AI servo focus settings

I am going out of my usual genre for a couple of upcoming basketball games (usually portraits & weddings). Unless I get a runaway bride, I won't have to deal too much with questions like these. But what do sports shooters prefer for ai servo tracking and sensitivity settings and why?

Thanks

NewCreation wrote in post #17402312
I am going out of my usual genre for a couple of upcoming basketball games (usually portraits & weddings). Unless I get a runaway bride, I won't have to deal too much with questions like these. But what do sports shooters prefer for ai servo tracking and sensitivity settings and why?

Thanks

You didn't say what camera and lenses you will be using.

Here's what I've been shooting at the location I shoot at which is pretty well lit. Using a 7DII, I shoot AI servo, multishot high, single focus point expanded to 8. I try to keep the shutter speed at 1/1000 (you may have to go down if the gym is not lit well) and aperture at F2.8 or F3.2. On the 7DII, I'm shooting in manual mode with the above settings and with Auto-ISO and the exposure compensation turned up 1/3 stop (you can do that with the 7DII).

As far as the autofocus, I've used both Case 1 and Case 4 with the tracking sensitivity turned down so it stays on what I'm tracking better without switching quickly another subject.

As far as lenses, I'm using a Canon 70-200 F2.8 version I and, under the basket, a Sigma 17-50 F2.8. I'd love to have a Canon 24-70 F2.8.

I'm sure other people use different setting but this is what has worked for me.


Doc

McNeese72 wrote in post #17402421
You didn't say what camera and lenses you will be using.

Here's what I've been shooting at the location I shoot at which is pretty well lit. Using a 7DII, I shoot AI servo, multishot high, single focus point expanded to 8. I try to keep the shutter speed at 1/1000 (you may have to go down if the gym is not lit well) and aperture at F2.8 or F3.2. On the 7DII, I'm shooting in manual mode with the above settings and with Auto-ISO and the exposure compensation turned up 1/3 stop (you can do that with the 7DII).

As far as the autofocus, I've used both Case 1 and Case 4 with the tracking sensitivity turned down so it stays on what I'm tracking better without switching quickly another subject.

As far as lenses, I'm using a Canon 70-200 F2.8 version I and, under the basket, a Sigma 17-50 F2.8. I'd love to have a Canon 24-70 F2.8.

I'm sure other people use different setting but this is what has worked for me.

Doc

Whoops. Camera & lenses would help. I was used to it showing up in my signature. Anyway, I have a 6d and 60d but only 6d allows me to change the ai servo settings. I have a tamron 70-200 2.8 vc, tamron 28-75 2.8, Canon 85 1.8. I'm planning on the 85 1.8 on my 60d and the 70-200 on my 6d.

I shot basketball when my kids were in high school but it's been several years and I only had the 60d and a 50mm 1.8. :P. I am good on figuring out the other settings though I appreciate you chiming in on that. I just wasn't sure about the tracking and sensitivity options that the 6d offers (yes, I know it's not a sports body by any stretch of the imagination, but it's killer for weddings. )

So basically my situation sounds kinda like the beginning to a joke, "A wedding photographer walked into a basketball game...". I just need a good punchline.