Madeline's First Volleyball Game

Watch out Lindsey Berg! My daughter may only look Hawaiian in this bump shot but she has all the potential for Team USA in the next Olympics. First it was ballet, then piano, then soccer and now youth volleyball at the local YMCA for after school activities.



The first volleyball match for my daughter is followed by my first photographic indoor sport experience that is not basketball. Freezing the action was quite the challenge, but overcoming the horrible stadium lights tops the cake. Every serve, float, bump or attack had a different color. In camera custom white balance or preset was useless for proper temperature. My only hope was auto white balance and the time consuming post process from RAW to salvage my shots.



The Purple Panthers poised a worthy opponent to the visiting team and my Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR. I have been waiting to try out the 61 point AF system in servo mode since my last Canon 5D Mark III Practical Review and Video Test. ISO test covered, video test checked and now the all new 61 point autofocus system for my quick practical review.



The verdict? The Canon EOS 5D Mark III 61 point AF system in low light and in servo mode is equal or better than my trusty Canon EOS 1D Mark IV. The accuracy and tracking of the Canon 7D like focus points are excellent. Now the drawbacks! The AF point for your subject when tracking is black in color and not the contrasty red like the 1D Mark IV. A little difficult to see in low light but not impossible. There may be a firmware fix on the way soon. The second drawback compared to the 1D Mark IV is the frames per second rate. The Canon 5D Mark III rate of over 5fps was not fast enough to catch the action. This is where the 1D Mark IV's 10fps shine in sports action.



Working as a team in Volleyball takes practice and time. Perfecting my Volleyball photography requires the same but needs high ISO capability and fast glass as well. In sports photography, the Canon EOS 5D Mark III would make a great wide angle second body paired with the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV with a fast zoom lens. A Volleyball Match made in heaven!



You can view more in my Daughter's First Volleyball Game 2012 Gallery shot with the Canon 5D Mark III paired with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II and the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lenses.

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