Camera for Low-light no flash action shots?

<p>Hi, I have been wanting to get a camera that can give blur-free, noise-free action shots without using flash in low light. I will be photographiing horse shows, indoors with poor lighting. The horses will be jumping and moving, so I need a no-blur no-noise picture. My budget is under $1000. I know it is low, but whatever help you could give is much appreciated!</p>

<p>I just started shooting horse shows this summer. Outdoors is...relatively...easy! Iread that many pros hate doing indoor shows because of the terrible lighting. That's with a $5000 body and $2000 lens! <br>

In Nikon world...consider a D90 and a used lens (try KEH company) that has constant aperture of f2.8 or lower. You can get a 50mm f1.8 for about $100, but a 50 does have much reach. <br>

Whatever you get you will get some grain/noise - maybe alot depending on how bad the lighting is and what you get for a lens.<br>

Good lucj & Kepp Shootin'</p>

 

<p>Unfortunately, I don't think it's possible to accomplish blur free and noise free action shots in low light with an under $1000 camera (at least not with today's camera technology). It's the noise free part that's the problem. Unless you splurge for the camera body, you WILL have noise in your photos.<br>

The photo below was taken in a middle school gym using a Nikon D700 at ISO 6400 with a 70-200mm lens set at f/2.8. The D700 is about $2300 at B&H Photo.<br>

<img src="http://ranmac.smugmug.com/Sports/Volleyball/Van-Hoosen-7th-Grade/Van-Hoosen-Girls-Volleyball/803159527_npWz5-L.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="600" /></p>

<p>You can get a nice used D300 for less than a $1,000 but I don't care for the noise above 1200 (really it starts at about 800) but unless you win the lottery you aren't going to be able to step up to a D3S which is waht you're describing.<br>

Do you think you will be able to sell the images you take? <br>

If so, here's a suggestion. Rent a Nikon D3S with a suitable lens or two and see how you do. The $1,000 would probably allow you to rent what you need for 8 to 10 events. NOt an ideal situation for sure but I can't see any other way given your budget.<br>

One thing you didn't mention -- do you have access to the floor? If not you won't sell any photos taken from the stands.</p>

<p>I concur with the previous posters. You will have a very tough time getting "noise free" shots in typical indoor arena situations.</p>

<p>All is not lost. You may be thinking you need more than you do. For example, <a href="http://moving-target-photos.com/TotW/2009DaneCoFairProofs">here are some shots</a> from a horse show in a pretty poorly lit show venue, and <a href="http://moving-target-photos.com/TotW/May2009ShowProofs">here are some</a> from a pretty typical indoor arena at a private stable. These were some of my first experiences with super-low light (and they show it!). However, you can see that the noise isn't too bad, even though I'm pushing the ISO on a 20D and 40D up into the 1600 range.</p>

<p>One suggestion to avoid: don't bother with the 50mm f/1.8 lens for this kind of work. The focus isn't good enough to track (it just hunts, at least on my 20D and 40D - I haven't tried it on the 7D yet). IMHO, you <strong>really </strong>need a USM lens. I was considering an 85mm f/1.8, but I haven't found one yet cheap enough (indoor arenas just aren't big on my list of places to shoot...). I did get a 70-200mm f/2.8 (mostly because I needed one in my kit for other reasons), and so far it's worked OK for the couple of times I've needed to shoot indoors.</p>