have some mountain bike picks that I need some pointers on.

[cjwnovice]

I just took these picture's and would love to get CC on the lighting/exposure/camera settings of the photo. I have the problem of checking out and going by the picture preview on the camera (which look half decent), but come to see them turn out differently when on a computer monitor. With these picture's I'm using a Tamron 28-200mm/f3.8-5.6 .Any tips to correct my problems would be great.
Thanks,
Pic 1 spec's
shutter p., 1/640 sec, f4.5, ISO 800, focal length 45mm
Pic 2 spec's
shutter p., 1/640 sec, f4.5, ISO 800, focal length 45mm
Pic 3 spec's
shutter p., 1/640 sec, f4.5, ISO 800, focal length 52mm

[Bob_S]

They look soft. I can't tell if it is motion blur or just the way it was sized for the web. I would say sun or shade but not both. Crop much tighter and/or not center the subject in the shot. Try adjusting your camera's display to look like your monitor. Zoom in on the camera to check the focus.

[Mask]

They look soft. I can't tell if it is motion blur or just the way it was sized for the web. ...

They are soft - even for a 20D - re process.

[timbertoes]

crop tight, less dof, shoot the sweat. :)

pick spots that show strenous extertion and "body english" <- actually the #1 prioroty.

and have fun.

[KenJulio]

As been mentioned, they seem to be soft/blurry. That may be because of the lens, 45mm at 4.5, I presume that's shooting wide open at that length for that lens? If so, stopping down 2 stops, possibly to f8 could possibly have a sharper image, which means you'll need to bump up the ISO 2 stops to maintain 1/640.

Also, freezing action is good in some instances, but also having motion blur adds to the feel of a race and speed.

For instance:
This one looks like he's standing still - 1/1250, ISO 100, f4, 100mm


Zoom-Zoom - 1/20, ISO 100, f16, 70mm


If you shoot that course again, I say reposition yourself further up the course as they enter the turn, this will put you closer to the line which will get their facial expressions.

[schwanz583]

Work on getting sharper focus, it looks like #1 and #3 are focusing on other objects better than the rider. I would mess with your focus points and try to get that dialed in first. Thanks for sharing your pic's, I need to go hit the trail myself!!

[arich]

use your meter to check your lighting, you shouldn't depend on the preview screen, especially on the 20D. Also, I could be wrong, but I imagine that the AF drive on the 20D isn't good enough to track a subject coming directly at the camera, that might add to the softness