Cycling from last weekend.

Biffbradford wrote in post #7917400
I believe #3 is an off centered crop. I normally use just the center point of focus, then keep an eye on the background as well.

Chicle: I'm at almost every race so check the schedule and come on down ... I'll be there. Look for big guy with a camera in each hand and a back pack full of more. Love to shoot with 'ya.

Don't you get a lot of oof pictures with just using the center-only focus point? If your using a shallow dof (ie f/4 or lower) and your using the center-only focus point on a cycling subject coming straight at you and release the shutter when the subject fills the frame- 100% of the time the face will be oof. The face is what you want to be in focus.

Here is an example:

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thanks for your comments. exif data doesn't give info on focus technique, so I really appreciate your input.
Tom

emtp563 wrote in post #7923684
Don't you get a lot of oof pictures with just using the center-only focus point? If your using a shallow dof (ie f/4 or lower) and your using the center-only focus point on a cycling subject coming straight at you and release the shutter when the subject fills the frame- 100% of the time the face will be oof. The face is what you want to be in focus.

Here is an example:

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That is shot with an aperture of f/3.2 and I'm using the camera in portrait orientation using the far left focus point ONLY. If I had the camera in horizontal position, I'd use the topmost point ONLY. My focus-point is right in the area of her right eye. If I would have used center-point, the area in focus would have been her upper abdominal area/lower chest area and her face would have been oof.

The only time I'd consider using center-point only, for example's sake would be (in relation to your images in this post) would be for number 4. I'd never even consider using AFPS. Even the 1D's 45-point AFPS can't distinguish an ******* from an elbow, let alone that I want the face in focus.

To Peloton-Pix: Great photos on your web site. I don't know how you pull it off with a 40D. When I had one, I found the keeper rate to be totally unacceptable for cycling photography. My keeper rate was probably 75-80% with that camera. Now with my 1D's, my keeper rate is 95-98%. I'm hard-pressed to find oof images, LOL. The AF system on the 40F just was not fast enough.

great pictures, I need to get out more and practice.

emtp563 wrote in post #7923684
That is shot with an aperture of f/3.2 and I'm using the camera in portrait orientation using the far left focus point ONLY. If I had the camera in horizontal position, I'd use the topmost point ONLY. My focus-point is right in the area of her right eye. If I would have used center-point, the area in focus would have been her upper abdominal area/lower chest area and her face would have been oof.

The only time I'd consider using center-point only, for example's sake would be (in relation to your images in this post) would be for number 4. I'd never even consider using AFPS. Even the 1D's 45-point AFPS can't distinguish an ******* from an elbow, let alone that I want the face in focus.

To Peloton-Pix: Great photos on your web site. I don't know how you pull it off with a 40D. When I had one, I found the keeper rate to be totally unacceptable for cycling photography. My keeper rate was probably 75-80% with that camera. Now with my 1D's, my keeper rate is 95-98%. I'm hard-pressed to find oof images, LOL. The AF system on the 40F just was not fast enough.

Ahhhh ... I see what you're saying. I'm going to try working on that this weekend. I'm not sure what my keeper rate is ... not all that high, I assure you. I've always had trouble getting the sharpness 'spot on', so I'll see if that helps. The only time I'm pretty confident in using multi focus points is when I'm in close, like in this 'gutter-view' shot, where I'm shooting blind with a short, 18mm, lens:

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Biffbradford wrote in post #7927824
Ahhhh ... I see what you're saying. I'm going to try working on that this weekend. I'm not sure what my keeper rate is ... not all that high, I assure you. I've always had trouble getting the sharpness 'spot on', so I'll see if that helps. The only time I'm pretty confident in using multi focus points is when I'm in close, like in this 'gutter-view' shot, where I'm shooting blind with a short, 18mm, lens:

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These riders are right on top of me, which isn't possible at every race, so it's fun when they are (like MTB or cyclocross).

I really haven't found any problems with the 40D's auto focus speed in cycling, but in winter I become frustrated when shooting XC skiing, expecially when they are coming at me on a downhill ... I can rarely get a sharp picture then. I suppose the cold just slows the camera too much, especially when it's 10F or lower (brrrrrr). I've shot down as low as -7F, but usually when they are skiing uphill.

Anyway, comments appreciated and I'm going to try that technique this weekend.

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Don't fret- fast objects coming straight at a camera are the MOST DIFFICULT situations for AI Servo to follow. It's challenging for everyone. For that shot you just posted, I would have used the camera in horizontal orientation using the far right focus point only with that on the very first rider using a wide aperture. At 18mm, if I had to guess I'd say the aperture in that photo is anywhere between 5.6 and 8- there is nothing wrong with that- I think the smoke stacks in the BG look kinda cool. Using a single focus point is hard at 18mm, if you want to practice this weekend, try it with some sort of 70-200mm range lens. Pick a single focus point, put the camera in AI Servo AF, and keep the red dot right on the riders face while tracking and fire away. Take the camera home and I can guarantee your keeper rate will increase substantially.