.
I want to get some good action shots of my dog. My friend has leant me his camera as its better than mine. I'm new to this so don't know which settings are best for taking high speed photos. I have tried leaving it on auto and set to sports mode but every shot is blurry.

The camera is a Nikon D80 with a Nikon DX AF-S NIKKOR 18-135mm 1:3.5-5.6G ED lens.

any help/ tips much appreciated

[markmullen]

Try putting the camera on Shutter Priority (Tv) and setting a nice high speed (start at 1/500th and work up if necessary). You might need to set Auto-ISO to allow the camera to ramp up the ISO to allow you a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the dog.

[GreigM]

At its simplest level - if it has a shutter priority mode (S or Tv) you should use that - then set the shutter speed, depending on how fast the object is, what kind of effect you want etc, but a fairly high figure of 1000+ should make sure you get no blur, but try playing with that setting. Also try "panning" with the dog while shooting.

Edited by GreigM on Sunday 5th December 13:55

[markmullen]

GreigM said:

Also try "panning" with the dog while shooting.

I was going to suggest panning until I thought about it, the dog's legs will be moving separately to its forward movement so I don't think it will work, it's not like a car where the whole shape doesn't change, just its direction.

[GetCarter]

As long as you are talking dogs, not cars (where panning is v important)

...Choose speed priority, in good light and about 1000th sec

Edited by GetCarter on Sunday 5th December 14:26

[RB Will]

Thanks all, just trying to figure out how to adjust it as he did not leave me the manual.

[pinchmeimdreamin]

A stupid dog helps and keep shooting seemed to work for me.

[GreigM]

markmullen said:

GreigM said:

Also try "panning" with the dog while shooting.

I was going to suggest panning until I thought about it, the dog's legs will be moving separately to its forward movement so I don't think it will work, it's not like a car where the whole shape doesn't change, just its direction.

of course - duh moment

[MartinP]

Panning can work with animals, the blur of the movement of the legs just adds to the sense of speed. As an example, here's a shot I took at a horse trial:


Blenheim Palace by muddy_defender, on Flickr

[dogbucket]

You may also want to fiddle with the autofocus settings and change it from 'One Shot' to 'AI Servo' (Canon speak, dont know Nikon). This means the autofocus will continuously track a moving object if the shutter button is half pressed.

[Some Gump]

Don't shoot where your target is, shoot where it is going to be.

[DAL33S]

this is a whole new level will......