I often look at exif data of sports shots (when available) and am surprised at how many sport shooters use an auto exposure mode. Av or Tv seem most common. It isn't that I expect "real photographers only shoot manual". It's how they get reliable results from an auto mode that surprises me. (Or, maybe they don't??)
I've tried Av or manual with Auto ISO and often get wide swings from overexposed to underexposed shots. If I use partial metering, jersey colors can wildly affect the exposure. Evaluative or center weighted metering gives me more problems with the background adversely influencing the shot. So I most often spot meter on faces during warm-up and shoot full manual. (During the action, spot metering a face then recomposing means lost shots.)
Indoors, some gyms have dark spots, so I try to change the shutter accordingly during play. Most often, this is based more on my eye than the meter. When the scene looks darker, I bump the shutter speed, shoot, then chimp the LCD to see if I was close. But, outdoors, I run into more light swings. Either cloud cover results in constantly changing light or players move in and out of shadows based on the direction of their play. Still, I try to note the correct exposure -- or something close -- and change settings when I anticipate play moving into different lighting conditions.
My results are generally close, plus or minus 2/3 stops. I still get a bunch that may be off a full stop. But, I'd like to nail the exposure in camera.
How do you nail your exposure when shooting sports?
I've tried Av or manual with Auto ISO and often get wide swings from overexposed to underexposed shots. If I use partial metering, jersey colors can wildly affect the exposure. Evaluative or center weighted metering gives me more problems with the background adversely influencing the shot. So I most often spot meter on faces during warm-up and shoot full manual. (During the action, spot metering a face then recomposing means lost shots.)
Indoors, some gyms have dark spots, so I try to change the shutter accordingly during play. Most often, this is based more on my eye than the meter. When the scene looks darker, I bump the shutter speed, shoot, then chimp the LCD to see if I was close. But, outdoors, I run into more light swings. Either cloud cover results in constantly changing light or players move in and out of shadows based on the direction of their play. Still, I try to note the correct exposure -- or something close -- and change settings when I anticipate play moving into different lighting conditions.
My results are generally close, plus or minus 2/3 stops. I still get a bunch that may be off a full stop. But, I'd like to nail the exposure in camera.
How do you nail your exposure when shooting sports?