New Panasonic DMC FZ18 (LUMIX)

[scann]

Hi,

Just bought a New Panasonic DMC FZ18 costing RM1599.99. Anyone using this camera to take Badminton action?

I will try to take some photos with this camera on my next Badminton session.

SCANN

[Netasia]

used to own a FZ5, great camera FZ18 has ISO1600 with 18x zoom? wow!
I believe you will enjoy taking badminton photos with it.

[scann]

Managed to take these photos during exhibition match between CTF/LWW & CCE/CCM

All in smashing action (some cropping here and there). You can see CCM smash action in Chan Chong Meng's thread. Did not take a lot of photos. This is amateur work, hopefully will improve on my next assignment.

Next time will use manual focus, focus on the floor and wait for smash action. I missed the action while waiting for them to smash at a particular location. Take badminton (or any sport) photos is not as easy as I thought.

Regards,
SCANN

[Marky]

Good trial. We shall await for your next shots.

[joytime360]

That's good photos, expecting your later shots.

[Oldhand]

If I were you, I'd also pay a bit more attention to framing, not just focus

[kwun]

Managed to take these photos during exhibition match between CTF/LWW & CCE/CCM

All in smashing action (some cropping here and there). You can see CCM smash action in Chan Chong Meng's thread. Did not take a lot of photos. This is amateur work, hopefully will improve on my next assignment.

Next time will use manual focus, focus on the floor and wait for smash action. I missed the action while waiting for them to smash at a particular location. Take badminton (or any sport) photos is not as easy as I thought.

Regards,
SCANN

ok for a first try. but ultimately you will find that you will be limited by the camera's ability and the (un)availability of light in regular gyms.

[coops241180]

i was going to try and take badminton photo's with this camera (my dad bought one) but after a bit of fiddling with teh iso settings and aperture and shutter speeds i don't think you can get enough light without using flash. which would be a big no-no at badminton matches. however does anybody else think that shooting using f8, 1/500 iso1600 should work really? or am i perhaps doing something wrong?

[kwun]

i was going to try and take badminton photo's with this camera (my dad bought one) but after a bit of fiddling with teh iso settings and aperture and shutter speeds i don't think you can get enough light without using flash. which would be a big no-no at badminton matches. however does anybody else think that shooting using f8, 1/500 iso1600 should work really? or am i perhaps doing something wrong?

can you go lower than f/8? a lot of P&S can go down to f/2.8 which is borderline. 1/500 seems to be a bit optimistic, try 1/250, 1/200.

even ISO1600, 1/200, f/2.8 will require a decently lit gym to get enough light.

the built in flash will be useless and produce horrible looking photos so don't even bother.

[coops241180]

oops - my mistake - got my f's back to front.. 2.8 is better of course..
lets pretend i'm not going to use my dad's camera anymore - how would i get more light in on a camera like the canon 300d or 350d perhaps?

[kwun]

oops - my mistake - got my f's back to front.. 2.8 is better of course..
lets pretend i'm not going to use my dad's camera anymore - how would i get more light in on a camera like the canon 300d or 350d perhaps?

aim for:

- large value ISO, ISO1600 is minimum for most badminton gyms.
- small f number, f/2.8 is the largest, that's limited by your lens, i use f/2 normally.
- as for shutter speed, 1/200 is around the limit, sometime you might be able to get away with 1/150, but i would aim for at least 1/200, the faster the better. i normally shoot around 1/320.

put those values in the camera, see how the photo comes out, if too dark, do one of:

- increase ISO, decrease f, slower shutter speed.

if too bright, then the reverse.

until you get something that you think look pleasing to the eye.

[coops241180]

cheers kwun - after having a nosy on dpreview, getting a cam with anything above iso1600 is pretty pricey - so i guess i need to find a lens that gets the f down... suggestions??

[kwun]

for canon DSLR? get the 50/1.4 or 85/1.8.

[coops241180]

yeah - saw the 50/1.4.. now that i've got my head back round stuff (bit of catch up reading does the world of good) i feel a little less lost.. once i've got some nice pics i'll put them on my google account.. cheers for your help kwun.

[scann]

Just came back from Bidor which is located North of Kuala Lumpur and about 1 1/2 hour drive from KL.

Play a few games of energy-draining Badminton with new friends in Teluk Intan, about 45 minutes drive from Bidor. I have not been there since 1995.

A week before the trip Mr. Ravi who plays every week at the Challenger Sport Centre in KL with me mentions that his brother (Anbarasu) plays Badminton in Teluk Intan. After a few SMS and Phone calls to Mr. Anbarasu, the GAMES in on (Saturday 8pm-10pm)

We met at a Shell station about 1km after the Teluk Intan's Government Hospital. After 2 left turns (2-3km) we were at the San Min Secondary School Badminton Hall.

Some of the selected images that I cropped/chopped that I would like to share with you all. A video clip of Mr. Anbarasu and friends will be uploaded to YOUTUBE.

If Anbarasu and friends read this, again I would like to thank you for your hospitality during my 2 hours of Badminton games and 1 hour mouth-watering supper.

SCANN.

[scann]

A few more images....

[scann]

Almost 90% I using FZ18 to capture video in Badminton action.

see the short badminton clips during my visit to Teluk Intan..

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lTaWvmXMjh8

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IdZdNnoHZcM