I picked up a 7D to replace my 40D a couple of weeks ago, and I've been working to come to grips with the AF and high ISO while shooting hockey. I kept coming here before I bought the camera looking for some examples, but didn't find any.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the upgrade. Most of the rinks we play in are ISO3200, and I'm getting results out of the 7D that are comparable to the 40D at ISO1600. The 7D has even let me get decent results where I would have left the 40D in the bag (ISO6400).

So although I don't post here often, here are a few for reference. All shot jpg, in-camera NR at Standard, Neat Image in post. Fluorescent white balance. Canon 70-200 f/2.8 non-IS.

C&C welcome.

First batch is at ISO6400, 1/320, shot through the glass:





No puck, but I like the hair flying. And the reason I do this (my daughter). Also pleased the 7D didn't grab focus on the goalie in the foreground:



Here are a few at ISO3200, 1/400, shot over the glass:





Thanks for looking,

Mark

Nice shots... I just ordered a 7D. Pretty sharp shots and little noise.

Very nice exposures for high ISO.

Steve

Thanks guys. I've only shot 3 games with the 7D, and I'm working to improve the number of in-focus shots. Probably between 65-75% now, but improving. Still way better than what the 40D was capable of.

I also want to see if things improve if I shot RAW, but I'm going to need some larger CF cards.

Mark

Very nice work Mark.

You are ahead of me in learning to use the 7D but I can empathize regarding the size of it's RAW files. I have some big cards but may need to get a more powerful computer. I was very comfortable with shooting 200+ frames per game but now I find myself taking the time to chimp, and deleting as many as possible, while still on the sideline. Eighteen megapixels is going force some major changes in my shooting/editing habits.

Try small or medium raw if size is an issue

mikekel wrote:
Try small or medium raw if size is an issue

I'm working on that.

But it's sort of like having to buy a two ton truck to haul one ton loads. Not that I mind the the price, the 7D seems more reasonably priced than the 1D4 considering all features of both. I just keep coming back to the feeling that a 7D with the same feature set but a 10-12 Mp sensor would have fit the target audience much better. This camera was not pointed at landscape and portraits artists.

This is exactly what I needed to see - Thanks.
I almost have my wife convinced we have hit the limits of what the XTi (& XSi) can do, so to get better detail in the dungeons, we would need to get a better body. This should help quite nicely with the argument.

Some good action captures here Mark, in particular #2, which is a VERY sweet capture... well done.

WB seems pretty cool for my tastes in this set. Did you try to set a custom WB?

dj dunzie wrote:
Some good action captures here Mark, in particular #2, which is a VERY sweet capture... well done.

WB seems pretty cool for my tastes in this set. Did you try to set a custom WB?

Thank you. You do great work - your comments mean a lot to me.

I typically use custom WB off dirty ice, but I don't go that route when the lights are all fluorescent. However, I see what you mean about these being cool, especially the first set at ISO6400.

I bet the white balance was influenced by the glass I had to shoot through at that rink, which does seem to add a minor tint when viewed through. So fluorescent isn't a perfect match. I think the set at ISO3200 shot over the glass looks better.

Thanks for pointing that out; I'll give custom a try next time I have to deal with that situation.

Mark

Nice work Mark. I've just started shooting a few hockey games with the 7D and I have a question about your technique. Are you panning and using hi speed shutter or are you going for one shot at a time.

Frankly I've been failing using the panning technique that works so well for me with swimming and I've been meaning to ask someone who has shot this sport for a while what techniques they use to freeze the action acceptably.

Nice hockey pics. I've had my 7d for about 6weeks and have shot mostly hockey and volleyball. The learning curve on the 7d is much steeper than on my 50d. It certainly pays to read the manual and experiment with all the different focusing options to see what works best for the type of shooting you do. I have posted some of my sports shots, mostly 3200-6400 iso. I have been quite pleased with the high iso quality and the af system.
http://rayssportsphotos.smugmug.com/Sports/7d-sports-shots/9867076_2bni6#673066870_LX5bR

If you're in the same rinks often, look at the color temp in PP, that will probably give you a consisten range for that rink. Often I'll just dial in the temp I end up with in PP for white balance and save some work on the other end.

Never thought of doing that . I usually save my settings for the rinks I shoot in most often.

gracevalley wrote:
Nice hockey pics. I've had my 7d for about 6weeks and have shot mostly hockey and volleyball. The learning curve on the 7d is much steeper than on my 50d. It certainly pays to read the manual and experiment with all the different focusing options to see what works best for the type of shooting you do. I have posted some of my sports shots, mostly 3200-6400 iso. I have been quite pleased with the high iso quality and the af system.
http://rayssportsphotos.smugmug.com/Sports/7d-sports-shots/9867076_2bni6#673066870_LX5bR
Thanks! I saw your's posted on DPR before I bought the camera, and I was impressed. Helped my decision.

Mark

Mike1.6 wrote:
Nice work Mark. I've just started shooting a few hockey games with the 7D and I have a question about your technique. Are you panning and using hi speed shutter or are you going for one shot at a time.

Frankly I've been failing using the panning technique that works so well for me with swimming and I've been meaning to ask someone who has shot this sport for a while what techniques they use to freeze the action acceptably.


Mike, I typically pan with the puck-carrier, holding down the back-button to maintain AI Servo focus, then I'll fire a short burst when my instincts say it's time. I often do this with both eyes open to try and keep track of what else is happening in the vicinity.

The ISO6400 game was at 1/320, and even that might have been slightly underexposed. I don't like going that low because I do lose shots to motion blur, but I didn't have much choice. I rarely have enough light to get above 1/400 or 1/500.

I think I've only shot three games with the 7D, so still fine-tuning the settings. I've been using center point with expansion, AI Servo tracking sensitivity set at the middle setting (C.FnIII-1), C.FnIII-2 set to zero (AF priority, tracking priority), C.FnIII-3 set to 1 (continuous AF track). That last one should prevent the camera AF from switching to something closer that enters the frame, like a ref or another player.

As I get familiar with a team, I'll know what players are always around the puck (and therefore often subjects of my shots), and which ones are rarely around the puck so I have to make a concerted effort to photograph them. My last photo is an example; that girl seems to rarely carry the puck, so I took that somewhat boring pose just to add some shots of her.

Goalies on my daughter's team don't see much action either. We've only given up 2 goals in league play, so it's a challenge to photograph them - they don't see many shots.

Mark

http://rayssportsphotos.smugmug.com/Sports/7d-sports-shots/9867076_2bni6#673066870_LX5bR

Awesome shots!
Looks like another 7D convert is on the way!