Novice football shooter with focusing question

[rwcheng]

Hi,

I shot my first high school football game this morning with a 40D and 70-200 2.8. I only got a few keepers mainly due to oof shots. Can the pros share some focusing tips? I used center focus point, F4.0, AI Servo. How good is the AI Servo on the 40d, but I am sure most of the problem is with the operator in this case. Do you basically keep the subject in the middle of the frame and crop for composition?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Here are some shots from this morning.

1.
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2116/20091017img7381.jpg

2.
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/2813/20091017img73762.jpg

3.
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9093/20091017img7375.jpg

4.
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/21/2009101720091017img7386.jpg

5.
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6454/2009101720091017img7382.jpg

6.
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/5504/20091017img7361.jpg

[JPBones73]

I think we all get OOF shots at times. Sometimes you just didn't focus accurately, sometimes it's the camera or lens.

[ChasWG]

I have a 40D with a 70-200 f4 L and usually I don't have focus issues. The camera is actually pretty good and getting what's in the focus sensor right. But that leaves a lot left up to the opperator. On the sidelines with a 70-200 is a little dicey at times. Having a 1.4 TC would have helped you out a bunch, especially with the 2.8. You were already stopping down to f4. Why not throw a 1.4 TC on there and then really get that focus retical on the players you really wanted in focus. I find the 70-200 leaves a lot to be cropped out and there fore a busy frame. But for me, that's all I got. My Tamron 1.4 TC would AF with my 70-200 f4 L, so I leave it as a 70-200 and wait for the action to come to me.

You'll get better with the focus thing. That's why I went to so many of my son's practices with the camera. It helped out a lot.

Good luck!

[rwcheng]

I think we all get OOF shots at times. Sometimes you just didn't focus accurately, sometimes it's the camera or lens.

I guess oof shots are inevitable. Do you guys aim at the heads most of the time or aiming at the body is good enough? For me with a 200mm, it was hard to keep the focus point on the heads.

I have a 40D with a 70-200 f4 L and usually I don't have focus issues. The camera is actually pretty good and getting what's in the focus sensor right. But that leaves a lot left up to the opperator. On the sidelines with a 70-200 is a little dicey at times. Having a 1.4 TC would have helped you out a bunch, especially with the 2.8. You were already stopping down to f4. Why not throw a 1.4 TC on there and then really get that focus retical on the players you really wanted in focus. I find the 70-200 leaves a lot to be cropped out and there fore a busy frame. But for me, that's all I got. My Tamron 1.4 TC would AF with my 70-200 f4 L, so I leave it as a 70-200 and wait for the action to come to me.

You'll get better with the focus thing. That's why I went to so many of my son's practices with the camera. It helped out a lot.

Good luck!

Thanks, I think a 1.4 TC is next on my list then.

[DHMN]

Do you use the * focus button rather than half-pressing the shutter? Definitely makes a diference keeping focus though it's argued back and forth some. That's the only thing I can see from the description that's not mentioned comparative to others and my own shots.

[asysin2leads]

I have changed the speed of my AI Servo to Moderately Slow. That keeps it from jumping so fast on something else that enters the frame. I think that the 40D has that ability, but I don't remember. That has increased my keeper rate a bit. I always shoot center focus point. I also have my AF set to * rather than the shutter. The 40D has the AF button on the back. Set the custom setting to use that rather than the shutter release for your AF.

[TheBigDog]

I also have my AF set to * rather than the shutter. The 40D has the AF button on the back. Set the custom setting to use that rather than the shutter release for your AF.

I'm a little curious as I have seen a couple of people say this, is there any benefit to having the * button set as the AF versus the shutter or is it just personal preference?

[asysin2leads]

I'm a little curious as I have seen a couple of people say this, is there any benefit to having the * button set as the AF versus the shutter or is it just personal preference?

It takes one function off of the shutter release. It takes a little to get used to, but it's so simple now.