Paintball Photography

[noahyay]

I am getting started in photography and am going to buy my own camera this weekend. I'm planning on getting an N90s with (hopefully) a MB-10 grip. I will still borrow lenses for now.

As you may know, paintballs go pretty fast

I can easily see myself going to a speedball tourney and getting plumeted by 30 shots in 2.5 seconds.

I need a way to protect the camera while I am on the field.

[Duzzy]

If you don't care about looking stupid take a plastic plate and attach a velcro band to it. That way the paintballs will hit the plate and you can switch it from hand to hand so that it will always be between the camera and the people shooting. You could even do it on each hand as well.

[Hexis]

A word of warning on the N90s, it won't be able to run the Nikon VR lenses. The AF is not modern enough for them.

You may want to look at the D70, it's fast enough for one of the more affordable DSLRs, and with the 1.5 crop factor will allow you to use shorter glass and still get close.

I got some neoprene and built a cover for my N80. I also got a factor referb 28-200 Tamron lense that if it dies, I don't care. I cover the body and leave the lense exposed.

[noahyay]

I did a little research on it but i dont really want a digital camera

I like the "plastic velcroed to your hand" idea -thats totally my style

Also, I am quite fond of manual focus lenses and it seems to be a waste for an auto focus camera. I am leaning toward getting this camera because I have been using it and it works great, and it has gotten fabulous reviews. Also, I want the built in motor.

[Hexis]

I wonder why you don't want to go digital. The ability to put in a large memory card, and not be dealing with film on a paintball field is a major plus. In addition, AF is a very helpful thing for action photography.

[Muzikman]

Having shot over 10,000 or so paintball photos I can tell you that AF is needed if you want any kinf of action shot. Also if you are going with film, a fast autowider (film advance) is needed. Shooting paintball is totally different than most other sports in that you have no idea where the player is going to move next.

Few tips.

400-800 speed film.

Shoot at the largest Aperture you can. It give the tightest DOF which looks really good when capturing a single player. (this also obviously also raises your shutter speed which I usually like to keep around 1/1000.

Telephoto, telephoto, telephoto...the closer you can get to the action without actually being in it the better you are. I use a 70-200mm lense exclusivly for shooting paintball. I am looking at buying the new Canon 28-300 IS to give me more range, but at the $2500 price tag, it will be awhile.

Shoot LOTS. The more you shoot, the better chance of getting that one GREAT shot. I shoot about 1500 or so shots per event. Out of those, about 500 I think are good shots, about 100 are great and about 10 do I think...WOW, that is an amazing shot.

Think about going digital.



As for protections. Toss a UV filter on the lens and go at it. I do not protect my camera at all , I just use common sense on where I stand. I have taken quite a few shots to my body, but usually when that happens, I hug the camera and turn around. I have only taken a few hits on the camera it's self.

[Hexis]

Muzikman I'm hearing good things about the: EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS. The DO optics are very good for digital, there is simply no CA with DO. That' a great thing for digital.

[Muzikman]

I currently got the 70-200 2.8L IS USM which in IMO is the best lens Canon has produced to date. It's what I use to shoot all my sports. The problem I have is that with paintball when you are on the sidelines and want to get the shot of the guy coming toward the near sidelines the 70mm just does not get wide enough, especially with the 1.6x crop factor of the 10D.

[Muzikman]

This is the kind of shot you can get with the 70-200

[Hexis]

Meh crop factor! That's what the 1Ds is for. Plus you get a much nicer viewfinder. Looking through the 20D is like torture now. A 1D (not s) would be good for Paintball photography. I would just be a bit more afraid of taking either on the field.

[Muzikman]

I would love a 1Ds, but I can't justify the cost yet. I am waiting for the price to drop some more on the used ones.

The 10D is nice, I bought it about 6 months after it came out and I have been happy with it. I have had no desire to move to the 20D, but given the chance I would opt for the 1Ds, 1D Mark II or the 1Ds Mark II

[Hexis]

I have no direct experance with the 1Ds (just the mk2), but my friend does, according to him do NOT get a 1Ds (non mk2). They fixed a lot of stuff on the mk2.

[Blennidae]

What goggles are you using with the DSLRs? I tried to look thru the view finder on my 20D with my profilers on, but couldn't really make use of it. Not that I'm in a big rush to take it out on the field (afraid of getting it hit).

[drg]

I seond the notion of considering digital, especially if you are "just starting out in photography." As long as you can afford the initial buy-in, you will learn exponentially faster. The best solution for not getting shot is some type of blind (e.g. a slit in the netting) but if you must be on the field you will be using goggles, so make sure the viewfinder is good enough to be used with goggles on.

[drg]

What goggles are you using with the DSLRs? I tried to look thru the view finder on my 20D with my profilers on, but couldn't really make use of it. Not that I'm in a big rush to take it out on the field (afraid of getting it hit).

I can use my E-1 fairly well with a Flex-7 mask on ... aren't the profiler lenses kind of 'bubble-y'?