Canon 85mm 1.8 Focusing

Just bought a 85mm and love it, but I am having a problem with the focusing. I really want to use this lense for basketball games. I was taking some test shoots in the back yard of my boys playing football and most of them were out of focus but the few that were in focus turned out great! Any suggestions? I was using the sports mode for awhile.

what kind of camera are you using?
I use a canon 20d in AV mode (custom mode) at 1600ISO center point focus

I haven't heard many (not any, really) reports of focus problems with this lens. For sports try using the center focusing point only and AI Servo focusing. Depending on camera you'll have to figure out what modes support this. Generally speaking I'd skip sports mode and try Av or Tv instead. Also, check what shuttrer speeds you get, with moving targets you nmeed a reasonably quick shutter, maybe 1/400 or better, to freeze the action. You may have to increase the ISO setting to achieve this.

I would do exactly as CatC504 says with the settings. I've never had problems with my 85 1.8 focusing. The indoor captures may be more problematic, but the outdoor shots are usually perfect. What were your settings?

SuzyView

I am using a Canon 20d and love it I might add!! I will be shooting a girls basketball game tommorow with poor lighting, I will try Av mode. If anyone has anymore suggestions please let me know. Thanks

How wide was the aperture on your shots? Post some shots or leave some links so we can check the exif. Can only think that the 1600 iso is because it was dark, so i'm guessing the aperture was wide open. That makes for a very shallow depth of field and you have to be bang on focus which is not easy with fast moving subjects.

i just got mine the other day and had no problem with the focus....as everybody said...try to use center point...hhhmm...try 4-1 or i prefer the 4-3 function with servo mode on sports....

My 85 will not exactly hunt, but it will get confused on what to focus on from time to time, even when holding still focusing on a stationary object such as a leaf or a branch or something similar, it will lock focus on things other than what I intend, with center point focus selected, I nearly always use that. . . But I really believe the misfocus is the result of the XT not the lens. . . after all the lens only focuses on what the body tells it to focus on.

Mine's very accurate, it really sounds like a depth of field issue, or the shutter's too slow

Please explain depth of field? I know dumb question!

Depth of Field or DOF for short, generally is the range at which a given subject will be sharp in the resulting picture. If you're shooting at f/1.8, you'd get a narrow depth of field, as thin as 1/2 inch. Shooting at say, f/4 or f/8 will give you a deeper depth of field. That's the easy explanation, you can get much more involved, but may not learn that much more!

http://www.dpreview.co​m …cal/Depth_of_Fi​eld_01.htm

mine is pretty quick and very accurate. i generally don't use the centre spot, however - usually the spot two to the right of centre - so when it's in portrait orientation it's around the eyes. it's still accurate enough - even running AI servo. the thing i've found much worse than shallow DOF is the rapidly changing white balance.

Sorry for changing the subject a little, but how do you like the 28mm 1.8 lens? That will probably be my next purchase.

Now back on topic: I use my 85mm for indoor basket ball pictures of my children. The lighting conditions a very poor in the gym where my kids play, so I take lots of pictures to get a few good ones. The 85mm works great though. It and my 50mm 1.4 are my favorite lenses.