Ready for action: the best settings for filming sports

When it comes to capturing video of sports action, there are rarely any second chances. This is why professional skate videographer Dan Higginson has to get his footage spot-on, first time, every time. "We could be filming a skater all day, and they might execute a complex trick just once – that's how crucial it is to get everything right," he explains.

Dan is co-founder of Clockwise Media, a production company that creates branded content, events and documentaries and specialises in filming sports. "My approach to sports filming isn't defined by hard-and-fast rules," he says. "It's in the nature of sport that you have to be versatile and flexible, and this may mean changing video settings on the fly. However, there are plenty of features and functions on Canon's cameras that you can leverage to increase your odds of capturing great footage."

Here, Dan offers his advice on the best settings for shooting sports, based on his own experience of using Canon kit.

The ability to shoot in high-resolution modes such as 4K on Canon Cinema EOS pro video cameras and hybrid cameras such as the EOS R5 C, EOS R5 and EOS R6 gives Dan the ability to be more creative when filming faster sequences. "Not only does 4K look great, thanks to the detail and sharpness the extra resolution creates, it also enables me to crop in should I feel the scene needs it," he says.

"When you are following a skater travelling quickly along the skate park, you can't always get the framing exactly where you need it, and 4K gives me enough image information to just crop in where I feel it's needed without any noticeable drop in image quality."

The critical difference between filming sports and shooting more static scenes is the element of speed. Dan uses higher frame rates in order to be confident of capturing the action as it unfolds and not just a blurred impression of what's happening.

Dan is used to shooting in skate parks both indoors and outside, so he has to know how to adjust his video settings to adapt to the conditions. "I try to work with as lightweight a kitbag as possible, so huge lighting rigs are out of the question," he says. "Sometimes this will mean I have to ramp up the ISO, but other times, if it's really bright, I may need to introduce an ND filter to balance the exposure.

"On a camera like the Canon EOS C70, this is really easy as there are three built-in ND filters, at ND2, ND4 and ND6, that you can cycle through at the touch of a button. [ND8 and ND10 are available when enabling the Extended ND Range in the camera menu.]

"Depending on the light I may adjust the shutter speed of the camera. I always aim to follow the golden sports video rule and shoot with a shutter speed at least twice the inverse of my frame-rate, so I use anything from 1/100 sec and upwards."

"Focus is key," Dan says. "Again, something might happen just once, and you don't want that critical moment to be soft and out of focus. Therefore, I tend to work in AI Servo mode, because the Dual Pixel AF in Canon cameras is really impressive when following a subject moving around the frame.

"One of the key features I use all the time is the Focus Peaking display option, because it lets me quickly see on the LCD what is in focus and what isn't. Remember, I could actually be following the skater on a board myself, holding a camera such as the EOS C500 [now succeeded by the EOS C500 Mark II] using a top handle. This gives me just split-seconds to get the focus right, and manual focus just isn't a realistic option when following subjects on the board. I'm pleased with the autofocus options Canon's cameras offer me."

Dan also takes advantage of the Face Detection autofocus feature. "The general rule in skateboarding is to film from the front, not the back, as the tricks are more visible, so Face Detection comes in very handy," he says. "It's amazing how fast the camera picks up on a skateboarder, even if they are wearing a beanie or cap."

Of course, having the basics technically spot-on is only half the battle. Dan advocates stamping your own creative vision on your videos, and this is where elements such as lens selection and focal length choice come into play.

"There are two different styles of film in skateboarding," he explains. "There's fisheye filming or wide lens filming, which basically is normally getting as close as you can and following a subject on a skateboard. Alternatively, there's the long shot, where I may opt for the longer end of my Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens or my EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM telezoom, which sit in the camera bag next to my EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens.

Working day in, day out with his Canon cameras on big productions for sports-focused brands has given Dan complete confidence in his gear.

"Even the way the camera feels in your hands is important," he says. "The ergonomics have to be right and buttons and dials need to be quickly accessible – because if not, that will slow you down." He appreciates the modular design of Canon cameras and often adds accessories such as a top handle to make the camera easier to carry or an external microphone to enhance any audio he wants to record.

When choosing the camera for the job, Dan also recommends thinking about workflow options in addition to shooting settings. For example, using a camera with dual card slots will make it possible to record that unrepeatable moment to two cards, creating an instant backup.

Capturing sports video can be demanding, and Dan puts as much time and thought into his preparation and his equipment as the athletes do. Special moments don't happen often in sports, and you rarely get any warning when they're about to occur, so it's critical you have the essentials such as the optimal frame rate, the appropriate autofocus mode and other settings dialled in and ready to go. Just as it is for the athletes, the rest is down to your own skills and reflexes.

Find out more about video standards and settings.