Stopping The Action, pt. 2

Your camera has (probably) 2 settings that will help you stop action without the need to change each part of your exposure settings.

On your mode dial look for a Tv or just a T or, possibly S. That's the setting for the "shutter priority" mode. In that mode you set the shutter speed, high for stopping action, and the camera changes the other settings to match the light reading it gets through the lens.

Another way is to use the "sport" setting on your mode dial, if you have one. It's usually a silhouette of a runner. In it the computer in the camera will pick the correct settings for stopping action. If either selection isn't on your mode dial, check your instructions.

You should note that the settings in either of these modes may not be just right for the shot you want but you can use them as a starting point. Look at the shots taken in the mode of choice with the metadata showing in your LCD. Then you may choose to go Manual and fine tune those settings.

Here's one version of a Canon mode dial.

Wait Till The Last Minute

Sounds like some of the worst advice you've ever received unless you're waiting charge your LI batteries. The Lithium Ion battery is a great development but must be understood. If you charged it up and put it in your camera a month ago it's probably lost some charge in the interim. The best practice I've found is to charge batteries all the way up right after use and then recharge them to top them off shortly before you'll need them. That usually means overnight before a job.

The other part of my best practice is to have several spares on hand. Even if the battery gets below 50% of its charge you may find performance starts to disappoint. Specifically I find that my Wi Fi cards stop transmitting when the battery gets below 50% even if the camera seems to be operating normally.

I've also found that the batteries will gradually recharge less and less over time. You may find that a battery you've owned for over a year just won't charge to 100%.