7d mark ii users - soccer pic help

Ok so I haven't used my camera In a long time. Personal issue that I just don't want to go into.

Anyway my kiddo had a soccer tournament and it was on the biggest field as he moved up to u13. so 330'x220' … and thought id give my 70-200 Tammy a workout. In addition, it was so overcast that we were waiting for the rain.

so I tried case 1-4, various AF and just couldn't get anything to work...

so anyone that uses a 7d mark ii or similar AF modes... what do you use?
I couldn't get the camera to stay locked when I chose someone as someone would walk into the pic (ref as example) and it would refocus and not stay locked. When I first looked at this camera online, people said how well it stays locked on its target. Well I cant get it to do that and think it is one of my biggest issues.
I shot in TV mode, auto ISO and 1/640 (I know borderline but due to cloudiness couldn't push it much more)

Not cropped at all... grass at kids feet from left to right look sharp and 33 does.. now when I edited the pic.. I cropped out the 2 on left and red shirt kids and most of jeep on right...

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2aPh​UvU

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/29vi​GC2

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/29vk​5op

I reset my camera and will be shooting with it tomorrow. did some reading up on CASE and I see that I will try CASE 4 and modified it to -2 for lock so hopefully that gives me what im looking for...

Personally I would use just a single focus point. (The centre one)

john crossley wrote in post #18703847
Personally I would use just a single focus point. (The centre one)

That is what I used to do... I just see and read so many reviews about advanced AF.. and to go back to center point!!! Hah. Game in 9h and its pouring so most likely no game...

TeleFragger wrote in post #18703877
That is what I used to do... I just see and read so many reviews about advanced AF.. and to go back to center point!!! Hah. Game in 9h and its pouring so most likely no game...

What, they don't play in the rain? I think part of my abiding dislike of football stems from being made to play it in the freezing cold winter rain, or even snow, at school. Oh and being the kid with the dynamic hand/eye coordination that was so bad I was ALWAYS the last one picked for any team.

Alan

BigAl007 wrote in post #18703916
What, they don't play in the rain? I think part of my abiding dislike of football stems from being made to play it in the freezing cold winter rain, or even snow, at school. Oh and being the kid with the dynamic hand/eye coordination that was so bad I was ALWAYS the last one picked for any team.

Alan

Reminds me of this. (Anyone not from Yorkshire may need subtitles)

Goalie's talent level inversely proportional to the size of his shorts....

I use single point AF on both the 7d2 and 5d4 when doing sports where people are close to each other and milling around. Zone AF has its uses but not in sports like basketball or soccer or football.

BigAl007 wrote in post #18703916
What, they don't play in the rain? I think part of my abiding dislike of football stems from being made to play it in the freezing cold winter rain, or even snow, at school. Oh and being the kid with the dynamic hand/eye coordination that was so bad I was ALWAYS the last one picked for any team.

Alan

Yes they play in the rain. If so contemplating standing out there and test weather seal of 7ď mkii and tamron lens hah..

Many fields around are closed but ours isnt yet. 42 miles away...

https://docs.google.co​m …Q/htmlview#gid=​2041208532

TeleFragger wrote in post #18703990
Yes they play in the rain. If so contemplating standing out there and test weather seal of 7ď mkii and tamron lens hah..

Don't. The warranty doesn't cover water damage, which should tell you all you need to know about the weather sealing. Buy a rain cover.

As for the AF, I don't know any serious team sport shooters that use anything other than single AF point. Multi-point/Follow may be OK for things like runners or cyclists or vehicles but the chaos of field sports, it just ends up focusing on the wrong thing.

Choderboy wrote in post #18703950
Goalie's talent level inversely proportional to the size of his shorts....

I wasn't even allowed to be goalie All I was ever allowed to be was a defender.

Alan

I use zone AF quite a bit but it has it's limitations. I would not use it at a sporting event.

soccer cancelled so will be another weekend till I get to give another whirl... thx all..

If you want to try it in full Auto for a few shots use the initial AF point and and make sure iTR is activated. iTR only works in the 3 zone AF modes. In that situation I'd use Case 6 as it combines Cases 4 and 5. 4 = fast stops and starts and acceleration/decelerat​ion of objects coming/moving away from you. Case 5 is for up/down and left/right. See how well the AF points track after it acquires focus on your subject - using the initial AF point. This depends on how much you want to experiment and waste shots. You can use the C1-3 modes or set up the AF-ON and * buttons so you can move quickly from single point to Auto and vice versa so you don't waste time.

Unless you are trying to shoot two or more players avoid Case 3. Case 2 and TS set to -2 for tracking one player is a good one to use when working with single point or an expansion mode. With TS in a negative setting AF becomes stubborn. After you acquire focus and the AF point goes off target, which it usually does in fast paced environments it will give you time to get it back on your target it before it looks for something else to focus on. Case 3 does the opposite.

I use single point, usually expanded, for pretty much everything. I shoot mostly birds, but also occasional sports. I've tried using zone, but it just hasn't worked well for me. I can see how it might have its uses, but because of my frustration with it I haven't used it enough to find out.