How to shoot a person walking towards my direction? Focus issue

Hi all. I'm having problems while taking photos of a person walking towards me. When I need to take a burst, mostly of them seems to be out of focus. IS there a correct technique for doing this, or it's like press-release, press again for new focus and shoot, then release again.

Please help me. Thanks

Does your camera have an autofocus "servo" setting that adjusts the focus for moving objects?

John_998 wrote in post #5838072
Hi all. I'm having problems while taking photos of a person walking towards me. When I need to take a burst, mostly of them seems to be out of focus. IS there a correct technique for doing this, or it's like press-release, press again for new focus and shoot, then release again.

Please help me. Thanks

Increase Depth of field, switch to AI Servo and hope there is enough contrast for the focus to pick up. Alternately switch to MF and slowly track, takes more practice.

I was also going to say use the ai servo mode - if your camera has this. Other than that just focus and shoot really quick. Wedding photographers have to do this all the time. Maybe someone else will chime in.

Stefan

Yes my camera does have the ai servo mode. I've never tried anything but the "one shot" because I was very confortable with focus very quick.. But in this particular situation when a person is moving towards me I found myself taking so many blur shots. How does AI Servo works? I think the manual explain it too poorly..

Two choices:
- AI servo focus mode
- Prefocus on a spot and shoot when they hit it.

I use the 2nd for wedding procession if I need too. Usually though my 40D focuses so quickly I can focus and shoot so quickly I don't need to bother.

"AI Servo" tracks moving targets and adjusts autofocus. For a walking target, it's the best option.

And the AI Focus option (automatically switches between one shot and servo), does that work? I mean, Can I set my camera in AI Focus and forget about it?

I would suggest using standard or AI servo, so you're in charge of the camera rather than a passive user of what it thinks is best. I know in AI servo the camera AF beam doesn't fire, I don't know about AI focus.

John_998 wrote in post #5838854
And the AI Focus option (automatically switches between one shot and servo), does that work? I mean, Can I set my camera in AI Focus and forget about it?

I have found AI Focus to be the least successful of the three. Once you lock focus it is supposed to track the subject if it moves, I haven't found t
hat ot work for me.

DC Fan wrote in post #5838785
"AI Servo" tracks moving targets and adjusts autofocus. For a walking target, it's the best option.

Yes that is the best option but it's not perfect. You shouldn't have a problem with someone walking towards you but may have a problem if your subject gets a little faster.

I use AI Servo for shooting very high speed motorsport and while it will miss, it does get a lot right.

I believe it might be more an issue with the predictability of the movement rather than the speed. The camera is busily computing likely positions and adjusting focus so that its ready when the shot is taken. If the camera cannot figure out an erratic movement, then it will never achieve focus.

Richard

John_998 wrote in post #5838854
And the AI Focus option (automatically switches between one shot and servo), does that work? I mean, Can I set my camera in AI Focus and forget about it?

To be blunt, AI Focus sucks. AI Servo is the way to go.