7D Mark II - Focus Discussions

notimetochill wrote in post #17857837
if we say that I want to photograph a sedentary bird, I focus once with AF-ON button, and then what? I can then change so I have the bird out on the edge of the image and still have the focus? I tried it today and sometimes it works but when I look at a program where I see the focus point that has been used, it is completely wrong than I remember.

I am not totally sure of your question but Back Button Focus (BBF) (I have mine set up on the * button as my thumb more naturally fits on it) works great when you want to focus on a stationary object and then recompose the shot. Put the focus point(s) on the object, hit the BBF button to focus and then let off, recompose the shot, and then hit the shutter release. Note: That you need to have the focus on the shutter turned off in custom controls or when you half press the shutter, the camera will try to refocus. Also note that you will rotate your plane of focus some when rotating the camera to recompose. At a distance and with large depths of fields, the rotation of the plane of focus won't matter. But closer up (especially macro type shots) and with thin DOF's, the rotation of the plane of focus could affect what is in focus in your shot.

I'm far from an expert on this but some info does seep through my thick skull at times.

Doc

Which af area selection do you use and why?

For examples, BIF, motorsport, ice-hockey and subjects that don't move?

notimetochill wrote in post #17857944
Which af area selection do you use and why?

For examples, BIF, motorsport, ice-hockey and subjects that don't move?

If you are asking me, I shoot mainly sports and use one point expanded to nine for moving sports shots. Sometimes, if shooting a stationary object I wll change to single point.


Doc

Thank you I will try that tomorrow. Do you use AI Servo too?

notimetochill wrote in post #17857958
Thank you I will try that tomorrow. Do you use AI Servo too?

I'm like, Jeff, I'm in AI Servo 99% of the time even for stationary shots.

Doc

McNeese72 wrote in post #17857984
I'm like, Jeff, I'm in AI Servo 99% of the time even for stationary shots.

Doc

I too am in the Servo club.

Ok, do you use the af-on button or?

mwsilver wrote in post #17855450
Not all. The Canon Rebels do not have MFA, and the 60D did not have it either.

That is why I said "for some time". Not surprisingly older cameras don't (my old 20D does not), but I think even the modern budget models do.

McNeese72 wrote in post #17857984
I'm like, Jeff, I'm in AI Servo 99% of the time even for stationary shots.

Doc

Me too

notimetochill wrote in post #17857901
Okay today I tried my 7D mkii if it can get focus on subjects that don't move, I was scared that I got a bad copy of the 7d mkii but today it does a good job. I tried almost every af area selections today. But at 500-600 mm on Tamron it's hard to get it so sharp as I can get with my 6D.


One thing that maybe cause worse focus on subjects at long distance is that I use spot af and not single point af. Maybe the narrow focus is hard to get spot on at a subject from long distance?

I would be careful about comparing to the 6D, a full frame camera is very forgiving of any minor miss focus but a crop will show it up more.

Also I am sure you know you need to use 1.6x the shutter speed you would use on the 6D if handholding. At 600mm on the 7DII I like to be at 1/1000, you can get good images at less, a lot less with the VR on, but it will be better to keep it high in my experience.

Of course if you are using a tripod with a truly static subject this is not an issue. NB most nature subjects are always moving a little (unless its a rock!).

PS I have 6D, 7DII and Tammy 150-600 too.

digital paradise wrote in post #17857903
No. It is just an alternative to the BBF. I have never likes using the DOF button and never will. Too awkward for me.

I only use the DOF button for on tripod macro.

What I do on the 7DII is for the custom mode I use for in-flight I move the IS on function the DOF to effectively turn it off without having to twiddle with the lens switch.

Peter2516 wrote in post #17858051
Me too

And me.

Honey Monster wrote in post #17858088
And me.

Jeff WHO? Just kidding.

A1original wrote in post #17858101
Jeff WHO? Just kidding.

Find a great shot of a fox, a pine marten (sp?), etc in this message string, get your big magnifying glass out, and look in the lower right hand corner of the photo. You will find out Jeff WHO

Doc

McNeese72 wrote in post #17858116
Find a great shot of a fox, a pine marten (sp?), etc in this message string, get your big magnifying glass out, and look in the lower right hand corner of the photo. You will find out Jeff WHO

Doc

And chickadee.