Drebel no focus points

[Wayne02]

I'm using a drebel with 70-200f4L + extender for soccer pictures. About the only luck I've had is to run it in the sports mode. With this lens the focus points go away. Is that normal?

I'm trying to isolate a player to focus on during the action, but can't tell where it is focusing. I want the specific player to be in focus. Many times once I view the shots on the computer it did not focus on the player that I was tracking.

What can be done?

Wayne

[FlipsidE]

AFAIK that is completely normal. In sports mode, the camera uses AI Servo to track the subject. If the focus points/beep was active, it'd be blinking and beeping pretty much constantly. I believe that's the reason that it does neither.

FlipsidE

[dsze]

You could get a 10D/20D and use AI Servo....get the hack for your Rebel and use the release/fully press method in AI Servo....or you could use 1-shot and just do a full press on the shutter release when you see the shot you want after tracking. I know most sports guys like AI Servo, but I've had some good luck shooting soccer & college football using 1-shot mode and tracking with the center AF point, but not pressing the shutter release at all until I'm ready to shoot and then fully pressing in one swift motion.

Does that make sense? Basically, your rebel is not malfunctioning....its doing what its supposed to be doing.

-daniel

[Wayne02]

Thanks for the replies. So when using the sports mode, it is nearly impossible to isolate one player for focus out of a crowd as the play is unfolding? I guess the sports mode is only for shooting a single subject in motion, with no other moving subjects around them/it?

The hack allows you to use either AI Servo or one-shot when in sports mode?
Just so I understand the use of these methods:
One-shot = track player and press shutter fully when I think/hope the shot is there?

AI servo method = ???

I use the burst feature frequently during soccer to get a good shot out of a sequence of shots. If I understand correctly, burst mode is pretty much a moot point with either of the above options in the hack?

Thanks
Wayne

[FlipsidE]

Unfortunately, I can't answer these questions in detail. But, there is one thing i will say. The DRebel is just not a good camera for action shots. The 10D does a better job, but if you are going to be doing a lot of action shots, the 20D or 1D is definitely a better choice.

FlipsidE

[dsze]

Wayne,

You can definitely get some great soccer shots with your Dreb. Sure a 10D or something else would make it easier, but don't think that your Dreb is incapable. Its a good camera. Some of these wakeboarding photos were taken with my old dreb..... I bet you can't pick out the ones that were taken with my 10D.

http://home.insightbb.com/~photographs/wakeboarding/index.htm

What I'd do: install the 300D Hack. Learn to shoot in M or Av/Tv modes. When I shoot sports things I would say that I use 1-shot mode 80% of the time and AI-Servo the other 20. I track the player I want with either the center AF point or one of the outermost AF points if I"m shooting in vertical mode. Put one of those squares on their face or chest if I'm shooting with deep enough DOF and fully press in one quick movement.

The trouble with the Dreb. is that it will automatically switch AF modes depending on what it thinks you want. With the hack, you can specify a mode and it will stay there. The burst method is fun sometimes too, but its not necessary for a soccer game in my opinion, especially at only 2.5 fps. Some will strongly disagree with me on that one, but I seem to get better sports shots when I calculate and shoot, rather than relying on the "spray & pray" method (burst). .....unless of course I was shooting with a MkII at 8fps! Then I might rethink that! :)

Good luck!
daniel

[Paul_B]

Wayne, we are using the Rebel for the same game here. I got this camera now, so as I can learn how to use it for spring soccer photos.
I've download the hack, but have yet to try it. I fiqured I'd learn the camera as is, and then try the hack and learn the new options. Gives it some functions you would normally have to buy the 10D to have.
This thread has convinced me, I need it.

The hack allows you to use either AI Servo or one-shot when in sports mode?

The Hack will allow to use / or not use AI Servo in the Creative zones (Tv / Av). The AI Servo works, but when you try to take the picture, it doesn't take it. So what someone has found out, you use AI Servo in say Tv mode (holding shutter button half way down), when you see shot you want, you would release button and fully press right away. This will take the shot. While not the best way of doing it, apparently it at least works.
To save you a few searches -
http://www.jjmb.nl/content/content.php?Name=wasia read about and can get it from here

http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/eosdigital/E3kr_firmware-e.html
Firmware instructions from Canon, and the Firmware thats on your camera now, should you need to go back.

http://www.bahneman.com/liem/photos/tricks/digital-rebel-tricks.html

You can find many, many topics here on this forum about the hack using the search tool. I think I know my camera well enough now to try out this hack and learn the new toys.