I've taken a lot of pictures on portraits, landscape, and holidays. But all these while I never taken pictures of sporting events like football. With my previous camera, the autofocusing of the camera is not fast enough, can say don't have such function at all. I lend a telezoom lens from chin huat on tuesday and this is my first time taking it out to the field for a "test drive".

The lighting is not strong enough, i was only at the field at around 7pm. I tot i can shoot till 8pm like what i usually did taking sunsets. But i was so very wrong, I have to boost up the ISO speed to 1600 yet i still can't get a good 1/60 shutter speed, the good approximation which won't give me much camera shake. Tested out the lens for like 30 minutes my hands are already aching. My first thought was to try panning with the monopod i bought from Mr.Han. But the actions are so fast that i can't even get a good zoom in and out for a good frame.

Once i managed to get a good frame, i can't get a good shot. Either the ball is already kicked off, or the autofocus doesn't work fast enough. This is one of my regret choosing Nikon. Canon, being faster in terms of autofocusing is already a fact i knew before purchasing D70s. But i never aspect the difference to be so huge. There's another explaination to the slow focusing. I'm using a cheaper "consumer lens" rather than the constant aperture that is offered by professional lens that we usually see beside the football field.

I guess i'll rather spend more time practicing to get good pictures if u ask me. Fast lens are too expensive for a student like me. At least need another RM3000 ~RM5000 to get a 70-200mm f2.8. And that's one without "vibration reduction"...have to pay over RM5k for the VR function. I'll need to be at the field a little bit earlier next time, maybe at 6pm or so. At 7.30pm the sky is already so dark you can do much unless u have a powerful external flash.

Learnt my lesson, came back empty handed with only a few terrible shots. Will share it up only when i'm satisfied with the shots myself.