Improving technique with your new SONY DSLR

[DonSchap]

I am starting this thread to kind of eliminate trying to compete with the other manufacturer's forums in offering suggestions for use of the SONY DSLRS, so do not assume you cannot do this with any other camera.

Since the track season and other outdoor sports are beginning up, again, I figure I wanted to cover the technique of panning.

Generally speaking, here are five simple tips for PANNING

1. Panning requires a steady hand (or mobile tripod head) and a relatively slow shutter speed. You also may want to shut off "SSS" (Super SteadyShot) for this one.
   
   The actual shutter speed depends on the speed of the subject but generally it will be 1/200th or slower. 1/200th if your subject is really flying along, like a speeding car on a race track, and maybe as slow as 1/40th of a second if your subject is a runner on a track. It also works best if the subject crosses in front of you on a horizontal motion. Another trick in panning is to position yourself where the background is cluttered. A plain background doesn't produce the motion effect as much as a cluttered background.
   
2. Keep in mind that the faster your shutter speed is the easier it will be to keep your subject crisp.
   
   Especially as you’re learning the art of panning, don’t slow your shutter down too much. Just keep it slow enough to begin to show some motion. As your confidence increases and you’ve got the hang of things, go ahead and slow your shutter more and more to show even further pronounced motion and thus separation of your speeding subject from the background.
   
3. Make sure your subject remains in the same portion of the frame during the entire exposure: this will ensure a crisp, sharp subject.
   
4. Remember that the faster your subject is moving the more difficult it will be to pan.
   
   This point goes right along with number 3. It’s harder to keep your subject in the same portion of the frame if it’s moving faster than you are able to. So again, start with something a little slower and then progress from there.
   
5. Have fun with this technique. Stick to it and improve it with time. It can make for some very dynamic-looking images that will be your first prizes of this "moving" season.

[Elisha]

thanks for the tip Don. I have always wanted to try panning.
Can this be done without a tripod?

[DonSchap]

Can this be done without a tripod?

Sure ... in fact, more often than not. The secret is in "maintaining" the same plane as the subject you are panning on. Remember to finish through the shot ... waiting a moment or two after you hear the shutter close before relaxing your stance and follow-through while training on the subject.

Another secret, if your subject should happen to be close enough, is to use a rear-sync flash*. That can really nail your subject crisply, without seriously affecting the background.

* Do not forget to set the flash mode back to "Fill" flash or whatever your default is, when you are finished.

[sparkie1263]

Here is a shot I took at the race track that I tried to pan. Good mini tutorial Don.
Frank

[DonSchap]

Here is a shot I took at the race track that I tried to pan. Good mini tutorial Don.

A terrific shot to demonstrate. Thanks, Frank, as I just would like people to get the most out of their DSLRs and not forget some basic techniques that can provide rather remarkable results.

[Rooz]

thats a great shot frank. my panning skills suck.

[sparkie1263]

Thanks Rooz

[Elisha]

what was the shutter speed on that Frank?

[sparkie1263]

Sorry I should have posted it.

Frank

Camera Make: SONY
Camera Model: DSLR-A100
Image Date: 2008:08:23 02:06:59
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 70.0mm (35mm equivalent: 105mm)
Exposure Time: 0.0031 s (1/320)
Aperture: f/8.0
ISO equiv: 200
Exposure Bias: 0.30
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Center Weight
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

[Peekayoh]

It's an OK pic, Frank but needed a tad more exposure and is not quite there for the panning technique so ably described by Don. Like Don said, you need to slow the shutter.
Your shot doesn't quite freeze the action whereas 1/500 at f5.6 might.
It doesn't blur the background enough to give the impression of speed. 1/125th at f16 would create the background blur and introduce more into the legs and hooves. ISO100 1/125th at f8 if your lens has diffraction problems at f16.