Feeling overwhelmed, I need some advice please

Yes, it's another 7D thread, but I am not complaining about the camera, just hoping for some advice please.
I am coming from a 400D and finding all the new controls and options of my magnificent new beast somewhat daunting. I am reading the manual but not sure how much I am absorbing or even understanding. I really want to learn though. To give you an idea of the kind of shots I'd like to be able to get with it look at Bayberrys photos, I love them.
https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=9855816&pos​tcount=107

So with that in mind I set it on AI Servo
zone AF
C.Fn l-1 I set tracking sensitivity to fast
C.Fn lll -2 I selected AF priority /tracking priority
C.Fn lll-3 Continuous AF Track priority
C.Fn lll -4 Focus search on.

I have no idea if these settings are right or not, judging by my photos I am thinking I've got it VERY wrong. So far I've only had my 100m macro on, just haven't had the chance to use the other lens, but I might try today.
The photos of running dogs so far have been out of focus by the looks of things and very washed out in colour.
Here's one with absolutely nothing done to it, dog having a crazy run around the yard last night, straight out of camera, so you can see what I am getting. it's jpeg. I think the only thing I will do is delete it but I wanted to get some advice off the more experienced 7D users first.

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Start with your tracking sensitivity at the far left setting, and if you need it to behave differently, move it up a notch at a time. Too high a setting, and the camera will bounce focus all over as soon as something crosses your path.

Also check out the 7D sticky, there are many thread pointers, some go to some great videos that will describe quite a bit on the 7D AF settings.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=768556

Washed out color has nothing to do with the camera, it is the lighting. I am guessing it was overcast?

As for tracking, have you set sensitivity to slow? I have seen this help as the camera is less likey to focus on extraneous objects.

Also have you watched the B&H videos? http://www.video.bhpho​tovideo.com …dbee4f4d48db9a2​6a992d3ab2

I can't see your pic.

The first thing that springs to mind is that you'll need considerably more than 1/250 to get sharp pictures of a Whippet charging around.

I'm not familiar with the lens, but is it at its sharpest wide open?

And 7D files need to be sharpened - the high pixel density and new AA filter make that a necessity, really (you've got the in-camera sharpening on 3, which is pretty low, and the Standard Picture Style you're using has flat colours).

This shot actually sharpens up quite well, given the slow shutter and wide-open lens!

The focus was on the dog's hindquarters too, which, with the thin DOF, will also have an effect on perceived sharpness.

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Now I can. you can easily recover this shot with some post processing. Just bring the exposure down a tiny bit and darken the blacks. The thing you've not done right is shutter speed. The shots you linked to have been done at a faster speed (shorter exposure).

i thought the 100 2.8 macro had a pretty slow AF

TeamSpeed wrote in post #9915928
Start with your tracking sensitivity at the far left setting, and if you need it to behave differently, move it up a notch at a time. Too high a setting, and the camera will bounce focus all over as soon as something crosses your path.

Also check out the 7D sticky, there are many thread pointers, some go to some great videos that will describe quite a bit on the 7D AF settings.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=768556

thanks everyone so far. I had the tracking sensitivity set to FAST, so I should turn it down a bit? Yes. OK I'll give it a go.
Off to read some more, thanks guys/

Couple of thing pop into my head. Dont be afraid to up the ISO. The difference between ISO100 and ISO400 is not even noticeable and even at ISO 800 or 1600 is barely noticeable. So up the ISO.

The 100mm is a fine lens but much sharper not wide open. Use some of the stops you gain from upping the ISO to close up the lens a bit. Also, 1/250th is a little slow, up the shutter speed a bit as well.

Lastly, post processing is your friend. You can increase the contrast, saturation a bit to get more punch in your image. Also maybe run the high pass filter to sharpen the image and your there.

Keith R wrote in post #9915942
And 7D files need to be sharpened - the high pixel density and new AA filter make that a necessity, really (you've got the in-camera sharpening on 3, which is pretty low, and the Standard Picture Style you're using has flat colours).

IMO that part right there is something that really needs to be taken into consideration.

When I went from a 400D to a 40D I quickly found out that the 40D needed a tad more sharpening (but would take to it quite well). Going from that 40D to a 7D there was an even greater "need" for post processing (to get the same quality).

My opinion is that the 7D won't seem to take as sharp of pictures as the 400D. "Seem to" being the key part of the phrase. The pictures will do great, they just need a bit of extra TLC to get them to were you're probably expecting them. Are you using Photoshop by chance?

There's other technical things too, sure, like shutter speed, but if you get to know the camera and how it's outputting images before you dive into the harder subjects it'll put you a leg up on things.

A couple suggestions, shoot in RAW so you can post process easier (change sharpening, white balance and even saturation). If you don't want to shoot in Raw then adjust your "standard" picture style to crank up the Sharpening and increase Saturation one click. For fast action you will NEED to use your 70-200 L lens. Save your 100 for portraits, macros. Don't be afraid to crank up the ISO to get faster shutter speeds as suggested earlier.

there is motion blur in the photo (1/250 shutter might not have been fast enough). Sharpening can only do so much. That and not sure if this lens is the best choice for this type of photo.

NaKiD EyE wrote in post #9916053
there is motion blur in the photo (1/250 shutter might not have been fast enough). Sharpening can only do so much. That and not sure if this lens is the best choice for this type of photo.

I completely agree with you on both of those points. I guess I was just making a generalized statement about what to expect with IQ in the upgrade. Sorry. Been working some insane hours all week so I can't quite follow the line of thought

Freddy Flash wrote in post #9916073
I completely agree with you on both of those points. I guess I was just making a generalized statement about what to expect with IQ in the upgrade. Sorry. Been working some insane hours all week so I can't quite follow the line of thought

lol funny you say that... this morning i dropped off my g/f at school and said "ok see when you get home tonight." Not remembering she did not have a car this week and I needed to pick her up. Needless to say it was 7am and I had only slept for an hour.

NaKiD EyE wrote in post #9916053
there is motion blur in the photo (1/250 shutter might not have been fast enough). Sharpening can only do so much. That and not sure if this lens is the best choice for this type of photo.

that was a spur of the moment thing, it was on the camera and Puck (the whippet) started running around like a looney.