5DM3 ISO 1600/3200 bad technique, or broken camera?

[wockawocka]

The way focus assist works is the light shoots at the subject, the camera focuses but then a second light is fired to check the focus. This checking is what can really mess things up on moving objects.

However if in AI servo mode it won't come on because it will give you an out of focus subject when your subject is moving

[Matthew19]

Doesn't auto exposure want to set the average exposer fore the scene to 18% grey? That would definitely cause this scene to be underexposed, same with snow. +2 stops

[cpsico]

The white of the ice has you off by about a stop, I would only overexposed by one stop to give a bit more shutter speed and a bit of a safety cushion in regards to possibly blown out high lights

[LetTheRightLensIn]

heres another

The meter is getting tricked by all the white into under-exposing and you probably need to do a little micro-focus adjustment.  The exposures do look dark, there is no need to save the highlights of the spot lights on the walls, just let those blow out.

[LetTheRightLensIn]

Thanks guys, this is good info, not used to shooting in such a challenging environment.

To be honest I never even considered the focus assist light, initially I wasn't using flash but I thought I'd try it  for a couple of wide shots as a little fill, I tend not to use flash much.

Again thanks for the feedback, it's appreciated.

focus assist would be rough for action shots I'd think

[scottkinfw]

Calibrate your lenses?

heres another

[risc32]

But someone above said that AF micro adjustment is junk, and not to use it. I'm a bit surprised nobody has disagreed with that.

[krjc]

When I take photos of my sons hockey games I overexpose so that the face is not under exposed. depending on the rink the actual amount of over exposure will vary.

Not directly related but my 5D3 is so much better for this type of this environment then my 7D. I have taken photos at 10,000 ISO and they are better then my 7D at 1,600.

[atvinyard]

Metering for the ice. Spot meter on the subject.  Since the lighting looks pretty even, you could have her stand still where she's going to do the trick so that you can get a spot meter on her face.  Then make the manual settings to get the proper exposure. Then let her do the fancy stuff and you should be exposing correctly.

[agierke]

in the first shot it says you were set to F1.6. it is extremely difficult to hold focus at F1.6...the slightest movement from you or your subject and the sliver of DOF may move off your subject. simply breathing can cause you to fall out of the DOF at 1.6. same thing for 2.8 on the 70-200 (although you have a better chance of staying within the DOF at the shorter focal length than extended to 200mm). to attempt to get tack sharp results at a high ISO with the rate of motion involved with ice skating is pretty lofty expectations. 

i cant see that big of a noise issue given how the files are posted on this site. both images are certainly usable given what they are going to be used for (i assume they were for your daughter).

these latest generation cameras offer tremendous capability to the point that it was unthinkable a mere 5 years ago. however, performance expectations are through the roof (and unrealistic imo) for what remains extremely challenging shooting situations. a poorly lit, mostly white skating rink where you are trying to freeze a high rate of motion? that is a nightmare situation and will remain so for some time to come.

understand the physical limits of your shooting situations and temper your expectations just a bit.

[AJ]

Yes you could work with ambient and crank up the exposure another stop or two.

Or - you could do the strobist thing.  Keep background exposure the same, and place a flash off-camera to the side.  You could set it on the boards.  Shoot direct or through an umbrella.  Press the shutter when your daughter faces in the same direction as the flash.  Play with flash power and see what happens.  Good luck!

[Terry Rogers]

The way I've metered exposure at rinks is to take a shot filled mostly with the white ice. I then check the histogram and adjust so the large spike is far to the right without clipping. Seems to work well for me.

[yulia]

Yes you could work with ambient and crank up the exposure another stop or two.

Or - you could do the strobist thing.  Keep background exposure the same, and place a flash off-camera to the side.  You could set it on the boards.  Shoot direct or through an umbrella.  Press the shutter when your daughter faces in the same direction as the flash.  Play with flash power and see what happens.  Good luck!

i don't think flash is allowed at the rink

[michi]

Never heard anyone say micro focus adjust is junk.  Why would it be.  If a lens is properly adjusted, you can only benefit.  It's not like it slows the focus system down or degrades any other functions.  With zooms specifically you obviously need to make sure you have it adjusted for the focal length you will most likely be using.

[sanj]

In my opinion it is not underexposed. I do think, for whatever reason, the focus is not exact.