7D AF settings for wildlife

I just got a 7D! I wanted it for its fast frame rate and advanced focusing for shooting wildlife. Does anyone have any tips for selecting a focus mode for shooting wildlife, birds? Would you choose manual/single point or some other zone setting? and why?

If you want to shoot in servo w/ burst mode on a moving subject, single point AF, put it where you want the subject framed, and shoot.

Zone setting works great shooting birds in flight, with a clear background, it gives you more forgiveness in keeping on target, but with a busy background of an animal on land, the camera may focus on undesired parts of the "zone."

Single point expanded is a bit of a compromise between the two.

Really the 7D has so SO many focus modes you really just need to read the manual to make sure you have a fundamental understanding on what they do, and then get out there and use them and see what works for your subjects, settings, and style.

I found this info helpful when I was first setting my 7D up.

http://www.garyluhm.ne​t/bio/tips_0310.html

Ron

We have videos and white papers on how to set up the 7D located in the 7D FAQ

I have one of the custom modes (C2) setup for moving wildlife. I use center point expanded, AI Servo and high speed continuous in Tv mode with a high shutter speed. I can then flip from a static subject shooting mode to action with the turn of a single dial.

Awesome. All great tips and thanks for the references. I definitely have some reading to do.

I use single with expansion AF and back button servo for my bird shooting, taking the AF sensitivity down a notch helps as well just in case you wander off target, stops it immediately focussing on something else before re-acquiring the bird.

artyman wrote in post #14774068
I use single with expansion AF and back button servo for my bird shooting, taking the AF sensitivity down a notch helps as well just in case you wander off target, stops it immediately focussing on something else before re-acquiring the bird.

+1 with this. I have an ongoing love-hate relationship with my tracking sensitivity. I've just decided my 7d has a personality and some days it cooperates better than others. Joking aside, when I shoot birds I keep the sensitivity on the lower side and use af/tracking priority. Also I'm a fan of single point expansion.