AI Servo

In preparation for my first children's session with a two year-old I have been reading this section like mad and learning lots, and today went to scout out the lighting conditions of the home and meet the little sweetie.

With the candid type shots, I noted that the little girl's instinct was to move in toward me and the camera from where she was positioned, so I need to be prepared for that. I'll have to leave enough distance between us but my burning questions is, will AI Servo solve the focus issue with the movement?

Does AI Servo keep the focus sharp when a subject is moving TOWARD you? I didn't think it did, so what is the answer for a case like this - I run into it with animals as well.

Thank you!

Edit: I've posted my question in the wrong section I've just realized and don't see how to move it - sorry!

Sometimes - that is definitely the most challenging scenario for the AF system. I guess to answer your question, AI Servo is the setting for that above all other settings.

Thanks Dave, appreciate having clarity on that finally.

I was hoping I was wrong and to take some of a young couple walking toward me with AI Servo as well - maybe just continuous shooting will have more keepers.

Thanks again!

I think maybe you misunderstood. If you want to take pictures of people moving toward you, definitely keep it in AI Servo. As long as you hold the focus button down, the lens will move and keep focus. You won't get any indication that focus has been achieved though so just click away.

Thank you for coming back to this Dave, I did misunderstand.

Will have to set up an opportunity to experiment, I do find the absent reassurance of the "beep" a little unnerving which is why I haven't used it much.

I really appreciate your time with this which I'm sure will serve me well!

AI Servo is a must for active toddlers who won't sit still. Also be sure you have enough depth-of-field to keep your subject in focus, and a fast enough shutter speed to stop motion. It's kind of a balance act and not easy at all IMO!

If AI Servo can keep an F1 car or MotoGP bike in sharp focus, a toddler should be no trouble. But you will get the odd failure, so shoot more than normal.

The big problem is keeping the camera AF point nailed on the subject (presumably in this case on the eyes?) at all times. Wander off and come back and the result is an out of focus shot. The trick for me is to keep the button half-pressed all the time, that way the camera can figure out the required adjustments on the fly.

Lowner wrote in post #11211744
If AI Servo can keep an F1 car or MotoGP bike in sharp focus, a toddler should be no trouble. But you will get the odd failure, so shoot more than normal.

The big problem is keeping the camera AF point nailed on the subject (presumably in this case on the eyes?) at all times. Wander off and come back and the result is an out of focus shot. The trick for me is to keep the button half-pressed all the time, that way the camera can figure out the required adjustments on the fly.

I've set up my af-on button to be the focus button (also known as back button focus) - that way I can just press that in and click whenever I want. You can also set it up so the camera hunts continuously without pressing anything but the battery gets used up faster.