7D users -- AF settings?

I have had a 7D for a while, but I use it for primarily performing arts. I haven't really done much sport or wildlife/bird photography, so I am not too familiar with the best AF settings to use (Aside from servo) with it.

I just got myself a 400 5.6 L, so I am going to get out and shoot! But, rather than trial and error, I was wondering what type of AF settings/focus points you guys use?

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Centre point with assist.

I use center point mostly...a lot of stuff I photograph is usually in clutter so I like to focus on the eye and maybe move one focus point around. I have focus set to the " * " button and use my thumb to focus.

I never liked, or saw the point of setting the focus to the back button. Just seems like an extra step when I can push the shutter half way -- I use M mode all the time.

What about AF tracking speed / continuous tracking / etc, that sort of stuff?

Yoiu might want to check out Arthur Morris's Birds as Art website. You can purchase his guide to setting up your 7D for bird photography.
Al

Duane N wrote in post #13343788
I use center point mostly...a lot of stuff I photograph is usually in clutter so I like to focus on the eye and maybe move one focus point around. I have focus set to the " * " button and use my thumb to focus.

Ditto.

One of the things that taking focus off the shutter does is allow you to set your focus once; leave the camera and not have the camera try to REfocus if the subject or camera haven't moved. It's just a finer grain of control over what your camera is doing; otherwise, you always have the chance of focus shifting or not resetting quite the same way every time you push the shutter button. If you don't see the need for it, though, then by all means keep things the way you're most comfortable.

Coppatop85 wrote in post #13343897
I never liked, or saw the point of setting the focus to the back button. Just seems like an extra step when I can push the shutter half way -- I use M mode all the time.

What about AF tracking speed / continuous tracking / etc, that sort of stuff?

I use movie mode to focus on stationary subjects. I switch to movie mode (I do this rather than using live view because the IS is turned on as soon as it's switched to movie mode), zoom in 10X and focus on the subject...mainly the eye. I then take my pictures as necessary without having the camera trying to re-foucs each time I press the shutter button half way. This is how I do it for larger subjects like Hawks, Osprey and Bald Eagles. For the smaller birds I rely on the camera to focus.

Here's something I read when I first got my 7D.

http://www.deepgreenph​otography.com …ing-up-your-new-canon-7d/

For me it really depends on the situation. For fast flying BIFs I'll use all 19 or the auto group one with servo AF, especially if it is a smaller bird that will not be filling the frame. This gives me more keepers even if I don't keep subject centered. Slower flying I'll us point expansion and keep it to the side the bird is flying from, so there is space in front of the bird. I'll use center point for small backyard birds that are sitting relatively still.

For BIFs, I use 19 pt AI Servo 80-90% of the time, while for other flight captures, I may use a zone or center point with expansion. For stationary shots, I use single center point (either one shot or AI Servo). Your question is situation based and no one tool fits all. :P

Duane N wrote in post #13344032
Here's something I read when I first got my 7D.

http://www.deepgreenph​otography.com …ing-up-your-new-canon-7d/

This. it's a brilliant guide to setting up your 7D for bird photography.

I'm amazed at some of the suggestions you're getting. This is what I use with my 7D and 400mm 5.6/

I shoot in manual and in raw, always. You're in control of shooting and pp.

In custom function set the 'tracking' to slow, you don't want anything other than you're target to distract the af.

Use centre point with expansion for focussing. You've got a light lens, in my opinion the best for following bif's. It's relatively easy to keep you're subject where you want it.

You can get away with shooting at f5.6 just about all the time and get you're speed up by increasing the iso although if you need to go above 800 iso, pack up and go home.

Set the camera to focus using the back button, it takes some getting used to but it's worth it. You can then leave the af set to AI Servo and forget the One Shot setting for stationary subjects. Then all you have to do is focus on your subject with the back button, keep the shutter half depressed, every so often as you track the bird blip the back button. Then when you're ready, focus and shoot.

Anyone tells you it's easier it's easier to to focus and shoot with the shutter button and get 'keepers', hhmmm, i don't think so but then thats my opinion.