what percentage oof???

[artra]

I was shooting a HS football game tonight as I'm testing a 70-200 2.8 recently cleanned since the AF wasn't performing as it should. After reviewing most of the pics I gather that about 30 % or so of my actions pics (maybe more maybe less) weren't focusing were I meant to. Close, but not quite. Is this about normal?
I was shooting ISO 3200 on a 40d, Manual, shutter 250 f/2.8 all the way.
Any comments???

[clarence]

ISO3200 at 1/250" sounds like low light conditions... much tougher for the 40D to focus.

I bet your AF does a lot better when you've got enough light for 1/500" - 1/1000".

[artra]

ISO3200 at 1/250" sounds like low light conditions... much tougher for the 40D to focus.

I bet your AF does a lot better when you've got enough light for 1/500" - 1/1000".

I'm going to try it on daylight today. You're right, last night was pretty rough situation.

[eddarr]

What focus mode are you using. What focus points are you using. I would not think it should have a problem focusing if the shutter speed is 1/250.

[artra]

What focus mode are you using. What focus points are you using. I would not think it should have a problem focusing if the shutter speed is 1/250.

AI SERVO. Center focus point on a monopod.

[DDCSD]

Are you sure it wasn't simply motion blur at 1/250s?

[eddarr]

Are you sure it wasn't simply motion blur at 1/250s?

+1. Can you post an example.

[artra]

well I guess you are right. A bunch of them are just plagued with motion blur like this first pic. However the second pic seems like the ref is in focus and not the player though...

[Dan-o]

Yep first is motion second is just missed.

[lauderdalems]

Takes a lot of practice, I've improved, but it's hard to get that perfect focus everytime under those conditions. I'm using the same setup AND with 3200ISO

[JHunter]

My home field is 1/320th, f/2.8 ISO 3200. With a 30D and 70-200 I was running into many of the same problems as you, plus lots of noise. I'd say (probably partially due to technique) I got about 50% OOF images, and far less that are usable because I had to crop too much. Upgraded to a 2n and I'm down to 10% OOF, sharper infocus pictures, and the same cropping problem, but with more to choose from I get more keepers. I see you have a 2n from your sig, is there any reason you weren't using it? I can post samples of both 30D and 2n pictures if you want to see the difference.

[artra]

My home field is 1/320th, f/2.8 ISO 3200. With a 30D and 70-200 I was running into many of the same problems as you, plus lots of noise. I'd say (probably partially due to technique) I got about 50% OOF images, and far less that are usable because I had to crop too much. Upgraded to a 2n and I'm down to 10% OOF, sharper infocus pictures, and the same cropping problem, but with more to choose from I get more keepers. I see you have a 2n from your sig, is there any reason you weren't using it? I can post samples of both 30D and 2n pictures if you want to see the difference.

I'd love to see pics :)
I just sold my 40d and got this 1dm2 about 3 days ago.
I'll shoot this friday HS home game and let's see how it goes :)

[JHunter]

Here's one out of my 2n from the last game, a web size, a 100% crop (i think) and a link to the hires.
http://www.jackhunterphoto.com/_D2n_7866_small.jpg
http://www.jackhunterphoto.com/_D2n_7866_crop.jpg
www.jackhunterphoto.com/_D2n_7866.jpg

And here's the 30D from a few games previously.
http://www.jackhunterphoto.com/IMG_0944_small.jpg
http://www.jackhunterphoto.com/IMG_0944_crop.jpg
www.jackhunterphoto.com/IMG_0944.jpg

The 30D was from an away game where I could only get 1/250th, but I don't think there should be much motion blur on that particular shot. Overall I find the noise to be somewhat higher on the 2n, but still easily manageable, and sharpness drastically improved.