Help with indoor sports photos

[LimeGreenCheri]

I've tried on several occasions to photograph DS's basketball games. The pictures come out grainy and dark. I'll give an example here. This picture is even lightened with my kodak software.

http://tagrel.com/photopost/data/515/100_1984.jpg

I don't have speed settings on my camera per say. I have settings like Children, landscape, night landscape, backlight, flower, fireworks, party,beach, snow, closeup, night portrait

I do have some setting that says PASM. Right now those settings say P f2.8 1/60 0.0 This is all greek to me. Can I change the PASM someway to take better pictures inside a gym?

I have no manual as the one that came with it, is in Espanol. :?

[TominPok]

Hi Cheri,

I found this description of PASM (http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/publications/urg00167toc.jhtml?chapsec=urg00167c2s3) using Google, it describes PASM as modes on your camera - Program / Aperture Priority / Shutter Priority / Manual.

Do you know the exact model number of your camera? We might be able to find a manual for it online, and figure out what features it has that you might use.

[LimeGreenCheri]

I have a Kodak easy share Z650. Thanks for the PASM link Tom! And I didn't know you could find a manual online. I'll have to goole.

[TominPok]

Were you able to find the manual, Cheri? I found an online version here (http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/publications/urg00506toc.jhtml).

An indoor gymnasium is a tough place to be shooting with any camera - low light levels, and because of distance, the built-in flash is probably ineffective (if you're even allowed to use it at all). The graininess is most likely due to the camera bumping up the ISO in order to obtain a faster shutter speed. You'll have to try to find a combination of ISO and shutter speed that lets you capture the action without as much noise, and then use your software to lighten things up afterwards. (I see the camera has a Sports mode, but I suspect that works better outdoors. Have you given that a try?)

Hope this helps...

[Barrie]

Low light and movement are a really tough combination to get. That's why I don't have any good photos of POTC... yet! Tom's suggestions are exactly what I would say.

[LimeGreenCheri]

Whoohoo! A manual that I can read!! Thankyou, thankyou! And I'm glad to know that it is hard to photograph gym activities. My DD's softball games come out fantastic. That is why I was just baffled as to why the gym doesn't. I guess it is the lighting and the steadiness of the camera. For the softball games, I put the lense through the fence, so it is very steady.


Thanks, again!