On the swings and running about

[John_N]

Afternoon all,

I was wondering if you could help out a bit.
I've a very active toddler and its frustrating me to bits that I get (for me) lovely pics like the one below (there is another good or rather bad example that t I deleted which I'll post if I can undelete the thing (scan running now))

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4757783780_66436d78fb_o.jpg

As you can see I got the focus on the legs, not that face :(

Now It isn't just this one, shes now playing with the camera a bit and knows that if she runs toward the camera it goes out of focus (I know clever little so and so!), the result being a really cheeky little blur of a piccy.

The exif for this one is:

Camera Canon EOS 500D (http://www.flickr.com/cameras/canon/eos_rebel_t1i/) Exposure 0.002 sec (1/500) Aperture f/5.6 Focal Length 250 mm ISO Speed 100
Can you advise what I can do to get these better?

I'm thinking AI-Servo and burst perhaps and if I can find out why my wife (who usually lets me get what I want for the camera) has advised I don't buy a nifty fifty, then I'll get one of those.

Cheers,

John

[DC5 Poe]

AI servo mode is the one you want.

I also notice you shooting at 250mm on your camera. On a crop body, thats like 400mm after the factor. At that focal length on your 500d, your shutter speed needs to be even faster. Try to attach the 18-55 and shoot at 1/500 or faster with that.

[John_N]

Cheers for the feedback :)

I thought 500 at 250 length would be fast enough and looks like it from the focus on the leg, but would increasing the speed in T mode give me a greater depth of field that would then also capture the face?

I also take it that the rule that says keep your speed above the focal length for hand held assumes a full frame, so for me I have to times it up at x1.6 and then add a bit more for the movement of the target.

In my original post I mentioned recovering a couple of deleted files (shown below) - these were both taken on the 18-55mm at 55mm with a speed of 100, but she was rushing straight at the camera and I suspect I in AI Focus too.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4759570789_3941f51cc4_b.jpg

[DC5 Poe]

John, a kid running (especially towards you) requires a faster shutter speed. Like you said, at 50mm you should be at 1/50 (on a FF) for a still shot, but not if the subject is static.
Also, keep in mind that if she is in movement, you are also moving your hands to keep up with her travel.
You can use "T" mode, but I would rather keep it in "Av" and increase the ISO slightly.

[John_N]

Okay, I'll try that next - usually I like to control the speed as Av dictates speed and I'm looking for crisp shots (not being a fan or motion blur unless its in the arms).

Using your advice I tried some other shots this afternoon just getting her to run round - keeping her fit :) - but most were pretty noisy (the below image had a fair bit of noise reduction applied but looked okay until zoomed in), mostly I suspect because indoors even with a huge front windows like mine doesn't get that bright.

Anyway here probably the best of the lot - almost all shots were taken on multipoint/servo which has help alot.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4760890601_693d9d2c2f_b.jpg

The ISO did go high though (1/320 @ 5.6 55mm ISO 1600 on 18-55IS Lens) as I wasn't using the flash at this point and when I tried later the delay in shots only allowed two for an entire run with me missing some nice ones simply because the flash was charging.

[DC5 Poe]

Good job. The pictures seem to get sharper as the shutter speed goes up as you can see.

Post one more picture and it'll be clear. You have a trend going j/k