7D Mark II - Focus Discussions

The time you put in will be well worth it Al, I know of and visit more than one famiily of Fox. But they do tend to get flocked to when the word gets out. I have posted all of mine straight from my computer because hundred's of people with a camera would and have devastate the den site, I have not posted anywhere but here for that reason. I know I broke the rules posting that way but It was a must do. If you could see the circus and the stupidity that goes on at the den sites,...well it just makes you wonder what goes through peoples heads. But deffenetly do a little scouting and you will have yourself a buried treasure, pun intended !!

A question: what is the difference in practice between using center point expanded to 9 points (adding 8 surrounding points) and using the center part of the zone?

I see Jeff often uses that center part of the center zone and it works great as his posts show us. I tend to use center point, center point expanded to either 5 points or 9 points. If anyone knows and can clarify it for me, I'd really like to know the advantages/disadvantag​es of zone vs. expanded points.

Phoenixkh wrote in post #17591210
A question: what is the difference in practice between using center point expanded to 9 points (adding 8 surrounding points) and using the center part of the zone? .

My understanding is that with center point plus 8 or center point plus 4 is that the camera first attempts focus on center point and then, if it cannot lock it is assisted by the other activated points. Conversely, with the center zone, the camera attempts focus on the item nearest the lens within the grid of sensor points.

Hey Kim, The Loon is still on the nest ,...happy as can be.!!

I use the surrounding points as like focus holders like shooting the Hummers...he's so quik the camera can grab the back ground if I use spot ...but if I use any of the surrounding points as well they help to keep the centre point on track. like when they dart back and forth to the flower ,...well its mandatory that I use it. and it work very well.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/sWMr​jU

Jeff and Buddy,

Thanks for the response. I need to experiment a bit with the zone AF. I'm using at f/7.1 or f/8 so things tend to stay in focus. It might not matter all that much, but I'll try it.

Jeff, very cool.... I look forward to the baby loons (I'm sure there is an actual name for them but I certainly don't know it).

Kim that hummer was shot at. 1/1600 to stop him ...body wise anyway, f8 so I had some depth of focus and iso1000 so I could get my speed. I used the 1.4III extender so I was at 560mm with the 100-400LII and he was roughly 4 to 5 feet away I think.

Baby Loons = Loonies?

Hummers are so cool.... and as you know, so quick. I need to get our feeders back up so I can try to photograph one. I love yours. Their little wings beat so fast. I used to know how many times they flap per second.... but I must have deleted it.

LOL Loonies Lmfao ,...I like IT lol

Ya that happen Kim, once you get so much stuff in the garbage can... some stuff falls out lol

Now shooting with groups of points is a entirely different matter. and there not there to support but to get you the focus your after......but you need to get more than one point on target, don't expect that flash of one point to get the job done. in reality I'm not sure if the flash in the view finder really relates to the actual focus points as it happens so fast. but the result can be super.

This is 15 points ( centre group ) case 6 with a few mods and ya I had almost as many blackfly and mosquitos trying to suck the blood from my dying corpse.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/u4wh​Sz

bidkev wrote in post #17591082
What Lester said. The only reason that I find Flickr convenient...........t​hat, and it's also somewhere that I can store images to recover later if I have a disaster at home.

I'm the old school type, I don't very back up those stuff online. And if I do, I'll make sure to encrypt first. I have two 4TB external HDD. Both are encrypted drive, and I keep one at my sister house. Every time I go or my sister come, I swap that drive with the one in my house.

I am reluctant to make a statement just yet, but my body seems much, much better after the adjustments made by Canon. The focus is crisp and, most importantly, consistent. My initial impressions are good. Unfortunately it is raining here and will be for the next two days. I can't wait to get out in good light to chase some moving subjects to confirm. For anyone one the fence, send it in.

wisv1k wrote in post #17593035
I am reluctant to make a statement just yet, but my body seems much, much better after the adjustments made by Canon. The focus is crisp and, most importantly, consistent. My initial impressions are good. Unfortunately it is raining here and will be for the next two days. I can't wait to get out in good light to chase some moving subjects to confirm. For anyone one the fence, send it in.

Good to hear. Hope all goes well.

Thanks. Like many I was very discouraged after spending so much on the body. Now I am excited again.