Author Topic: Z50 camera settings for shooting bicycle riders (Read 1409 times)

MEPER · « **on:** June 28, 2022, 18:44:48 »

On Friday a cycle race will start in Copenhagen. 1. etape comes close to where I live (300 m or so).
As it does not happen every day I plan to take some images of the riders. It is a time trial so riders comes one by one.

I am only used to still-images (single AF-point and AFS).
I guess the correct settings for the above event may be Auto-area-AF mode and then try to activate focus-tracking in AF-C mode?

Lens I will use is a AF-P 70-300 DX 4-5-6.3G ED with Z-adapter.

I also have a 70-200/2.8 VR (first version). It could also be an option. Probably VR works better on 70-300 and focus could be faster because it is a more recent lens.

What do you think?

The 500/8 mirror will stay at home........

Erik Lund · « **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2022, 09:13:41 »

I'm pretty sure your 70-200mm f/2.8 AFS VR will focus plenty fast on the Z
I'll also be out with my camera on Friday around Langelinie-Gefion fountain and Saturday in Roskilde

Bent Hjarbo · « **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2022, 13:55:02 »

I am still pondering on where to be. I will start today and see what will work.
Maybe see you around

Bent Hjarbo · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2022, 13:58:29 »

Equipment I will use are D500 with 70-200 f2.8 VRII and Z6 with 24-70 f4
I have used the D500 and 70-200 to photograph cycle race before.

Erik Lund · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2022, 14:08:57 »

I will also investigate exactly where they will put up barriers along the route.

Bent Hjarbo · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2022, 22:43:17 »

The presentation today gave no good pictures, but I found that in Oder to get a picture you should be placed in a bend/corner.
On a straight segment the other spectators will obstruct the view.
If the weather turns out like to day, there will many spectators.
If you know someone living along the route, maybe a higher position will be beneficial.

MEPER · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2022, 11:53:24 »

I have taken a "day off" from work Friday and will be out during the day.
I think riders will train on the track and I can practice with my camera and maybe get better images because not that many people will be out before race starts.
Maybe 70-200/2.8 VR will be a good choice. I live close to Vibenshus Runddel so will be in that area.

Bent Hjarbo · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2022, 19:49:17 »

Yesterday the riders had a very relaxing ride.
Here the team with Magnus Cort.
As you can see the strait line may not be the best place.

MEPER · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2022, 21:53:18 »

I was out and practice a little bit on bicycles and cars.
Think it will be the 70-200/2.8 VR and not the 70-300 DX.
Then I will just let the camera decide the AF in Auto-AF-area mode.
There is no time to play with AF-tracking. It seems camera body will hit the target and focus on the rider.
Will try to catch the rider when he passes by. It should give a sense of speed if I camera follows the rider. VR will be set to "active" and focus limiter to 2.5m - inf.

Fons Baerken · « **Reply #9 on:** June 30, 2022, 22:28:36 »

Quote from: Bent Hjarbo on June 30, 2022, 19:49:17

Yesterday the riders had a very relaxing ride.
Here the team with Magnus Cort.
As you can see the strait line may not be the best place.

That one rider doing a selfie he is a fool with a diaper on

still falls for that hoax?

MEPER · « **Reply #10 on:** July 02, 2022, 19:16:41 »

It was a bit difficult to get 100% sharp images and control the plane of sharpness.
Probably Z50 is not the best body for this kind of action shooting. But I got "something" using the 70-200 VR at 2.8.

Some examples attached......

I also require more practice and more experiments with AF-settings etc......

MEPER · « **Reply #11 on:** July 02, 2022, 19:26:32 »

Some more........

Bent Hjarbo · « **Reply #12 on:** July 03, 2022, 00:01:14 »

looks nice.
I ended up using my 17-55 on my D500.
Only a few shot with the 70-200.
I shot across from the barrier, so the wide angel did well.

MEPER · « **Reply #13 on:** July 03, 2022, 10:30:32 »

For Action an old DSLR still have some advantages. Maybe a Z9 has solved this.
One thing I don't like in my Z50 for action is that it shows the images in the viewfinder so after shooting a serie the images pops up in viewfinder and I have to press the trigger halfway to get back to live view in viewfinder. I hope it is a setting I can switch off. I lost some images because of this.

A few more with Z50 + 70-200 VR lens: