Maintaining focal point in sports

[madplower4]

I am having problems keeping my center focal point on my subject when they are moving in all directions or running fast. I am using cf 4-3 ai servo etc, but the servo will grab focus on background stuff if I can't perfectly hold my focal point on a moving subject. I was told that there was a way to slow the focus speed to alleviate the instant refocus issue. I was told that I could use a CF? to put that focus speed to medium-slow to help this problem. I can't find how to do this. Any help? It is primarily a problem when shooting soccer and American football, when I am having trouble keeping the focal point on a moving subject. I know one answer is to let off of the *button at times, but I am way too new to master that. HELP

[asysin2leads]

Hey, deja vu.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=371691

[Nightstalker]

From what I've read on here you should run AIServo with all focus points active.

IIRC it will base lock on from the center and use the outer points for tracking.

I may be talking BS but I'm sure I've read this on the forum.

[scott wiggins]

Folks, it might help if you tell everyone what camera model you are using.

Sounds like you need to slow the tracking speed down. The centre spot is the most sensitive spot and tracks vertically and horizontally in all of the entry level/prosumer bodies. I'm just learning the 1D at the moment so can't yet comment on that. That was the case with my 20D; using the centre spot helps to get focus on what you want and not on something you weren't bargaining on.

Scott

[dmwierz]

Plower - You can try messing with your AI Servo speed, but whenever I've done this, I've hosed things up more than I helped them.

In the end, what you are experiencing is exactly what makes sports photography so challenging. It's not easy to get consistently in-focus images of subjects that are moving fast and unpredictably.

The best thing you can do, IMO, is to practice, practice and practice..

Personally, I've tried expanding my focus points, moving them around, changing AI Servo speeds (as mentioned above), using multiple points, etc., and I always, always come back to center point AI Servo as my method of AF. With this scheme, I get the highest % of keepers far and away.

Try a few of the suggestions here and see if they help, but I'm guessing what's needed more than anything isn't a new AF scheme, but just more time behind the lens.

Good luck, and I look forward to seeing your work.

Dennis

[superdiver]

Like Dennis I have gone from center point to all points to moving point and am back at center point right now. Who knows I may try other points again in the future...thats the curse of always looking to improve...

But the more I shoot the more consistent I get, I find that the gadgetry and little to do with consistency and practice has every thing to do with it...

Not trying to be discouraging or talk down to anyone as I am by no means a pro, just a long time learner with a long way to go....LOL

[i601254]

Have to agree with Dennis as well. After getting my first Canon (1D MK II) I spent 6 months trying every conceivable setting and found that AI-Servo with center point AF worked best for me. AF point expansion in theory sounds great but I quickly found that I was getting far fewer keepers when using this setting. I've also pretty much settled on moderately slow setting for AF speed. As stated it really does come down to knowing your equipment and practice, lots of practice. There are far too many people who think that just because they own a pro body DSLR and some expensive long lenses that magic just happens on its own. The first thing most inexperienced photographers do is to assume that there's something wrong with their equipment. While bodies and lenses to need regular servicing, the majority of issues can be attributed to lack of experience and unreal expectations. Keep honing your skills and it will all begin to fall into place eventually.

[asysin2leads]

I agree. Played around w/ the focus points while shooting soccer. Center point worked out the best. Had the highest % of keepers. I've read on here somewhere that if your shooting baseball, set you focus point just above the belt line. I tried that and it seemed to give me the best results.

[cwphoto]

Originally Posted by Nightstalker

From what I've read on here you should run AIServo with all focus points active.

IIRC it will base lock on from the center and use the outer points for tracking.

I may be talking BS but I'm sure I've read this on the forum.

Sounds good in theory but centre-point is more consistent/precise.

[superdiver]

So how often do you guys have your stuff in for regular maintenance, or do you do it only when there is a problem, and if you do send it in "regular" where do you send it, how much does it cost and how long does it take?

[cwphoto]

Originally Posted by superdiver

So how often do you guys have your stuff in for regular maintenance, or do you do it only when there is a problem, and if you do send it in "regular" where do you send it, how much does it cost and how long does it take?

Never. Only when it breaks.

[apexnow]

Originally Posted by asysin2leads

I agree. Played around w/ the focus points while shooting soccer. Center point worked out the best. Had the highest % of keepers. I've read on here somewhere that if your shooting baseball, set you focus point just above the belt line. I tried that and it seemed to give me the best results.

Believe it or not, that is one of the most helpful comments I have heard. After my very first outing with my very first SLR camera, I had 200+ pictures with no feet. I then told my self, "aim lower" but still had the same trouble. Instead of trying to aim lower I will do as you have suggested, aim at the belly. I think that using only the center focus point will also help. I had a lot of great pictures that the background was in focus but not the player I was shooting.

I am sure that some are sighing and thinking, "dang rookies", but hey, that is where I am at.

[dmwierz]

Originally Posted by superdiver

So how often do you guys have your stuff in for regular maintenance, or do you do it only when there is a problem, and if you do send it in "regular" where do you send it, how much does it cost and how long does it take?

Once you get to know your equipment, how it responds and what to expect from it, you'll know when something is wrong, so to second CW's comment, I only send my stuff to CPS when it breaks. I can't be without it for more than a few days at any time so soething pretty bad has to be wrong for me to send it in.

[madplower4]

Thanks to all for the advice. I am using a 30D. To again reiterate the dilemna, as an example, when a running back is running down the field at full speed, I am using cf4 *button for focusing, but keeping the center pt focal pt on a kid running at full speed is HARD! Keeper, blur, blur, keeper, blur, keeper. You get the point! Anyways, it just seems that the answer is practice! I just thought I had heard that slowing the focal change speed helped, but didn't know how to do that.

This photography thing is like golf! Everytime you get better, you realize that there is a next level of "better" to achieve.

And one last question....How come the truly great keepers that I get are always of someone else's kid? The one's of my kids are usually the lousy ones, but a get great shots of kids I don't even know!!!!!![IMG]file:///C:/Users/Jeff/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks again to all for your advice.

I am using a 30D, 70-200 is, with a 1.4 extender when needed.

[cwphoto]

Originally Posted by madplower4

Thanks to all for the advice. I am using a 30D. To again reiterate the dilemna, as an example, when a running back is running down the field at full speed, I am using cf4 *button for focusing, but keeping the center pt focal pt on a kid running at full speed is HARD! Keeper, blur, blur, keeper, blur, keeper. You get the point! Anyways, it just seems that the answer is practice! I just thought I had heard that slowing the focal change speed helped, but didn't know how to do that.

This photography thing is like golf! Everytime you get better, you realize that there is a next level of "better" to achieve.

And one last question....How come the truly great keepers that I get are always of someone else's kid? The one's of my kids are usually the lousy ones, but a get great shots of kids I don't even know!!!!!![IMG]file:///C:/Users/Jeff/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks again to all for your advice.

I am using a 30D, 70-200 is, with a 1.4 extender when needed.

I'd suggest going away from *-button focus for a start. Just because a few SI guys use it doesn't mean it's best practice for YOU.

Leave it on the shutter button and I reckon your keeper rate will improve. Once your technique improves then you can experiment with it isolated.