-= 7D2 owners unite! Discuss and post photos!

some kind of honey-eater, this was taken into a fairly dark area so detail is not as good as Id like due to being shot at ISO 6400

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

With an idea for zone AF experimenting, I visited Dick Scobee RCA Field in George Bush Park, the day after New Year's. My thought was that, rather than using all 65 focus points in AI Servo, High Speed Continuous, I would select the center zone 25 points. I felt that, if I could keep the bird (plane) in the center of the view finder, perhaps the fewer points available would allow for faster, more accurate focus point switching. It did seem to result in a higher percentage of sharply focused shots, but I still had some images where the active focus point(s) were not on the plane, even though the plane was in the center zone. I do not understand this. In any case, it was a fun test, this jet was fast and loud and the pilot knew his stuff.

for surfing shots I do a center shot with the surrounding boxes instead of the entire zone. Set in AI servo that seems to hit the mark. I have to be better at tracking of course.

mikeivan wrote in post #18235805
With an idea for zone AF experimenting, I visited Dick Scobee RCA Field in George Bush Park, the day after New Year's. My thought was that, rather than using all 65 focus points in AI Servo, High Speed Continuous, I would select the center zone 25 points. I felt that, if I could keep the bird (plane) in the center of the view finder, perhaps the fewer points available would allow for faster, more accurate focus point switching. It did seem to result in a higher percentage of sharply focused shots, but I still had some images where the active focus point(s) were not on the plane, even though the plane was in the center zone. I do not understand this. In any case, it was a fun test, this jet was fast and loud and the pilot knew his stuff.

Hosted photo: posted by mikeivan in
./showthread.php?p=182​35805&i=i107735471
forum: Canon Digital Cameras

Low altitude pass

Hosted photo: posted by mikeivan in
./showthread.php?p=182​35805&i=i149341040
forum: Canon Digital Cameras

High speed, inverted pass

Many shoot with centre and expansion. I have been shooting a lot in small zone lately. I wondered why so little interest in it. I also like 65 point and have been using it for quite some time. I set my cam up so it toggles between whatever Case and AF modes I choose using the AF-ON button and Case 6, 65 point zone using the * button. For the AF-ON it is usually Case 2 and 4 point expansion but lately it has been more small zone.

Rather than it being your job to keep the centre point on the target at all times the computer tries to keep a point or points on the closest target and my guess the closest part of the target. It could have been in the middle of switching from one point that was previously on the target to a new one that just acquired it.

The TS setting makes a big difference. I'm just going to back to centre point only for this part. With it set to -2, I calculated if the AF point goes off target you get about 1 second before the system starts to look for something else to focus on. It gives you time to re-acquire the target. When you think about it at 10 FPS you can get 10 in focus shots with the AF point no where near the target.

Try using zones 5 or 6 or increase AF switching in the case you shoot in when in zone AF. This will make the AF points respond faster as they are tracking.

I was tracking this gull. The AF point was on it and in focus. Then it swooped up while burst shooting. I long ago stopped worrying about why the AF point is not on the target when in AI Servo. As long as it is in focus - I just trust the system.

This is a screen shot. The actual is right on.

I hate the way Canon named the zones. There is zone, large zone and 65 point zone. If don't say small zone someone may think I'm taking about 65 point. Here is example of small zone and I used it the whole shoot. I also tried my 100-400 II IS on mode 3 for the first time that day.

Another example from that day. One shot followed by another from a burst sequence.

100-400II + 1.4II

Warning: I have setup a bird feeder to photograph birds. So expect too many damn bird shots.

It has taken about a week for the birds to find it. Here is my first effort, and a copy of the feeder setup. I tried to set it up for clean backgrounds and to make it look natural.

bjbsav wrote in post #18233196
When shot a NFL game I noticed a lot of the NFL photographers shooting in AV Aperture priority.

McNeese72 wrote in post #18233223
With the 7D2, I gotten to where I like to shoot in manual mode setting the aperture and shutter speed where I want it and putting the ISO on auto ISO. Then I use exposure compensation if I need it. I have that set up where I can hold the set button in and rotate the top wheel to dial in some exposure compensation.

But with sports, as with any photography situation, there is more than one way to do it.

Doc

Fully agree with you Doc. The Av Priority is a it of a remnant from when the cameras did not have EC in Manual Mode. The photog would still likely use auto ISO along with minimum shutter speed setting, but would have gained EC. The only upside to it vs the Manual method you and I use is that it is The potential to give a faster shutter speed exposure since it isn't locked which is good for outdoors, not so much for indoor shooting where we all want to balance noise vs SS sharpness.

mikeivan wrote in post #18235805
With an idea for zone AF experimenting, I visited Dick Scobee RCA Field in George Bush Park, the day after New Year's. My thought was that, rather than using all 65 focus points in AI Servo, High Speed Continuous, I would select the center zone 25 points. I felt that, if I could keep the bird (plane) in the center of the view finder, perhaps the fewer points available would allow for faster, more accurate focus point switching. It did seem to result in a higher percentage of sharply focused shots, but I still had some images where the active focus point(s) were not on the plane, even though the plane was in the center zone. I do not understand this. In any case, it was a fun test, this jet was fast and loud and the pilot knew his stuff.

Hosted photo: posted by mikeivan in
./showthread.php?p=182​35805&i=i107735471
forum: Canon Digital Cameras

Low altitude pass

Hosted photo: posted by mikeivan in
./showthread.php?p=182​35805&i=i149341040
forum: Canon Digital Cameras

High speed, inverted pass

Mike, especially with any of the zones, you may ant to read the 7dii af setup manual that was dedicated to the servo presets, which helped better understand the three individual variables.

Against blue sky, I recommend Af pt sw =+2, accelerate=+2 and TS=0 to2. If plane passes in front of or behind objects change TS to +1 or +2.
See if this helps the keeper rate.

Kingfisher, The first time i have managed to capture one, Am i happy, You bet i am.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/PLAx​tB