Getting the hang of AI Servo. It does work.

so when you're shooting objecs that "may" move then you use Al Focus, if you are shooting wildlife or sports then used Al Servo?

to be honest, i used to use AI Focus on my 20D and found it to be, how should i say it, not so good. now i use AI Servo for moving subject and One-Shot for static.

Using CFn 4-1 most people like the versatility this gives: one shot if you press and release *, AI servo if you keep * pressed in. However, I am under the impression that the AF lights only light up during focus tracking if using AI focus, and not AI servo. Is this true and if so this would be one big advantage of using AI focus as it would confirm that the focus is locked on the subject.

Also, I have read conflicting reports that if the centre AF point is selected, the initial focus is set with this point, but as the subject moves, any other focus point is used to maintain focus. Does this apply to both AI servo and AI focus?

I have noticed that if i use AI Servo the camera doesn't show me the focus point when i review the image.

Blonde make's a very good point regarding easy target and NOT so easy target this is were people can get missled ( not on purpus i might add ) but if someone asked about how good the A1 SERVO is on a 1dmk2 many will say its great NOW if you ask a guy that shoots small birds in flight i.e Dove /Pigion size at 40/50ft with a 300mm the anser will be very diffrent .The easy target may be 95% sucess the hard target will be 95% failure even 98% failure on birds as above .
im talking about spot on focus here by the way.
Rob.

I use AI Servo mode on a 20D to shoot college basketball, using only the center focus point, and I still get many pictures that are out of focus.

It seems like AI servo works best when a player is running directly toward me. The more of an angle there is between me and the movement, the better the chance of getting an out of focus picture. I still get an average of 50 good shots per game, but I'm throwing out 50 more that are out of focus.

AI servo seems to do worst on stationary targets. I've gotten in the habit of pressing the asterisk button once to set the focus on stationary targets (such as free throw shooters), as opposed to holding the button down as I would for moving targets. Yet even then the focus is often not right. It's pretty frustrating.

My theory is that even a stationary person is swaying back and forth a little bit, and that throws off the AI servo focus. But I'm mystified as to why it would be off when I set the focus first, then shoot.

Any ideas?

blonde wrote in post #2350009
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

Insane? surely not, I don't think my friends think that of me

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

i use something very similar but also add camo pants and a old army coat (i knew that being in the service would pay off one day).

I use AI servo for shooting mountain bike pictures on a 20D... it worked well for the first year or so but one of the AF points has started to hunt alot on different lenses and now unless the subject is bright and contrasty the AI gets confuzzled. I have had to revert to choosing a single AF point and tracking the subject with just that point.

I have tried cleaning the mirror and the split section of the mirror which was full of dust (minor improvement) but its still not perfect...