5D Mark III AF settings

When I got the camera I tested it for stills and wow, the pictures were sharp compared to my 500D. But when using AI Servo to photograph my boy who happens to move around alot especially if he sees the camera I don't get sharp pictures as the many I'm seeing on the net.
I tried all cases with all kinds of AF point selections, but did not get one sharp photo when he is on the move. Now I know this has nothing to do with camera, so I'm sure it is somehow my fault.
Also, looking through the viewfinder I don't see the focusing points following him while he is moving, nor I see it let in red. Shouldn't I get the same thing as in this tutorial.

The main 2 reasons I bought this camera for are AF capabilities and high ISO performance.
I read the manual and AF guide but I need to read more and practice more to get what I want out the camera.
If it helps I mostly use AV mode with +2/3-1 AEB to correct Exposure. Also, Auto ISO which I think is amazing with minimum shutter of 1/125.

Any help is appreciated.

I haven't read this article but it may be of help:
http://learn.usa.canon​.com …_multiple_af_po​ints.shtml

How fast was the shutter speed and how close to him when you were shooting?

This book just came out. Canon 5D Mark III Experience

http://www.pixiq.com …-5d-mark-iii-bible-is-out

Sniper258 wrote in post #14234869
...I don't get sharp pictures as the many I'm seeing on the net.
I tried all cases with all kinds of AF point selections, but did not get one sharp photo when he is on the move.

What focal lengths and apertures? I've had really poor success at wider apertures and focal lengths. Ex: 35mm @ f2. That was the limit of the poor indoor lighting, and ultimately I think it was a bad decision on my part to not increase the ISO further to allow for a smaller aperture. ISO was already higher than I wanted but the light just suuuucked.

Sniper258 wrote in post #14234869
Also, looking through the viewfinder I don't see the focusing points following him while he is moving, nor I see it let in red. Shouldn't I get the same thing as in this tutorial?

I'm guessing you're in single point AF mode. You'll want to switch to one of the multi-point modes(5 point, 9 point, zone, or 61 point modes). If in 61 point AF mode, you can still select a single AF point to start servo on, and it'll switch to other points depending on the servo settings (servo use cases 1-6).

No, it won't be red. It will be black.

Probably get the most help if you can post a non-cropped example with focal length, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and approximate distance. And if focus isn't completely obvious to tell, then a 100% crop of where it was focused (you can see this in DPP, don't know about Lightroom, PS, Aperture, etc).

The issue is, if increase the shutter I have to increase the ISO which is already high. In addition to this I have to increase the exposure by one stop.

Here is a sample photo that I just took of him making just small movements since I deleted all that was taken before.

Yeah that's way to high of aperture for shots inside of a room like that. I would suggest getting a flashEX430 or 580 or the 600 if you can afford it

Fricks wrote in post #14235979
Yeah that's way to high of aperture for shots inside of a room like that. I would suggest getting a flashEX430 or 580 or the 600 if you can afford it

I do have a 430 and I use it for stills indoors and outdoors, but I don't know how it will help with shutter increase.

Sniper258 wrote in post #14235955
The issue is, if increase the shutter I have to increase the ISO which is already high. In addition to this I have to increase the exposure by one stop.

Here is a sample photo that I just took of him making just small movements since I deleted all that was taken before.

You can see if I increase the shutter or aperture, then I have to increase the ISO which I tried already but never liked the photos. they were very noisy.

Three solutions, one free, two cost money.

1. (free) Become more tolerant of noise.

2. Get a flash (best option for indoor photography IMO)

3. Get a faster lens. (aka has a larger max aperture, f4 isn't exactly huge)

Flash will freeze motion

Sniper258 wrote in post #14236124
I do have a 430 and I use it for stills indoors and outdoors, but I don't know how it will help with shutter increase.

Well, you will have more light, so can use a faster shutter speed. Besides that, the flash duration is very short and will itself freeze the motion. You can also bring your ISO way back down again and get rid of the noise.

1/50th is way too slow a shutter speed for a kid with a football.

Sniper258 wrote in post #14236124
I do have a 430 and I use it for stills indoors and outdoors, but I don't know how it will help with shutter increase.

It won't increase your shutter speed (up to 1/200 anyways), but without going into the details, it doesn't matter. Your flash speed becomes your new effective shutter speed.

1. Go into manual.
2. Set your SS to 1/200
3. Set your aperture to f4
4. Set your ISO to 400-800 (should be relatively noise free on the 5D3)
5. Put on your flash, and bounce off ceiling or wall.

EDIT: Here is a shot taken with more or less the settings I explained. It is one of my cats jumping around. Faster than your kid I guarantee

The shutter speed is way to low. At 1/50, you'll get motion blur at any rate. Some suggested using flash which can help with freezing the action but it'll not help increase the shutter speed.

Another thing is add more lights

Short of getting a real fast lens for this type of photographs, you have to either increase lights or use flash.

You don't need a faster shutter speed if you use a flash

The flash will freeze the action