advice on settings for football games

[esdramaqueen]

From everything that I've read, it seems that most stadium lighting requires a photographer to shoot at ISO 1600, 1/500, f/2.8 70-200mm. For the most part.
My dilemma:
1) I'm new to action photography
2) My camera is below par to pro cameras (Canon Rebel EOS), with no viable options to upgrade (I am borrowing a friend's--a GREAT friend, I might add--Canon f/2.8 70-200mm lens)
3) my camera will not allow me to bump my ISO above 800, and even at 800, there is considerable noise. (400 is great until the sun goes down)
4) I'm afraid to use the flash b/c it might distract, it takes too long to recharge, and I hate to effect it has, including red-eye and over-exposure

To get enough light in, I can shoot at ISO 400 with a shutter speed around 1/100-1/125. But, of course, I still deal with motion blur.
Last Friday, I shot in Manual Mode and my exposure was wonderful, but my shutter speed was just not fast enough. Again, motion blur. (as you've all mentioned or know, the viewfinder is not very acurate....)

Any suggestions on settings? Or, as I posted in another thread, am I doomed to just expect failure on action shots? I can still get some great close-ups of the players and cheerleaders, etc., which is what the moms and dads want, but I desperately want to get some good action shots!

Having camera envy,
E.

[Daniel Bates]

Your Rebel will go up to 1600. Go into the Custom Functions and enable ISO Expansion.

Flash is okay on high school games, but many schools and teams don't like it. I'd suggest just shooting with ambient light, at least at first. Use the highest ISO possible and the largest aperture you've got (the 70-200 f/2.8L is good for this - it's very sharp even at f/2.8). Then let the shutter speed be whatever it is. I like to have 1/640 or better for field sports, but often the light will only allow me 1/400 or sometimes 1/320.

[CaptainTom]

Shoot in manual. Choose the shutter speed you need to stop the action. Aperture wide open. Shoot in RAW and deal with the underexposure in Post.

[LSCSN.com]

Can't speak to Canon as far as ISO goes, but there really aren't many stadiums that I know of that you will be able to get away with 1600 2.8 and 500. Most stadiums, including a number of the UIL stadiums that I have shot in require at least 3200 ISO to get to even 400 or 500 at 2.8.

Depending on which games you are shooting I wouldn't worry about the flash. I've used a flash at every football game that I've covered for the past three years and have NEVER had an issue whether public or private.

You can deal with the adverse effect of the flash by getting the flash below the camera. There have been at least two or three threads on this topic before with photos.

I recently was able to upgrade to the D700, so I don't use a flash anymore and don't have my setup still on my monopod or I would show it to you.

But basically I had a two flash set up that I used. My father-in-law used PVC pipes and clamps to make it. Realatively simple to do and the results are GREAT! Especially when you can't get over 1600 ISO.

Hope that helps a little. Good luck.

[esdramaqueen]

Thanks, everyone! I'm thrilled to find that my camera's ISO can and will bump up! (I've learned a lot about my camera and photography, in general, lately, but I just assumed I couldn't go past 800, because I never tried.... I learn something new every single day, I swear!)
I will try some of your suggestions, as well as read more threads...so thanks, again!
E.