Nikon D3100 Football game setting

I have a Nikon D3100 and a AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6G ED lens, and an upcoming football game. I was wondering what would be the best settings to take pictures of the players and cheerleaders and crowd. I do not have a tripod. Just me and my camera!

The key is to use a shutter speed of 1/500th second or shorter.

As long as you are shooting in direct sun, you should be able to get some amazing photos.

Night games are a whole different animal.

You have roughly $900 invested in your D3100 and 55-200 mm lens and that combination is just fine when shooting from the side lines during daylight hours.

Once the sun goes down, the world changes.

* You have to make sure that your white balance is set to match the lighting on the field.
* Learn how to shoot at the peak of action.
* You need to use an ISO of 3200 and deal with any noise later in post.
* You need a faster lens, like a f/2.8 lens. The lens that closely matches your 55-200 mm lens is the 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens and costs over $2,000. The 300 mm f/2.8 lens I use when shooting night football costs over $6,000 You need a lens with a wide aperture so you can keep your shutter speed at 1/500th second or faster.

Here is a sample of a photo taken with a 300 mm f/2.8 lens, at 1/500th second, ISO 3200 and shot at the peak of action.

It may take you three or four games before you are shooting great action shots of the game, so do not give up if you do not get even a single good shot from the first few games you shoot