EOS REBEL XS BEST SETTING FOR TAKING PICTURES IN GYMNASIUM

Question

I take lots of pictures of grandchildren playing sports but they just dont always turn out so well .I am useing a cannon 75-300 zoom, somtimes in af somtimes in mf in sports setting.Somone told me to use the tv setting but i still dont like the photos and would prefer  the sports setting what adjustments can made to sports setting pictures are somtimes too dark or blurry.

Answer 1

Unfortunately the equipment you have is at it's very limit for what you are asking it to do.  I know you may not want to hear this but you need to upgrade both your lens and the camera.  That said there are a few things that can/might help.
First, are you trying to shoot fron the stands?  Get on the floor if you can.  Almost nobody gets real good pictures from the bleachers.  Second, set your camera to ISO 800 as it is almost always better than the highest ISO setting but you may have no choice except to use 1600.  Try not to zoom the 75-300mm lens to much as it is a varible aperture and quickly closes it down. That means you need more ligh than ever.
Third, I would use Tv and set it to 1/125.  This will let the camera choose the varibile aperture which will be as open as is possibile.  While 1/125 is not ideal for sports in the gym, it is probably going to get most action stopped to a acceptibile level.
You can experiment with 1/250 jus to see if it will work.
DId you get another lens with you Rebel kit?  Whatever it is, it will likely be a better choice than the 75-300mm.  Just don't try to shoot players (grandkids) on the far side of the gym!  Being on the floor helps with this.
EOS 1Ds Mk III, EOS 1D Mk IV EF 50mm f1.2 L, EF 24-70mm f2.8 L,
EF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS II, Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 EX APO
Photoshop CS6, ACR 9, Lightroom 6