So another photographer was at my soccer game

I play soccer and we finally started up again after a month break. I head to the field and I see my team sitting on the side just talking and waiting for the game to be over because we were up next. I quickly notice that there is a photographer there shooting and sitting right next to our team. I scope his equipment out... Using a 1d with a 300 2.8 L IS attached onto a 1.4 Extender. This guy is really about 5 feet away from us, so i decide to stretch out behind him and see what he is doing. I figured I might learn something.

The game that was before mine just finished and he put his canon down and walked up to a soda table. First he is an idiot to leave his equiptment alone like he did, but I had his back. So I notice that he is on Av (why?) with AI Servo (why?) and his IS lens on 2 not 1 (why?).

We get up and head to the field and I see the coach call the Photographer over to take a team shot of us. I see him switch lens and slaps his flash on and heads over... We gather like a soccer team would for a team pic. He goes ok guys stay still... I notice he hits his shutter button half way to focus and it beeps. but what got me confused is that he did this about 8 - 12 times before shooting one shot. so there he goes beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep SNAP. he looks at his display and then again, beeps about 7 times and snap snap.... why? I am new to photography but i would love to know why. thanks.

Fabian

I use AV at times when the clouds are changing the light to my target area.

not sure why he would have IS

None of that sounds strange. TV is a good choice when you have a 300mm f2.8 and are shooting something like soccer and want to shoot at f2.8. IS 2 is for panning, again for soccer, not strange.

The beep was probably him using manual focus for the team shot.

and to add to matt's comments, AI Servo is the ONLY way I'd shoot action. Why have pro gear then not use it to its fullest ability to lock on and track a moving subject (as long as he switched back to one shot for the group pic).

I know on my Mark II I have AI Servo turned on in the custom functions section. I always keep it on though even shooting my little ones as they are constantly moving!!! lol

great replies, I was just curious on all of that, but still has me puzzled on the beeping for the group shot

Yeah the beeping noise is kind of annoying to be honest. That is why I never do single shot and plus the fact with the kids always moving might as well just keep it in servo.

As to his IS being set to 1 or 2, the bigger question was whether it was on or off. Generally when you need a high shutter speed to capture any sport, my understanding is that IS is no good anyway as it does not get you any higher shutter speed. When I shoot baseball and hockey, my IS is also set to 2, but it is also OFF.

Av mode, as I am learning for baseball, is good when you want to fix your aperture to better blur background or whatever and then you can change ISO as needed with changing light conditions to keep your shutter speed where you need it for whatever action you are shooting.

yeah but we werent moving. we were standing still for a team shot, so why beep 10 times? lol.... as far as having IS on. why not? you spent the money lol. So put it on. I would think IS improves a shot no matter what Tv speed your at...

For me...
consistent light = Manual Mode

changing light = AV

Focus confirmation beep Im sure... never used it myslef but some do. Must have been
figuring out (or recomposing ) where to focus if it was happening that much

IS mode 2 is for panning if the IS was turned on (separate switch)

For one IS drains your battery when its on.

Some people keep it on all the time, some only when needed based on shutter speed

I thought I read that IS slows down focus, but was told otherwise on this forum some time ago.

Anyways the beep noise is annoying, but we all do things that annoy someone

I can only guess that he's a damn good sports photographer if he's using settings that most people on here would support. I'd echo the comment about whether the IS was on or off being the telling factor.

Secondly, I can only guess that he's a pi55-poor 'portrait' photographer if he chimps after every 'one shot' image he attempts!!

Fabian9931 wrote in post #5818090
yeah but we werent moving. we were standing still for a team shot, so why beep 10 times?

The beeping is AF-confirmation in one shot. He just happens to not have that beep disabled like most photographers do. If I did not disable mine, you'd probably hear it 50 times per shot because I half-tap repeatedly until focus stops shifting and I know for sure I'm locked on.

I think you've got that backwards - the only way to ensure you'll be at f/2.8 is to shoot in Av or Manual, not Tv.

I also shoot Av frequently when the light is variable (from clouds or even at night, when the lighting varies across a playing surface).