Testing the Nikon D5 on College Lacrosse

 
 
Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S, Sigma TC-2001 2x, ISO 400, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000

The past two days, I shot two Lacrosse games. The Citadel was playing in the SELC Southwest Division tournament.

I tried different settings with the camera and still haven’t settled on all my settings.

Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S, Sigma TC-2001 2x, ISO 320, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000

I tried the 3D focusing on regular and then comprehensive. However, the players running around the goal and having people in front and behind the subject made it hard to stay focused in this setting. I also didn’t modify the long versus short delay on continuous focus.

Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S, Sigma TC-2001 2x, ISO 2000, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000

The camera was staying on the player I focused on with 3D. I might have them covered up by so many for a long time for sports.

Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S, Sigma TC-2001 2x, ISO 900, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000

No question, the Nikon D5 was locking in faster, shooting so much faster frame rate, and giving me superior results over the Nikon D4. So yes, it is a real upgrade for a sports camera.

Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S, Sigma TC-2001 2x, ISO 720, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000

I think there are two sports I am so comfortable shooting that I will know even more when I shoot those sports. However, basketball and football are not in season. I did shoot some baseball at the Citadel earlier with the camera, but I don’t think this is quite the same challenge as Lacrosse, where the focus would be a significant factor.

Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S, Sigma TC-2001 2x, ISO 640, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000

I think the dynamic range is also better than the Nikon D4. It is holding together highlights to shadows on a bright sunny day. That is a wide ƒ–stop content for sure.

Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S, Sigma TC-2001 2x, ISO 800, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000

I look forward to shooting more sports to test the camera’s capabilities in the coming months.

One more thing that I did notice is the buffer is enormous. I never once had the camera slow down the following faster XQD cards, and the camera’s processor let me shoot 12 fps without ever having to wait on the camera.

I also shot about 30% more than I would typically shoot due to how quick the camera was handling.

To see more images go here to the gallery, I have online http://www.stanleylearystoryteller.com/gallery/Citadel-Lacrosse/G0000RauPQOuPQGM