ai servo question

hi

just want to make sure im understanding this right. would like to get pics of the bride walking down the aisle. i have single point focus, ai servo on and back button focus. do i just focus on the bride, hold down the bbf while holdin the shutter? any other focus or shutter setting i need to adjust? im just a guest, not getting paid, and will stay outta the way of photog. tia

In a nutshell, yes... A bride isn't moving all that fast (usually), but AI Servo and continuous focus is still going to be the best way to get the shot.

But I really don't suggest firing off a machine gun staccatto of shots at 4.5 fps with your 5DII while the bride is walking down the aisle. You will piss off everyone around you... The camera is just way too noisy for that (unless it's some rock & roll wedding with loud music). Pick individual shots while maintaining focus (that's the whole reason for setting up Back Button Focusing)... and keep to a minimum.

In fact, I don't know that I'd use a 5D/5DII at all during a quiet wedding ceremony. Even individual clicks from them tend to be pretty loud . I don't shoot enuf weddings now to suggest what might be better (I haven't used 5DIII yet, so can't say how it compares... or 6D, of course). When I was still shooting film, I used to use an Elan 7E (EOS 33) during ceremonies. That model was designed from the ground up to be very quiet and is much quieter than the EOS-3s I was also using, as well as most other Canon SLRs and DSLRs.

IMO, Canon really needs to pay some attention to the noise levels of their cameras. They don't seem to have been giving it much thought with recent models.

I have never had anyone complain of give me looks for shooting during a weddings. I think sometimes we worry more about that stuff than non-photographers do. I have shot Catholic weddings (both as a guest and photog) that are very formal and never had an issue.

I've never had any issues either; I think the sounds of cameras are pretty much the norm and anticipated.

Indeed do they pay attention, as there are models with special silent modes nowadays.