Getting the hang of AI Servo. It does work.

After reading many posts with people complaining about AI Servo not working well I decided to try it out at the beach while shooting seagulls in flight. It takes some getting used to and if you think about how it's working then you understand that a large part of having it work is the users ability to track the object smoothly, keeping it inside of the AF point selected. It's easy to be slightly behind the object and be out of focus, but when you're got it dead on and you're tracking is smooth it works very well. I tried it with the Sigma 17-70mm and the 85mm f/1.8 and both did a great job. I can't say I noticed a difference. There was plenty of light and contrast so it was really a matter of my ability to track smoothly, not the lens or speed of the lens. The only noticable difference is that the Canon USM is quieter and you can hardly tell it's making adjustments, whereas the Sigma was just the slightest bit noisier.

All in all I'm pretty impressed with AI servo and will absolutely shoot with it more. One thing I found was that if you use Custom Function 4 and the * button is being used to focus, or in this case to keep the AI servo operating, I found it to be a bit combersome. It was much easier to shoot in AI servo mode with Custom Function 4 set back to 0 and in burst mode (3 or 5 fps). I'm sure I could get comfortable with it but for this I found it more intuitive to be focusing with the half shutter and then just firing away with the same finger in one motion.

This is a sample.

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humm what the difference between Al Servo and Al focus?

With AI Servo you are focusing continuously as long as you are pressing the shutter half way or if using C.Fn 4 then you have the * button pressed.
AI Focus will focus and then switch from One Shot to AI Servo if the subject begins to move. I haven't tried AI Focus mode yet since everything I was tracking and shooting was moving at all times.

you think AI servo works on a 30D, try it on a 1 series baby!! Wait, that could be dangerous!!

Dante King wrote in post #2349652
you think AI servo works on a 30D, try it on a 1 series baby!! Wait, that could be dangerous!!

LOL Dante. I don't even want to pick up a 1 series for fear I may fall in love with it. THAT could be dangeous.

Oh and you would fall madly in love.

I found the same while trying out AI Servo and the high speed drive on my 30D this weekend (which was a huge difference coming from the crappy AI Focus and 4 shot buffer of my 300D)....first try out I managed these, and the dogs were running FAST.

i do think that AI servo works well in most situations. however, my problem with AI Servo is not that it can't track objects like seagulls or dogs or any other large and predictable object. i am struggling with the servo mostly when it comes to shooting birds of prey or other objects that are flying all over the place and are often not big enough to easily remain in the frame.

blonde wrote in post #2349853
i do think that AI servo works well in most situations. however, my problem with AI Servo is not that it can't track objects like seagulls or dogs or any other large and predictable object. i am struggling with the servo mostly when it comes to shooting birds of prey or other objects that are flying all over the place and are often not big enough to easily remain in the frame.

That would certainly make it difficult. So what do you do? Do you just stick with One Shot and fire multiple shots?

blonde sounds like your need is better camouflage ...

TMR Design wrote in post #2349886
That would certainly make it difficult. So what do you do? Do you just stick with One Shot and fire multiple shots?

what do i do? keep practicing seriously, the best way to overcome this is to really understand the system and see how you can work with it. sometimes all it takes is one step to the right so the bird is not moving in a head on direction and sometimes it takes using the FPS advanatge.

Bluedog_XT wrote in post #2349951
blonde sounds like your need is better camouflage ...

i don't think it is possible my friend, people already think that i am insane. but just in case, i am placing an order for the Kwik Camo cover tommmorw morning

blonde wrote in post #2349853
i do think that AI servo works well in most situations. however, my problem with AI Servo is not that it can't track objects like seagulls or dogs or any other large and predictable object. i am struggling with the servo mostly when it comes to shooting birds of prey or other objects that are flying all over the place and are often not big enough to easily remain in the frame.

I have the same issues when shooting volleyball or basketball where the athletes constantly move randomly in different directions, almost mocking you to try and keep up.

just to show you what i mean:

here are 2 examples of "easy targets":

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Yup.. knowing the limitations of AI Servo are important. It works best when your subject moves in a consistent manner. It's also important that you be able to keep your focus point(s) on the target.

Here are my humble offerings with a 5D and 100-400 - these are trained birds, as you can see they are 'wired' around their feet for their falconers to keep the bird on their arm. I am too much in a hurry to sit out there and wait in the field for them and I have utmost respect for those who have the patience to do just that.

hanging out there waiting is half the fun. take an ipod with your favorite music and it is very relaxing...