Event shooting T2i

This camera is fantastic ergonomically. Canon have set this thing up very well and would recommend it to anyone looking to get into digital photography. However, since trying to bolster my portfolio and shoot some events, I've noticed a few things. First of all - I'm just beginning to learn how to utilize my camera. But I'm really pining for an upgrade. A list of the things bothering me:

Hard to quickly select an autofocus point. I only ever have one enabled, but I move it around. Center af and recomposing really wastes a lot of shots, especially at a shallow DOF. Also there is some technical reason, but there is a different focus distance at your center point than at the corner points. What I'm looking for is like a joystick akin to the 7D or the 50D - halfway depress the focus and then use the stick to find a point.

I can work around this fairly easily, I just need to press an extra button, and get really good mashing that d-pad. I have a custom function setting that makes a button on the back the autofocus button. It's really nice when you get used to it, and it puts my thumb permanently right next to the AF point select. However, I'm sure it still makes me miss shots now and then when I'm recomposing and such. Another minor issue is that only the center AF point is a cross-type, but the other points usually don't give me much grief since I usually have my 430EX attached.

Dim, small viewfinder. It's usually fine unless I'm shooting indoors, at which point I have to rely on autofocus pretty heavily. No way around the ****ty viewfinder.

It's dinky. Got a battery grip. Problem solved.

Anyone else shooting with a t2i have any pointers? I still consider it an 'upgrade' from a 20D in all respects except for shooting ergonomics.

Hello h4ppydaze,

I'm not finding myself using auto-focus, especially for portraits. What I do is to get the framing the way I like and then use the LCD @ 10 X and then manually focus. Other shots that demand faster focusing, I'll use the trusty 17-50 or the 35-135 USM. Depending on what I'm shooting I'll select all focus points and let the system decide, or if it is specific to one side of the frame I'll then select the appropriate corner. There are times when I'll use just the center point, but I find I don't have very many keepers that way.

As for upgrading the 7D, from everything I've read it's an extremely capable camera especially when it comes to auto-focus, so I don't think you can go wrong with that body.

For me, I feel I'm using the T2i to its potential, and as a amateur enthusiast it fits my style well. In my mind if I want to get more involved, like doing weddings or sports events, then I'll think about upgrading, but until that time, I'm really just taking pictures of the dog, family, landscapes, and the T2i is an amazing camera for those needs.

Best of luck finding the camera that fits your needs.

David

Hi and welcome to POTN,

You say event shooting, but there are many types of events that require different approaches from photographers... We need to know more to give good advice.

One suggestion, try out Back Button Focus. It can make a world of difference. Your camera has a more sensitive center AF point... It's cross-type, the other nine aren't. Using BBF, if the subject isn't moving you can simply use One Shot and that center point to focus, then after focus is achieved, release the focus button, recompose as you see fit to frame the image, press the shutter release to take the shot. It's fast and easy once you are accustomed to it.

With sports/action it's similar... except set the camera to AI Servo, and track the subject keeping the center AF point on the subject, and maintain pressure with your thumb on the focusing button as long as you want to keep tracking focus, taking a shot or shots pressing the shutter release with your forefinger as you continue to track. This will center the subject, so the 50D, 60D and 7D are more desireable for this type of shooting because all of their AF points are cross-type (9 in 50D & 60D, 19 in 7D). This makes off-center composition with moving subjects easier. A simple alternative is to use the center point and crop the image a little after the fact.

Using the flash for focus assist? If you don't like having the flash mounted all the time, you can do the same thing with the much smaller ST-E2 module. This is primarily intended to control multiple flashes off camera wirelessly (it uses IR, so is still limited to line of sight), but it also can provide focus assist in low light. It's a lot more compact than the flash.

There are replacement focus screens that can be bought and fitted to the camera to help make the viewfinder a little brighter (www.katzeyeoptics.com, for example). However, there's a limit. All the Rebel cameras use a penta-mirror, while the xxD cameras and 7D use a true pentaprism that's brighter, but adds size, weight and cost.

If you go to a different focus screen, you can add features to help with manual focus. Two key ones are a split image finder and microdiaprisms at the center of the screen. However, just be aware that these mess up spot metering on any camera that has it (not sure if your camera does or not). And, these third party screens aren't cheap. The camera isn't really made for easily interchangeable screens, but it's possible to DIY so long as you're careful around the mirror and other delicate stuff in there.