Best way to take a picture of a moving model

[shafiq]

Dear Forum members,

I am trying to figure out what is the best way/method/settings for taking the picture of a moving person. Say the person is walking towards you from a distance of 20 feet...Assuming one is using a 10D, what settings work well for this type of shooting.

Your comments will be greatly appreciated.

Regards

[Jesper]

Set the AF mode to "AI Servo" (instead of the default One Shot AF mode) - which means the camera will try to follow the moving subject while focussing.

[chris.bailey]

Set the AF mode to "AI Servo" (instead of the default One Shot AF mode) - which means the camera will try to follow the moving subject while focussing.

Only if the focus spot remains on the subject which is easier said that done!

[Scottes]

Only if the focus spot remains on the subject which is easier said that done!

Won't AI mode switch focus points if it can?

[ilya]

Only if the focus spot remains on the subject which is easier said that done!

Won't AI mode switch focus points if it can?

When your EOS camera is set for automatic focusing point selection (all focusing points active), the camera selects a focusing point for you. This setting behaves differently depending on whether you've selected One-Shot AF or AI Servo AF. When One-Shot AF is combined with automatic focusing point selection, the EOS evaluates all focusing points simultaneously and usually picks the closest readable subject. When AI Servo AF is combined with automatic focusing point selection, the EOS wants you to tell it which subject you are interested in tracking, so *at first* it shuts off the outer sensors and waits until you point the center focusing point at a readable subject. Once the camera has 'acquired' the subject, all other focusing points are activated and the AF system will track subject movement not only towards or away from the camera but also left to right, right to left, and up, down or diagonally across the picture area covered by the focusing points. by Chuck Westfall, Canon

[shafiq]

I understand how to set the camera to AI-Servo but how does one set the camera for automatic point selection? Isn't it automatically set to this?

Also what is the difference between AI-Servo and AI-Focus. I thought AI-Focus allows the same kind of focusing where you set your focus on your obkect and if the object moves the camera will start to track it. So in the case of a model shoot where the model is to walk towards you, one could ask her to stand the furthest, focus on her, and then when she starts walking towards you, the camera should maintain focus...am I right. So where does the benefit of AI-Servo mode come? or did I get both mixed up??

Shafiq

[ilya]

I understand how to set the camera to AI-Servo but how does one set the camera for automatic point selection? Isn't it automatically set to this?

The factory default is auto point selection. You can select an AF point by pushing the little button on very top right and selecting any of the seven AF points with the dials.

In AI Servo mode, if you select a manual AF point, that point will light when focusing. If you select auto AF, no squares will light, but you will sense the AF. The manual will also tell you how to register an AF point you most frequently use so that you can switch to it instantly.

so what is the difference between AI-Servo and AI-Focus. I thought AI-Focus allows the same kind of focusing where you set your focus on your obkect and if the object moves the camera will start to track it.

The difference is that AI Servo is in predictive mode 100% of the time. AI Focus remains in One Shot mode until it senses that your subject starts moving, then it switches to AI Servo.


So in the case of a model shoot where the model is to walk towards you, one could ask her to stand the furthest, focus on her, and then when she starts walking towards you, the camera should maintain focus...am I right. So where does the benefit of AI-Servo mode come? or did I get both mixed up??
Shafiq

See above. AI Servo is really the mode you need if your object moves constantly and relatively predictably (i.e. if your models zig zag around the stage erratically :) that won't help you. I never use AI Focus. It just adds another potential time lag or variable.