7D Mark II - Focus Discussions

And another goose

Awesome Jake, don't be afraid ,...pull the trigger

Kickflipkid687 wrote in post #17586745
I still do wonder if some softness is from a more aggressive AA Filter + smaller pixels.

I took about 40 shots of this shoveler today, on a tripod, 1000/th sec +, with IS on, and really none of them were very sharp. All like this, or worse.
Maybe I need to experiment more with Panning IS mode instead of full IS. But, it gets too shaky with no IS.

The AF point could have been in a better spot on this shot though, which also could be part of the issue.
It's annoying the AF points in the viewfinder dont line up with the real sensors.

I need to run a test of my own, to see exactly where they extend to.


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Focus Point is in a bit better spot i feel like, but even worse results. But, I think the plane of focus is in the right spot.
Unless the heat was really screwing things up. It was around 65-70F.

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Something definitely not right with these images, @ 1/1000 + even at f/4 they should be sharp on the front at 15 metres with a depth of field of about 5 inches (barely enough to capture the birds body width)
A few points though :

The lens will detect a tripod is being used and IS will be OFF.

f/6.3 -f/8 may have been a better choice giving sufficient D.O.F.

Not sure what case setting was being used in AI SERVO mode, but Canon say tracking sensitivity should be turned down ( -1 or -2 maybe ) when using prime lenses

Personally I wouldn't use AI SERVO for a sitting duck but that appears to be just me

It was swimming past me at a constant speed, semi quick. Ai servo with case 2 I believe.

I bought the lens to use at f4. Which can be tough sometimes, but if I stop it down, I almost might as well use the 100-400ii Imo.

I was able to lock in on a baby grebe from like 40-50ft away yesterday however. But it was sitting still.
Also a rabbits eye from 20ft away or so, in total shade. Again, sitting still.

I've mainly had issues with this camera In servo.

I think it's looking for really fast motion and searching / predicting too fast maybe. Twitching out. I shoot over water often though too, which adds another whole level of complexity.

Maybe I'm asking too much. Maybe I need to test a 1d mark iv or 1dx and see how that handles it. Or even a 5d iii. It sounds like some of those deal with larger apertures better.

That's why I never use AI SERVO for this type of shot, and only use it for action shots for which it is intended.
You should get a better bokeh on the 500 prime than the 100-400 on comparable F number settings

Well, when it's moving constantly, trying to refocus over and over in One Shot would probably be even less successful?
But, I could always try it out.


The 500 is better of course, but I've used the new 100-400II, and even with the extender, it was quite good.
I'm still tempted to sell some stuff and get that to compliment the 500.


Anyways, today seems to have gone better. Was using Case 2 again.
Someone suggested using -2 Sensitivity, and +1 accel/decel. I'll have to experiment with that more too.

A is with the 7dmk2 AI servo Case1 and the 70-200 mk2 at 200mm
B is with the 7dmk2 AI servo Case1 and the 100-400Mk2 at 400mm

7D MKII AI Servo Case 5
F 7.1 1/1000 ISO 500
EF 400 mm F 5.6

Super Job Iain, Chas I dont believe AI servo was made for moving subjects at all,..I believe it was made to give you minute adjustment in focus caused by movement on your part or the subject, not for all out speed movement. If your not using AI servo shooting wildlife I think your selling your self short.

Shot using AI Servo 1/200, f5, iso1250

I think the fact that I can focus track karts accelerating or decelerating towards me at a rate greater than any form of wildlife (60-90MPH at 3G's) is proof positive that AI Servo was designed or at least capable of "all out speed" movement. The fact that it works for static or slow moving objects is a plus

Thats exactly what I am saying, all out speed but not only, Parts of wildlife make 90MPH look slow, But I am definitely not saying its not for speed

Ya you guessed it AIservo ,,.. and I shot this using the centre group,... I shot this just before the rain came down tonight on my way back from a super shooting weekend

1/200, f7.1, iso1250, 400mm uncropped

Edit ,...One more thing ,.....The top and bottom row are not used when shooting the centre group , Thought I should point that out ,..there not in use only the centre 15

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/tncL​hY

Pondrader wrote in post #17588111
Ya you guessed it AIservo ,,.. and I shot this using the centre group,... I shot this just before the rain came down tonight on my way back from a super shooting weekend

1/200, f7.1, iso1250, 400mm uncropped

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/tncL​hY IMG_5864 by Wild Photography, on Flickr

Totally reminds me of someone I know.

So how come it didn't focus on the nearest thing, his nose?

It focused right where I was pointing which was between his nose and his eye's, Im not fond of eye in focus and the nose out of focus so on something this big I will, well I call it "Pull" the focus forward by shooting him in front of his eye's, I watched the focus points and shot when I was hitting where I wanted the focus

One more thing ,.....The top and bottom row are not used when shooting the centre group , Thought I should point that out ,..there not in use