Shooting mode

[Kemikopulens]

During the bridal/entourage march, what usually mode do you use? AI Servo, TV, fec?
Kindly reply with your suggestions. Thanks for the help.

[tim]

Asked and answered a dozen times, like this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=752550&highlight=mode) or this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=605264&highlight=mode) :)

[sapearl]

Camera is set to Manual normally and I set the shutter/aperture based upon how little light there is from experience. There is usually not enough light to meter. The flash is set at ETTL - my settings expose for the ambient and background light and the flash takes care of the foreground couples, freezing action. ISO is usually 800 unless things are really dark. - Stu

[RT McAllister]

Same as Stu - ETTL and manual mode. 1/100 - 1/125 @5.6, AI Servo.

I might adjust FEC +2 depending on the backlighting. Some churches have really big-assed windows in the back or somebody forgets to close the doors.

[sapearl]

To add to what RT has advised - a lot of folks use AI servo to great effect. I use one shot AF and constantly readjust the AF on the "target" which works very well for me - razor sharp images.

I would suggest that shutter speeds of 1/100+ may cause the background to go quite dark unless the church is quite bright. I'll usually be about half that to allow more ambient light to come into the image. And as RT says, FEC+ or "-" can be quite critical depending upon other strong light influences, the bride's white dress, black tuxedo's.

It takes a lot of practice, and you need to be able to evaluate on the spot, how things are going. If your exposures are skewed (or screwed) one way or another, you have to fix it immediately or end up with a whole series of bad shots.

[Kemikopulens]

Thanks TIM, RT and sapearl for the help.

[PMCphotography]

I use AI servo to get the picture of them walking- whether Av/Tv/M depends on where it is and what the lighting is like, how fast they are walking, etc.

I don't really use flash unless I have to due to strong backlighting, very dark lighting or mixed lighting with strong color casts (then i'll gel it just to correct the cast.)

I try to get (in this order): full length of B&G, B&G Torsos in portrait, B&G torsos in landscape, then a close up of each of their faces.

SOmetimes I can get them all, sometimes just the full length.

[Peacefield]

Same as above, though I find AI Servo a little disconcerting. I don't like that I don't get the audible confirmation that focus has been achieved. I prefer one-shot. I fire right after focus has locked and at f5.8 and ~50mm, DOF is deep enough where I don't have to worry about the subject falling outside of it.

[RT McAllister]

I don't like that I don't get the audible confirmation that focus has been achieved.Man, that "beep" noise is annoying and distracting. I'm surprised you use it.

[Peacefield]

Man, that "beep" noise is annoying and distracting. I'm surprised you use it.

I'll turn it off during the actual ceremony. But focus throughout the day can sometimes be spotty, especially in low contrast situations like all black or all white tuxes. I've kinda conditioned myself to want to hear the beep before each shot. A bit of reassurance.

[tim]

The red flash is enough for me, I hate the beep. The red flash on the 7D's a bit harder to see though.

[PMCphotography]

I couldn't handle the beep all day. It would drive me crazy! The red focus point lighting up is enough for me. I've never paid attention to whether it lights up in AI servo mode... Strange.

[bps]

I always turn the auto-focus beep off when I'm in the church.

Bryan

[gravy graffix]

Best way to disable the beep is ai servo :-)
I don't see a piont to ever take it out of servo.
Sapearle... How are you getting them sharp, using more that f1.4???
The lag would ruin it for me as they were walking.

[RT McAllister]

I don't see a piont to ever take it out of servo.A lot would agree with you on this. Especially with a bride coming at you head on with a DOF of maybe 8 inches.

[sapearl]

Hi Shannon - Happy Holidays :D.

I cheat - I use flash so I'm typically around f/5.6 - 6.3 in general, depending upon ambient light, and the overall look I'm trying to achieve. For example, the shot below of the two kids was done at f/5.6. Some here don't like the increased DOF... stems from my film days shooting at f/8 withOUT autofocus, but I like to include audience reaction to what's going on. Here I think it works very well.

.....Sapearle... How are you getting them sharp, using more that f1.4??? The lag would ruin it for me as they were walking.

[gravy graffix]

Well that clears that up! I def fall into the DOF junkie club.
I'd need a batt pack for the flash to pull that off I think and I don't so I usually shoot avail light.

Happy holidays too you too! Mmmm new grip for the 5d2! Tiss the season for camera toys!

[sapearl]

Well, not really - I'm just using the four AA rechargeables in the 580ex for that exposure; don't have a grip or battery pack.

Well that clears that up! I def fall into the DOF junkie club.
I'd need a batt pack for the flash to pull that off I think and I don't so I usually shoot avail light. .....

[tim]

Best way to disable the beep is ai servo :-)
I don't see a piont to ever take it out of servo.
Sapearle... How are you getting them sharp, using more that f1.4???
The lag would ruin it for me as they were walking.

A lot would agree with you on this. Especially with a bride coming at you head on with a DOF of maybe 8 inches.

AI Servo isn't as accurate as one shot mode, according to Canon. It never locks focus as such. AI Servo has algorithms made to predict constant motion, like someone walking toward you.

[RT McAllister]

AI Servo has algorithms made to predict constant motion, like someone walking toward you.Kind of like a bride walking up the aisle maybe?

[Adaptive]

Never used servo mode using mark III and I never have any issues getting sharp images.
I will have to try servo mode on my next wedding though, should be easier than my typical method.

[tim]

Kind of like a bride walking up the aisle maybe?

Exactly like that. Like the OP asked I guess, but I hadn't read the first post in ages.

I've used AI servo a few times, practicing, and I was never too impressed.

[Adaptive]

Exactly like that. Like the OP asked I guess, but I hadn't read the first post in ages.

I've used AI servo a few times, practicing, and I was never too impressed.

Yeah I use servo for faster stuff like auto racing and ice hockey but it isnt too predictable. Sometimes it would jump focus from the hockey player to the puck. This especially happened when players were hitting the puck and it was in mid air, player would be slightly oof but the fast moving puck would be super sharp. Probably had the servo set to the wrong tracking mode. dunno, but that's my experience with servo mode, don't know how much it would help with slow moving people walking down the aisle but I'm willing to try it out. :cool:

[RT McAllister]

don't know how much it would help with slow moving people walking down the aisle but I'm willing to try it out.I work with a guy who focuses manually during the processional and his stuff seems to turn out. I don't have big enough canoles to try this though.

[PMCphotography]

Servo usually works for me if the lighting is decent.

[sapearl]

Back when I shot medium format and there was no AF I'd have to do it this way. The trick is to pre-focus on a point in the aisle, especially critical when the lighting is poor, and then fire it off when they hit that mark.

I work with a guy who focuses manually during the processional and his stuff seems to turn out. I don't have big enough canoles to try this though.

[Peacefield]

Well, I've been away from this thread for a while, but thought I'd chime in. I like servo for other purposes like motorsports or something like football. There, it serves me very well. And if it can track a car at 160 mph, it certainly can be trusted to track a bride coming up the aisle. That said, my experience, line of thinking, and reasoning are exactly the same as Stu's.

I also shot my first weddings with manual focus cameras back in the 80's and it was all about pre-focusing on a spot and firing when they walked into it (come to think of it, it was the same approach with motorsports back then, too). I'm usually shooting a pretty wide depth of field for a number of reasons and just pump the ISO a bit to keep the power drain on the flash down. But even if I am needing a lot of flash power, I bring a bazillion rechargable batteries; I never want to allow battery consumption to dictate my approach.

I just like knowing that one shot has locked on more positively, I know I'm firing right upon focus, and DOF is wide enough for there not to be an issue. I don't recall this approach to ever result in an OOF processional shot for me. Certainly, there's no right or wrong when it comes to one shot vs. servo for the processional, but I know what I'm comfortable with and why.

[ontopofm]

do you guys use One Shot when shooting a group of people?

[sapearl]

Yes - I use one shot with the center focus point. They're not moving anywhere and based on my aperture I choose exactly the focus point I want.

do you guys use One Shot when shooting a group of people?

[tim]

do you guys use One Shot when shooting a group of people?

I always use one shot, all day.

[ontopofm]

and what focus point do you guys select?

[sapearl]

Center for maximum control - I also lock it in and recompose if necessary; I don't want the camera making up my mind for me ;).

and what focus point do you guys select?