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Question:

This might be a simple question but I just can't seem to master the technique. Fast enough shutter speeds to stop action but in low light. I can't figure it out. I did read or what I thought I read was say you use 400 speed film, if you set your camera to 2 stops faster like 1000 (is that right?) then you can run a faster shutter speed. I might have misinterpreted this. My problem is I am just starting out and am photographing local small sports events and things of that nature and with the existing light of the high school gym the preset sports mode on my eos rebel xs set the shutter speed to low. If I was to use tv mode, shutter priority, then the aperture is too small to allow enough light to pass to the film plane. I can't afford the big aperture big dollar lenses right now and hope there is a way around this. At least a good enough way around it that the average person wont be able to tell the problems from looking at the picture.

Hope you can help!

Answer:

You sort of have it figured out, but not exactly.

For low light and fast shutter speeds you need a fast film and also a fast lens. Most sports photographers use a F2.8 aperture lens for telephotos and F1.4 - F2. For shorter focal length lenses (wide angles). These lenses are quite expensive, usually much more than the average amateur would be willing to spend, you've already got this one figured out.

So the only option that you have is to go for high-speed film. To determine the speed of the film that you require, go to the gym (without film in the camera) set the aperture on your lens so that is wide open. Then adjust the film speed setting manually higher and higher until you get a shutter speed of 1/250 or 1/500. When you get these shutter speeds look to see what you've set the film speed set at, this is the film speed that you will need. Lets say it is 1600 ISO, if you have 400 ISO film then you will have to "push" the film 2 stops. What this means is, you put the 400 ISO film in your camera and manually adjust the camera's film speed dial to 1600 ISO, shot the film at this setting. Then when you get the film processed, tell the lab that you pushed the film by 2 stops, they will adjust the processing times accordingly. There is a premium that you must pay for this service and not all photo labs offer it.

The standard for pushing high-speed film is usually one or two stops, beyond that you start getting into problems with contrast and grain.

You didn't mention if you were shooting black & white or colour - slides or prints. There are some 1600 ISO films that are available which are designed to be used in low light conditions and processed normally. Most of these films cans be pushed one stop to 3200 ISO. Just to ensure that you don't make a mistake with your films you should mark on the film cassette the speed at which you shot the film.