Question for Sports Shooters

[mblanton]

I am shooting baseball and soccer with a 10D and 75-300. How should I set my camera up to get the best results? I am mainly worried about getting my pictures in focus. Thanks.

Mike

[CyberDyneSystems]

SIngle AF point,.
AI servo focus,...
Custom Function 4-1

[mblanton]

Could you explain the purpose of CF 4-1?

[J Rabin]

CyberDyne: I would never be one to challenge your expertise, but my experience has been as yours EXCEPT that I do NOT set the single center autofocus point. I set them all, BUT I ALWAYS MAKE SURE I ACQUIRE THE SUBJECT IN VIEWFINDER FIRST WITH CENTER POINT. When subjects are moving, the Servo AF "hands" the subject off to one of the other focus points, maintaining focus. If you manually select the center point, then the subject is not handed to another point if they move out of center frame. Here is a sharp velodrome image done that way:
http://postit.rutgers.edu/uploads/David%20TTownVelo%2001%2Ejpg

Jack
Also, make sure the poster starts in ISO 400 or 800 to get adequate shutter speed that is greater than 1/focal length rule. In his case, with that slow focusing 300mm, I'd use a 1/400 shutter or faster just to reduce hend shake.

[ScottE]

Here's the 10D settings that Sports Illustrated recommends for the 10D.

http://www.siphoto.com/?canon10D.inc

Scott

[raylks]

What is "set focus to back"? as in the custom function 4 in 10D.

[KennyG]

I do NOT set the single center autofocus point. I set them all, BUT I ALWAYS MAKE SURE I ACQUIRE THE SUBJECT IN VIEWFINDER FIRST WITH CENTER POINT. When subjects are moving, the Servo AF "hands" the subject off to one of the other focus points, maintaining focus.

That is fine where you are shooting against a blank background and one subject, such as birds in flight. When shooting subjects that are moving, more than one of them, and a busy background/foreground, very typical for sports, then you should only use a single point.

Some of us shoot sports professionally and use settings that give the best accuracy. Incidentally, the SI settings do not work for all sports, and should be treated as a starting point.

[J Rabin]

That is fine where you are shooting against a blank background and one subject, such as birds in flight. When shooting subjects that are moving, more than one of them, and a busy background/foreground, very typical for sports, then you should only use a single point.

Kenny. Thanks, I always figure there is a good reason people recommend what they do. I shoot single or double objects at velodrome. Can't get more neutral background. However, if you are only using center at a football game, how do you keep non-center action in sharp focus after you've set center point?
Thanks, J

[mblanton]

I have a couple more questions since everyone is sharing so much information.

1. What is auto reduction of fill flash???

2. Do you trust the camera's meter or do you most often add exposure compensation??? I think my 10D is consistently off by 1/2 to 2/3 stop. Anyone else notice this?

Mike

[BigRed450]

Same as CyberDyneSystems

SIngle AF point,.
AI servo focus,...
Custom Function 4-1 (converts * button to AF)

With the addition of:
Exposure mode set to AV
ISO 400-800 (inside) ISO 200 (outside)
Continuous Frame
And most of all Practice, Practice, Practice.....

[Jonny]

That is fine where you are shooting against a blank background and one subject, such as birds in flight. When shooting subjects that are moving, more than one of them, and a busy background/foreground, very typical for sports, then you should only use a single point.


This may be a dumb question but by using the Centre Focus Point you need to keep the subject centred which tends to break most compostion rules.
If, for example, you wanted a car racing into or out of an image would you use the left and right AF points?

[shoot123]

One thing to try is to use focus manually and PREFOCUS on a particular area you think will come into play soon (ie, one of the bases in baseball, goalie in soccer) and wait for the action to occur there. Sometimes its easier than following the action.