Is this worth trying?

I spent yesterday photographing whippet races. I get down low on the home turn and shoot them coming full speed almost head on towards me. Sometimes I get lucky and get the shot, but most of the time even if I'm focussed on the head it usually gets their ribcage or hindquarters in focus.
I would imagine it's not because there's a fault with the lens but purely because they're such tiny little objects hurtling towards me so quickly.
I'm wondering if I microadjusted the lens to deliberately front focus might it catch that part I want? Of course I'd need to change it back once finished. I wish I'd thought to try it yesterday.
Has anyone been in a similar situation and tried it?

What body are you using, and are you using AI Servo?

There would be no way to determine the exact difference in focus, so I think it would be even less reliable than what you are geting now.

IN the old days of manual focus, the photographers would focus on a point of the track and just shoot a few quick frames when the subject reached that point. That might be something to try.

1Tanker wrote in post #14389162
What body are you using, and are you using AI Servo?

+1

Need more info on body and lens used...

I'm using the 7D and the 70-200 2.8 IS (with IS turned off) and yes, AI Servo, multiple frames per second, I've had it for a while now and I've got some amazing shots.
here's a couple that worked. these were taken last year.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/32012294@N02/5​852075950/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/32012294@N02/5​820607222/

i've seen a lot of your shots, they're very good. i don't about micro focus, i'd be worried all it will do is makes things worse. if you try it - report back.

Thanks Rick.
Here's one from yesterday, I checked the focus point while I was editing and it was smack bang on the dogs nose but clearly the ribs are what's in focus. This is a crop.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/32012294@N02/7​004126904/

Incredible shots! Dogs run fast and you're working with a shallow DOF, you're just going to get a lower than normal keeper rate shooting these types of shots I think. That's gotta be tough on any AF system...

Those first two shots are just gorgeous.

thanks zenophobe. I agree, I think it's a tough ask for the camera and lens. But when it works, I think the results are breathtaking. I do love my camera.
Well, it's just a hobby, I suppose I've got nothing to loose by giving it a go. I might try it if I go next month.

Looks like you're doing everything right to me. Maybe your expectations of catching the perfect shot is a little high?

I'd expect to take at least couple hundred shots to maybe get two of that quality, if that's even possible for me. lol

On my monitor it appears that the white dogs head is blown out and therefore difficult to determine if anything there is in focus.

Looking at the track, it appears that the area directly under the head and front legs are in good focus. It would seem that the dogs head would be in good focus as well unless it is unsharp due to movement.

Agreed that these are great shots and I would hope to get a couple of good ones after a year of trying this.

Jeff

Powell Photography wrote in post #14389619
On my monitor it appears that the white dogs head is blown out and therefore difficult to determine if anything there is in focus

Time to calibrate your monitor. There's detail there.

What focus points are in play? An image with the AF points overlaid would be useful.

First two shots were taken in good light. It appears the the 3rd might have been taken on an overcast day. Could that have something to do with the lack of detail you see in the head on the 3rd shot? It does look to be in focus on my monitor.

Mike Deep wrote in post #14390027
Time to calibrate your monitor. There's detail there.

What focus points are in play? An image with the AF points overlaid would be useful.

I dont know how to do that. but I know 'cause I checked when editing that the red square focus was definitely on the white dogs nose, I have many pics where it happens. Perhaps I need to focus in front of the dog so that in the split second it takes to press the shutter it will be there. As I've said, I dont blame the camera, it's just so hard to get it right and I'm trying to think of a way to either trick the camera, or me, and get a higher keeper rate.
I got a few I was happy with yesterday.
In this one I was focused on the lighter dog and although it missed her the darker dog's sharp enough for me under the conditions.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/32012294@N02/7​150831417/

dan_bgblue wrote in post #14390172
First two shots were taken in good light. It appears the the 3rd might have been taken on an overcast day. Could that have something to do with the lack of detail you see in the head on the 3rd shot? It does look to be in focus on my monitor.

Yes, it was very dull yesterday.