still not happy with the results

Ltdave wrote in post #15176902
well, if the focus style selection is right and the selected focus point is on the players chest or face, then how could it be anything else?

Oh my God....you really need to do your homework. If you that is all that it takes I dont know what else to say.

Brain Mechanic wrote in post #15177116
Oh my God....you really need to do your homework. If you that is all that it takes I dont know what else to say.

Now, now, don't get frustrated. There are a couple of other things OP, but they get a bit more complicated. If you have confirmed focus on an object and something else passes between you and the camera, you can set the camera to quickly focus on this other object or to wait and maintain focus on the original subject. Have you messed around with this? In the three photos you posted, it doesn't really look like back or front-focusing is your problem because nothing is really in sharp focus. Are you getting focus confirmation?

I could not tell by looking at your stationary pictures in the yard but were they in focus? If they were not in focus did you use single point and One shot mode? Has the combination ever produced a photo that was in focus? Using single point and One shot mode on a stationary object with a low ISO and a high shutter speed and the combination will not produce a sharp photo it is time to start suspecting something is wrong with the rig. Which means you may need to send the combination in to be calibrated/checked out. If the rig can produce photos that are in focus in One shot mode on stationary objects we can then try to help you get photos that are in focus when shooting moving objects such as hockey players.

backbutton focus?

What does backbutton operation have to do with taking an in focus photo?

ajaffe wrote in post #15179436
What does backbutton operation have to do with taking an in focus photo?

a change in technique, leading to better results, perhaps.

I was right?

OMG

elrey2375 wrote in post #15179671
a change in technique, leading to better results, perhaps.

A stretch in any sense to justify how a button choice could result in the soft photos in the OP.

ajaffe wrote in post #15180858
A stretch in any sense to justify how a button choice could result in the soft photos in the OP.

I'm not going to go full bore in defense of this, because I really don't care, but there are TONS of threads on here about using backbutton focusing and how it has improved people's keeper rate. I don't use it personally, but everyone is different.

Ltdave wrote in post #15180559
at this point id have to go look at the exif but on MY monitor, they did NOT look like they were very well focused. i shot them from a tripod with the IS off, 400 ISO?, f2.8 and about 1/4000 or possibly 1/5000 ss. i didnt lock the mirror up. i manually de-focused the lens by a great deal, hit the shutter release, got focus and then continued with the shot. i played with the MFA in both directions and on a co-workers computer the '0' adjustment produced the best image but still not sharp enough...

funny thing too, this whole thread was started because i thought the images had too much noise...

Micro Focus Adjustment is a great tool that if used properly can help get the camera and lens to work the best they can together. Know that a single shot at a specific MFA could be misleading. It may be the best MFA for the average of a number of shots but individually the result may not be optimum. My suggestion for now is to make sure the rig can or cannot focus in One shot mode at a stationary target and then go from there. It sounds like you did everything correct to accomplish this in your test but I would still try it again before deciding to send the rig in to get calibrated/repaired.

Did you have IS on during these photos? The hockey photos?

elrey2375 wrote in post #15181140
Did you have IS on during these photos? The hockey photos?

yes...

ive tried using the back button focus but my thumb isnt long enough for a comfortable reach on the button, and the body. i end up having to move my hand back and forth (rotating my grip) to do so...

Ltdave wrote in post #15181356
yes...

ive tried using the back button focus but my thumb isnt long enough for a comfortable reach on the button, and the body. i end up having to move my hand back and forth (rotating my grip) to do so...

With your index finger resting on the shutter button which button are you trying to reach with your thumb? For a comfortable fit you should be using the "AF On" button as the back focus button.. If you have to change your grip then you have a really small hand so make sure the camera strap is around your neck so that when the camera gets bumped or shifted and you lose the grip you will not drop your camera to the ground.

Ltdave wrote in post #15181356
yes...

ive tried using the back button focus but my thumb isnt long enough for a comfortable reach on the button, and the body. i end up having to move my hand back and forth (rotating my grip) to do so...

how are you holding your camera if your thumb cant reach the button for BBF? the shutter button and BBF are literally less than two inches apart!

Ltdave wrote in post #15181356
yes...

ive tried using the back button focus but my thumb isnt long enough for a comfortable reach on the button, and the body. i end up having to move my hand back and forth (rotating my grip) to do so...

Try it without the IS on, this could be causing you a problem. You never want it on when shooting sports.