Focus Help with Toddler

First I would like to say hello as I am new to this forum!

Many times I get shots that are out of focus when shooting my toddler (18 month old) and was wondering if any of you have some tips that may help me.

It is not a problem with camera shake rather I just can't seem to get my camera (XSi) to focus quick enough or in the correct place.

I have been told by others to use the center AF point and then recompose and use the one shot AF setting. This does work well if she is sitting still, however I am trying to capture her outside running around. I have tried the AI Servo but I still have a not so good turn out of photos.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
:o

- Kevin -

You may want to make sure you have a fast enough shutter speed for the focal length you're shooting at. I think the general rule of thumb (which has to be adjusted for things like IS) is that the speed should be the number double your focal length. ie - for a 50 mm shot, your speed should be at least 100. The faster the speed, the more likely you should be able to capture her.

If it's outside, try to use a small enough aperture to get the greatest depth while still keeping a high enough shutter speed to stop the motion. Depending on the lens your using and the distance to the subject, f5.6 should work fine. Through the camera in Av mode and give it a try.

For Toddlers definitely keep your shutter speed over 125. I focus - recompose with my little guy, sometimes I get it sometimes I don't. It just takes practice.

I'm new to the forum too

You can try using AI Servo focus mode too. It's intended for subjects that are moving and might help. It may depend on how fast the AF is for your lens though. What lens are you using?

Some sample pics would help determine if missed focus is your only problem.

Yup, AI servo works well for toddlers:

When you're using AI Servo, make sure all focal points are turned on, the camera will start with the first point, then use all points when it's tracking.

Shutter speed is important. If they are running around I will try 1/250-1/500.
I might use a higher ISO depending on the light levels. A larger aperture/smaller fstop like 2.8 or 1.4 also helps with the speed.

A little trick I picked up is to use AI servo with continuous shooting mode. Snap off about 3-4 shots in a burst. Its normally the middle shots that will end up being sharpest

Hi Kevin, welcome... I too am new and anxious to hear the responses you may get on this subject. I have a little grand son that is 19 months and for the last 5 months the best shots have been of his backside... lol.

I have tried the sport mode on him (the I don't have time to think mode) on occassion and found it worked. And I also have tried panning and found it to be successful as well.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

You may also find it helps to shoot in Tv (Shutter Priority) mode, as opposed to aperture priority, set your shutter speed to at least 1/200. Do use a higher ISO. I used ISO 400 in the picture above. Canon DSLRs give pretty low noise results with ISO values up to about 400, even 1600 and 3200 are acceptable, given proper exposure.

I agree on setting the camera in burst mode. This uses a lot of memory, but can be very useful for getting the perfect shot of a running toddler.

Hi Kevin

Welcome to the forum.

I find that using the individual focus points works best for photographing kids, then you can see where you are focusing and make your own decisions rather than relying on the camera. I have also found that using focus and recompose can be problematic, particularly if you are shooting at wide apertures as you can have a very narrow depth of field and by moving the focus point you can change the plane of focus. If your child is running then you also have the problem of by the time you have recomposed your child is out of the plane that you had originally focused on.

I use aperture priority and work with high iso's to ensure that my shutter speed is high enough to freeze motion when the kids are running around. I tend to start at ISO 400 and then tweak depending on the weather on the day or if I am inside. You may also find that prefocusing on a spot and waiting for your toddler to run through the plane of focus can work. I use this technique on swings, focusing on the apex of the swing and then pressing the shutter when the child swings back to the same place.

It does take practice, I have been doing this full time for five years and I still get out of focus pictures of children running around, just a lot less than I did five years ago.

Have fun and keep at it and it will all fall into place.

Helen

How about a tranquilizer?

LOL... I'm kidding!

Tommy wrote in post #7676830
How about a tranquilizer?

LOL... I'm kidding!

Can't resist ...

MIME changed to 'text/html' | Content warning: data

That is hilarious!

Canonymous wrote in post #7670165
A little trick I picked up is to use AI servo with continuous shooting mode. Snap off about 3-4 shots in a burst. Its normally the middle shots that will end up being sharpest

I was about to suggest the same thing -- the first shot of the burst is subject to jiggling from you pressing the shutter release, but the rest are free from that.

I'm trying to figure out if the AF on the 5DmkII is good enough for my 5 month old indoors, or if I should stick with a 50D.

Hello, I'm also new to these wonderful forums, and relatively new to DSLR. Recently I have a lot of chances to take pictures of toddlers (<12 months). I learned the hard way. Now I think AI Servo or Manual Focus is the best way to keep the right spot in focus. Fixed focus point is also OK, but you need to always make the best spot right in the middle of the picture.

And you have to be ready any second, with your camera up. The toddlers won't freeze for you.

I'm not sure if shutter speed is relevant to the focus issue. No doubt a fast-moving object requires a faster speed. But as long as focus at the right spot goes, shutter speed cannot help. Please correct me if I'm wrong.