stupid AI servo...

am i the only one who hates the one shot/ AI Servo thing? i was out shooting today and needed to keep on switching between the two. well, i guess i forgot to switch one time because 3 shots that could have been great came out looking like crap. why is it so hard to design a focus system that can do the switch for you (not like the one in the 20D which i don't like)

Try using Custom Function 4 set to 1. That changes the triggering for auto focus from the shutter button (half-press, of course) to the * button that's under your right thumb when you are using the camera.

You can, if you like, leave the camera on AI Servo. Then if you merely tap the * button it will autofocus and quit when your thumb is off the * button. If you hold down the * button, it will do AI Servo as long as you hold the * button down.

Personally, I don't like the AI Servo, but that's why there are so many options. I do, however, use the CF4=1 setting all the time. I really like the control it allows me. I can tell the auto focus system to do its thing when I want to and otherwise just use manual focus. For a whole series of shots at one distance from the subject I only need to focus once - not on every shot with the camera deciding different focus points for each shot because it thinks it's smarter than I am.

thanks Skip. i have been using the CF 4-1 since i got the camera and i still find the results with one shot to be way better for static shots than the AI Servo. i also found one shot to be completely useless for moving objects.

maybe it is just me after all....

i forgot to mention that i shoot mostly birds which means that they go from standing on a tree to flying in a matter of seconds and changing from the two modes is often too slow (again, for me)

blonde wrote in post #2312208
i forgot to mention that i shoot mostly birds which means that they go from standing on a tree to flying in a matter of seconds and changing from the two modes is often too slow (again, for me)

I would suggest that you learn to use manual focusing to follow something in motion. I used to do that all the time with my Nikon F's. There was no such thing as auto focus in those days, and nobody complained that it didn't exist or that they couldn't shoot moving subjects.

Some folks may want to get a lens or two that provides a decent focusing ring (smooth to operate and a comfortable amount of rotation to make the changes you want) to do this. The 18-55 EF-S "kit" lens is an example of the worst possible lenses for manual focus. The filter thread ring is what you grab to manually focus, and the focus changes so much for a small rotation of the ring that it's nearly impossible to use well. Most "L" lenses are fine for the purpose.

i guess that i will try and practice my MF skills

blonde wrote in post #2312204
thanks Skip. i have been using the CF 4-1 since i got the camera and i still find the results with one shot to be way better for static shots than the AI Servo. i also found one shot to be completely useless for moving objects.

maybe it is just me after all....

Nope, it's not just you. I also find myself in similar situations. But then again, it's usually when I'm also shooting birds. What Canon should do is make a camera geared specifically or bird photographer, huh?

i generally keep my camera/s on AI servo all the time when birding. on static objects i certainly can relate with this, it can certainly be a pain to keep focus and frame the subject. and with one shot, if the bird moves at all u are completely screwed. seems to me AI servo is the lesser of the two evils.

Billginthekeys wrote in post #2312449
i generally keep my camera/s on AI servo all the time when birding. on static objects i certainly can relate with this, it can certainly be a pain to keep focus and frame the subject. and with one shot, if the bird moves at all u are completely screwed. seems to me AI servo is the lesser of the two evils.

Murphy's law says that when you have the camera in AI Servo mode, the bird will always be static so there's a chance that more than a few of the images will not be in sharp focus. But, if you do have the camera in One Shot mode, the bird will inadvertantly fly off as soon as you have it in focus but before you get to fully depress the shutter button.

PacAce wrote in post #2312484
Murphy's law says that when you have the camera in AI Servo mode, the bird will always be static so there's a chance that more than a few of the images will not be in sharp focus. But, if you do have the camera in One Shot mode, the bird will inadvertantly fly off as soon as you have it in focus but before you get to fully depress the shutter button.

dude, i swear that this is what happed to me today. i was chasing a hawk around and every time i set it to AI he just stood there and every time i had it in one-shot, he flew off. i guess all we have to do is prey that Canon will find a solution for us soon one thing that they can do is set up a button that will change mode everytime you press it which will be alot faster than the 2 button setup on the 1D...

blonde wrote in post #2312705
dude, i swear that this is what happed to me today. i was chasing a hawk around and every time i set it to AI he just stood there and every time i had it in one-shot, he flew off. i guess all we have to do is prey that Canon will find a solution for us soon one thing that they can do is set up a button that will change mode everytime you press it which will be alot faster than the 2 button setup on the 1D...

It sure would be neat if they can set it so that the "X" button can be used to switch from OneShot to AIServo in toggle mode, OneShot when button is pressed, or AIServo when button is pressed, depending on how a new C.Fn for it is set.

that settles that, we will talk to Canon and demand them to add this function

Blonde,
I can't tell from your profile what equipment you are using, but this certainly makes a difference. I use a 1DmkII and set the CF 4-1 and 18-1 with the registered AF point to be the center one. The even in AI servo, pressing X uses just the center point only, while pressing * with my thumb activates all AF points after grabbing AF with the center one. Are you using fast glass, this helps with AI servo too.
This is the set up suggested by Sports Illustrated for sports shooting, of course the 1DmkII was made for fast paced sports.
http://www.siphoto.com​/?canon1DM2.inc
you'll notice they have some set up pages for other cameras.
Mike K

blonde wrote in post #2312954
that settles that, we will talk to Canon and demand them to add this function

.....actually not a bad idea....put it where DOF preview button is......anyone actually use that anyway? It's like, let me check my DOF at f 16.........wait......I don't see a thing.......LOL

Actually, I've been **** about this since I switched to Canon years ago. Nikon has it down so that their continuous focus will track moving objects and when it sees that nothing is moving it will lock on a solid, standing still object. I never would have to change from that mode unless I wanted to focus and re-compose. It was great.

I dont know why Canon simply cant figure that one out.

And on another note, I also found that the focusing on a moving object to be more accurate with the Nikon as well. So not only could it figure out when something was moving and when it wasnt, it could also figure out how to focus on that moving object better.

I didnt switch for the focusing, but it really surprised me to experience these things considering how much I read and heard about Canon focusing to be so much better than Nikon's.

And for the record, all experience has been with 1 Series cameras on the Canon side and the pro bodies on the Nikon side as well.