Motorsports AF question

[AccidentalArt]

I'll be doing my first shoot this weekend and have limited experience (1 event) with panning and such and have done a lot of reading from you guys post (Thanks to all!!!!)

What is the optimum AF and metering setting for shooting motorsports? I'm not sure if I'll be shooting into, out of, or across a turn.

Thanks for any tips or links to tips already posted (that I couldn't find).

AA

[primoz]

As far as metering goes I set it to spot metering, point to something light grey, dial another +1/3 to +2/3 and "lock" this with manual :) It might be just me, but I still think I do better then camera's metering for such things.
As far as AF goes there's really not much options. AI Servo and that's it. And don't limit yourself to center point only. Center point, especially with some fast glass which means shallow dof, is worse thing you can get for pretty much any sport. It focuses on completely wrong part, since you are going for sharp head and not sharp butt but out of focus head. And stomach is exactly the point where center af point usually is. Head is normally more forward or backward.

[cosworth]

I find I use manual focus and metering when shooting motorsports. Sad really since the camera can do so much.

That being said I shoot a lot of grassroots motorsport where I can get ultra close. For large events I'd be using ai servo, 45 point Af etc. I'd max the camera out.

[Croasdail]

As far as AF goes there's really not much options. AI Servo and that's it. And don't limit yourself to center point only. Center point, especially with some fast glass which means shallow dof, is worse thing you can get for pretty much any sport. It focuses on completely wrong part, since you are going for sharp head and not sharp butt but out of focus head. And stomach is exactly the point where center af point usually is. Head is normally more forward or backward.

Hey Primoz... you intrege me here. So if your not using center, what are you recommending. This person has an XT, which really has a limited selection of focus points. With a 1D you can dial in an off center cluster... but he/she doesn't have that luxary. Are you suggesting using the full deal here? Just curious.

Oh, btw, not sure what is going on but photo si is really slow today... several minutes to load full page. Just wanted to let you know. Cheers.

[primoz]

I'm not 100% sure now, but XT (that's suppose to be EOS 300d or 350d right? ) should have hmm... what 5, 7 or 9 af points? At least I'm almost 100% sure it has at least 3 in middle row, and at least 1 on top and bottom (so 3 on center column). So yes there's a lot less chances then with 45 af points of 1d, but still few more to choose then just one :) And in normal light (read: bright day :) ) I think even points off the center should do fine.
There is another thing with this and that's speed of af (no matter what point he will be using). But further out of the track he will go, less noticeable will be slow af. Worse things for camera, especially those with slow (or slower) af, are fast subjects traveling close to camera. Once you are 50+m away (of course if your lens allows you to be that far our) even slower cameras can follow high speed objects. And if this won't work, then just prefocus on one spot and shoot cars or motors when they are on that spot. It limits you of course, but unfortunately there's nothing much you can do.
PS: For motorsport, or pretty much any other sport, except maybe ski jumping, I usually almost never use all 45 af points selected. I set one (whichever is best one for that particular composition) and keep that point on head of athlete. With a bit of practice it's not even that hard as someone might think. Afterall... sport photography is not really some rocket science :)
PS#2: Thanks Mark for your info about my web. It should be working normaly, but server might have some hickups, so everything is possible :)

[AccidentalArt]

Thanks all. There are 7 AF points on the XT (350D). I'll try some of everything you recommend and see what works good. Hopefully there will be a few worth posting.

AA

[AccidentalArt]

on the XT there are three metering modes, center weighted, evaluative and partial. From what I've read partial uses the center 9% of the view. Is that what you are suggesting I try?

Thx!

[primoz]

I suggested spot because it's easiest way. But any other metering mode will do too. Just take care that you will find bigger grey spot so it will cover at least 9% of frame and partitial will do fine. And check lcd and histogram if such setting works for you. One more thing... you probably won't be getting perfectly exposed photo this way. It's pretty much impossible anyway. Asphalt is extremly light, grass on background is extremly dark and athlete is somewhere in between. So focus on athlete and take care athlete is the one who is lit correctly, even if some background is over/under exposed.
PS: You use metering and metering modes only to get approximate settings for manual, and once when you are in manual, metering mode doesn't matter anymore.

[AccidentalArt]

thanks primoz! I just arrived the track tonight and hope to be out just after sun up with the team. I can't wait to get some good shots. Im pretty stoked!!

Thanks guys!