Spyral
newbie
Reged: 03/06/2008
Posts: 10
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Hey 
Im new to this site - just thought I'd post.
Im the proud new owner of a 450D - Its my first SLR camera and so far im just enjoying the basic modes before using the manual modes.
I do sports photography - only really of horses - be it jumping or in the field I take the occasional flowery picture but as Ive got horses of my own its always been an interest!
Ive discovered the Tv (Time Value i think it is?) mode and wondering if this would be best for capturing action shots? Ive tried maximising the shutter speed but tend to end up with black pictures - im guessing i need to turn my ISO up?
Im a real newbie so be gentle! Any tips greatly appreciated
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sjaszczak
A Real Gentleman
Reged: 08/06/2005
Posts: 1153
Loc: York
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Hi there...welcome to the forum!
I tend to prefer aperture priority more (Av)... I set the aperture I want to get the depth of field I want and adjust the ISO accordingly to get the required shutter speed.
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Steve
My Flickr
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Overread
old hand
Reged: 17/01/2008
Posts: 1000
Loc: UK; Suffolk
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Max shutter speed is really only going to work in very very bright lights. Your best is as Steve said - ap apature priority mode where you alter your cameras apature (f number). I would suggest something in the order of f5.6 to start with and see if you get the desired shots. If you find that not enough of the horse is in focus (the depth of field - the amout of shot that is sharp- is not enough then use a smaller apature (which means a higher f number).
Also, what lens are you using for this photography - I assume its the kit lens.
Also read the manual cover to cover several times - it contains a lot of good information on using and setting your camera.(if you have lost it then canon have a downloadable copy on their website)
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My photography blog
http://overread.wordpress.com
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 5256
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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Quote:
Ive discovered the Tv (Time Value i think it is?) mode and wondering if this would be best for capturing action shots? Ive tried maximising the shutter speed but tend to end up with black pictures - im guessing i need to turn my ISO up?
Right idea, wrong execution. You probably don't need to go faster than 1/500 or 1/1000 to freeze action. I'd suggest setting the ISO to 400 or 800 and the shutter speed to 1/500 or 1/1000, you should get a usable aperture in most daylight conditions. Check the aperture indication in the viewfinder & be suspicious if it's showing maximum or minimum aperture (probably f/5.6 & f/22 if you're using the kit lens).
Not sure about the 450D but I suspect that, like the 40D which I have but unlike the 5D which I also have, you can set "auto ISO" which in conjunction with Tv should automate things. However the automatics can't open the aperture bigger than the max setting, which may be required if you're already at max aperture & max ISO because the shutter speed is set too high for the prevailing light. With a manual or semi-manual setting at least you know what the camera's doing.
Personally I almost always use manual mode as that reminds me to check the exposure metering instead of just relying on the automatics to mess it up for me 
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alanS
Dr Dust
Reged: 30/09/2005
Posts: 3715
Loc: Up North, England.
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I just want to reinforce what beejaybee says about checking the exposure.
Gotta remember that exposure is a combination of shutter speed, aperture size and ISO. If you're selecting too fast a shutter speed and the camera can not select a wide enough aperture (and ISO setting, but I don't know if the camera changes the ISO automatically) for a good exposure you should see one of the values blinking away at you in the viewfinder. This should tell you that you've gone too far and that the camera can't cope. Keep an eye on the exposure scale and / or for blinking values and adjust your settings as appropriate to achieve an acceptable exposure.
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Alan's defence lawyer claimed that "Booze played no part in his typo's."
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NorthernMonkey
enthusiast
Reged: 01/05/2007
Posts: 271
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If you set your camera to program, (P) it will tell you what exposure settings it thinks is best. You can then set the camera to manual, and put these settings in, and adjust as you see fit.
It's not the fastest way of using your camera (by a long way) but will give you a good starting point for exposure for a given situation
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Spyral
newbie
Reged: 03/06/2008
Posts: 10
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Quote:
Right idea, wrong execution. You probably don't need to go faster than 1/500 or 1/1000 to freeze action. I'd suggest setting the ISO to 400 or 800 and the shutter speed to 1/500 or 1/1000, you should get a usable aperture in most daylight conditions. Check the aperture indication in the viewfinder & be suspicious if it's showing maximum or minimum aperture (probably f/5.6 & f/22 if you're using the kit lens).
Sorry didnt explain myself properly! Ive been using 1/500 and 1/640 to capture the pictures I think the max is something like 8000 isnt it?!
Might post some pictures later but they're not quite up to standard 
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9538
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Quote:
I think the max is something like 8000 isnt it?!
1/4000th according to the specs but if you need this for horses then where can I put a bet on one...... 
The speeds you've used should be enough to freeze the action although often a slower shutter speed panning with the subject produces a better effect with a blurred background.
In your original post you mentioned about the images being black/dark. This suggests that they may be underexposed - unlike the basic modes the advanced modes (P, Av, Tv, etc.) will allow the camera to take an underexposed image. Can you remember whether the aperture value was flashing at the minimum setting? If so this indicates that you need either a slower shutter speed or alternatively an increase in ISO value.
Quote:
Might post some pictures later but they're not quite up to standard
We all started like that....... and sometimes we still manage the same.......
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is more fun than one in the cupboard........
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