HELP with taking action pics

[etjoyride]

Alright thanks everyone, i'm going to play around with several of your ideas and see which one works the best.

[Skoad]

if you want very clear action pics I recommend a tripod...or if you want to move around a little easier just a monopod will do. If your camera is of decent quallity it will love you for this and show you in the photos you take.

As far as the protection thing we've always thought of getting some pretty scratch resistant plexi and creating some kind of box/case like the others have talked about - at least for the lens cover. Probably some really good foam would do for the camera body itself...might want to test how well it absorbs a paintball before you stick a camera in there though.

[ThePixelGuru]

Big thing to remember is just to watch lanes. See where people are most likely to be firing, and don't be there. If you're nervous about bringing the camera into the line of fire, just ref a couple games and see how much you get hit, then judge if it'll be safe to bring the camera out.

[White_Noise]

me and suicidalsnyper took pics at Chicago Open this year and we just wrapped towels around our cameras. if you want, get an exxtra protective lens to go on your camera, but be careful, these can do more harm than good, as they are usually plastic, and can break and scratch your lens, or they just get dirty and scratched and cause you to get bad shots.

personally..i just had the towel, tried to stay out of people's lanes, and just kept aware enough to dodge paint. Also, dont go actually on the field(not allowed at PSP anyway) you can get great shots on the sidelines with out getting shot at too much.

[sbpyro]

Just a fair warning!! My buddies had setup a plexiglass sheild around the camcorder that was mounted on the tripod mount on the camera. The mount is either heat staked into the plastic or insert molded. Basically after a day's use we notice the plastic housing on the camera had cracked. The mount was designed for sitting on the tripod and not supporting the weight of the box.

The set up that they ended up using was a foam (some pink foam with a shiny plastic feel to it.) box with a plexiglass in the front and open back. This set up was able to take multiple shots with out any issues.

[jayloo]

I've taken a bunch of pics and video in tourneys and scenario games.

1. Don't look like a player! Wear yellow or orange. Something bright. See if you can borrow a ref vest or jersey.
3. Carry a bright towel with you. Use it to shield your camera. Just watch what the towel covers as you may cover the lens or other sensors on the camera.
4. In tournaments its good to let all the teams playing know exactly who you are and what your intentions are. This will reduce the chance that someone will think you are helping a team/person cheat.
5. Several fields I have visited require certain attire if you are to film/photo on the sidelines inside the netting. Talk to the field owner or head ref for this info.
6. Bring a small lightweight mono pod. That camera get heavy after a while. It will also provide less blurry action shots.
7. If you leave your equipment on the field/sidelines unattended you risk a GOOD chance that a player or ref will knock it over.

I'm in the market for a Nikon SLR. When I get it I will get an underwater enclosure for it. The enclosure can take a hit and not interfere with the functionality of the camera.

Just my

[SuiciDal Sn Y p ER]

expect to get shot, crotch towels help a lot, stay out of lanes, use your body to protect the camera, you can use a towel to cover up the camera. Lenses can take straight on hits (well... mine can) so you shouldn't be THAT worried, i use a filter just in case. To take those good shots position yourself on the field where you know there will be action (snake side, low bunkers, and the back corner bunkers provide nice sliding/diving shots). On those hot days bring an extra towel soaked in cold water to cover your neck, and wear a visor (sun glare gets into your mask lense and you would really have to press the viewfinder up to your lense to see if you don't have a visor)

I know nothing about cameras but i know how to take the pictures while getting shot at :)

[etjoyride]

alright thanks guys, i tihnk i'm going to try some of these ideas out first with an older somewhat crappt digital camera, and then if it worksi'll use a good one

[Automaggot68]

/me wonders where Jason is

[Muzikman]

I'm right here :)

The quality of the camera will greatly depend on the quaility of the image. With action shots it's important to understand shutter speed and film speed. Understanding Depth of Field will allow you to take even better pictures.

A decent zoom lens is also important with paintball. In tournaments you are not allowed on the field so you must stay on the sidelines. If your camera does not have a decent zoom lens the guys on the other side of the field will look like ants. If you have too much telephoto, you will not be able to get good shots of the players on the near tape.

As for protection, wear bright colors as a few others have said and be sure to have a towel. I don't usually cover the camera at all, but if you should get some splatter on it, you'll want to wipe it off right away.

The gear I take on the field is pretty high end stuff (well, it was for 3 years ago technology) and I have very little fear of having something ruined. I do use a UV filter to protect my glass, but other than that, if I start taking hits, I just turn and hug the camera.

If you need any technical pointers, let me know.

[etjoyride]

well, i have an 8meg. nikon digital SLR that has a special setting for action pics. I plan on starting out by just taking pics of regular rec woodsball/speedball games, and then maybe doing some tournies later on. next time i get out to the field i'll probably try some of this stuff out with a lowerend camera before using the nikon...THanks for all the help everyone

[p8ntballsteve]

here's what you do, head into some skydiving sites, and see what they use for taking pics and video while plumetting at the earth.

[Muzikman]

Using the "Action" setting on the camera is not as rewarding.

I say give it a try in priority mode or in manual mode.

Here are my typical settings. Obviously lighting plays a big part.

Outdoor / Good Light
ISO: 100 (or lower if you can)
Shutter: 1/1000 s
Aperture: 2.8 - 3.5 (this will depend on situation. This is what controls the DoF)
Frame Rate: Continuous Shot
Focus Point: Center
Focus: Auto / Servo AI

Obviously, keep an eye on your meter. With digital I find it good to stop down 1 to 2 stops to compensate for bright highlights.

[Cameo]

Jason i forget.. what camera model do you have?

[Muzikman]

Canon 10D

Why, want to buy me a new one?