shutter speed - How "slow" can I take a picture at a boxing match?

I'm to take pictures at a boxing match, probably under low lights conditions.

My plan is to set the camera on a fixed shutter speed, and the let the camera automatically set aperture and ISO. But how slow can I safely take the pictures. I hope I can bring my tripod, so it's not as much a question of camera shake, more a question of catching the action.

My equipment is a canon EOS 500D and a Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens.

Answer

Any speed will give you something. It will render the photo differently.

So, the question should not be how slow can I take the photo? but how slow do I want to take the photo?

Some ideas:

• If you want to freeze the sweat flying off the boxer's face when he takes a hit, I suggest 1/2000s or faster.


• If you want to freeze the boxer's body and leave the hands blurry (to convey the action), then try around 1/500s.


• If you go slower then 1/250 you will probably blur the entire boxer, at least by a bit.


• You should be able to go down to 1/focal-length (or 2 stops lower with stabilization) to get convey the action while keeping the ring and background sharp.

You'll have to try a lot but you are right about using Shutter-speed priority. You may want to fix the ISO and let camera play the aperture if you do not want all your shots to be at F/4, since most cameras prefer opening the lens than raising the ISO when light is low.