7D AI Servo running dog head on demo (and other observations)

AI Servo Performance

24 frames in ~3 seconds with my 100-400 at 400mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, 400 ISO. Shot raw and processed in DPP with sharpening = 3. This was with centre point plus expansion, which is what I would normally use with my 1D3.

Album slideshow here - http://picasaweb.googl​e.com …eshow/540025045​3996820754 You will need to press "play", and it might be more effective if you set the slideshow speed to 1 second per frame rather than the default 3 seconds.

Samples below....

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/png' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/png' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/png' | Byte size: ZERO

Looks like it tracked the dog very nicely.

Nice job with the dog and blackbird. It shows your camera's ai servo works well, and also shows the shooter is fairly skilled too

With the 7D it takes a lot less skill than with a 50D, 40D, 30D etc., if you set the camera up properly in the first place. Some skill is required, for sure, but I would not get results as consistent as these with my xxD bodies. No chance. Having the right kit can make a big difference.

So far the 7D seems much closer to the 1D3 in performance and features than it does to the 50D. I like it. (I do have a 50D and a 1D3 too)

Nice moon shot, you can see the crater where our missile hit down in the bottom right.

Great thread,. the 7D is looking like the best bang for the buck of all Canon DSLRs thus far!

That's pretty darn impressive. The dog fills so little of the frame in the early shots, yet the camera tracked him very well. The bird looks maybe a bit soft? Not sure if that's due to your MA attempts either, though.

I've been enjoying the 7D so far myself, and partly for the same reason - the AF is a thrill to use. I practiced tracking a little last week while I was down visiting family in Florida. My first batch of shots was terrible, but that was my fault (usually is) - slow shutter speeds and galloping dogs don't mix!

Here's a couple - the camera is well able to keep up, as long as I was...

Brett wrote in post #8953630
The bird looks maybe a bit soft? Not sure if that's due to your MA attempts either, though.

Some of the bird images are a little soft, but I guess the 100-400 is not the best choice for ultimate lens IQ at 400mm and f/5.6.

Then there is the possibility of shake or imperfect panning, or wing blur, even at 1/1600.

Then there is the fact that at large magnifications (above 10x8 for the full image) the DOF tables are not correct. Assuming a subject distance of 10m (33') the DOF at regular viewing sizes is only 13cm (5") so totally inadequate to have the whole bird pin sharp.

Then there is the fact that I performed only modest sharpening in DPP, which is not too sophisticated, and I left NR on defaults.

With all that said, here is a 50% crop from DPP with sharpening at 3.

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

That looks pretty good, Tim. DOF can be an issue at times. I experienced it a lot with the 5D's.

Very nice set tdodd. Can you post your camera settings? I am having a hard time deciding what settings I should use. Basically I like to shoot action shots and landscape. So when the opprotunity arises I'd like to switch over to servo and fire away.

Do you wait for focus to lock on and then start firing away?

I always wait for AF to lock/track before releasing the shutter, or at least that is my goal.

I only shoot raw and almost always use manual exposure, with spot metering, and I turn off all image processing "enhancements" like ALO, NR, HTP. I use Neutral picture style for a slightly more reliable histogram and normally I leave WB as Daylight regardless of the lighting. For reasons I can't explain I do leave LPIC enabled. I guess it seems like a useful enhancement, if I should happen to use DPP, unlike ALO, which just seems like a recipe for disaster, taking control away from me.

Based on my experience with the 1D3 my favoured AF modes are single point or single point plus expansion. Occasionally I will use all points for AI Servo for a difficult subject against a plain background. I have tracking sensitivity set to slow and have focus prioritised over speed. I only use the AF-On button to focus, leaving the shutter release only for metering and taking the shot.

With the 1D3 (and other bodies) I tended to use AI-Servo most of the time, even for a static subject, simulating One-Shot AF by pressing AF-On only to get a "lock" and then releasing the button. With the 7D I have configured the DOF preview button to switch from AI Servo to One-Shot quickly/easily without having to change focus modes. In poor light I am aware that One-Shot is much more reliable than AI-Servo so I will purposely switch to One-Shot if it maes sense to do so.

I think that's the fundamentals dealt with. If there is anything specific you want to ask then fire away.

wow it did a very good job in tracking the bird with the dark background! Moon shot was great! with the skills you got.. must of been handheld too! =)

The dog shots are great! Geez... I don't have any extra cash for a 7D yet

tdodd wrote in post #8953935
Some of the bird images are a little soft, but I guess the 100-400 is not the best choice for ultimate lens IQ at 400mm and f/5.6.
[...]
I think the eye and head is fairly sharp, but clearly the wing is soft, partly due to DOF limits and perhaps some motion blur.

Yes, in that crop the beak and eye look sharp. I wasn't aware it was at 400mm with that lens. I don't think you can expect too much better than that, with the related DoF concerns.

This camera is really starting to look like a winner.