Anyone use a Canon 7d Mark ii? I Need help: Hello, I just received a 7d Mark ii but for some reason I can't get any pictures that are really in focus. Some are almost there but just a...

SCaldwell Loc: Edge, Texas

Hello,
I just received a 7d Mark ii but for some reason I can't get any pictures that are really in focus. Some are almost there but just a little off. What the heck am I doing wrong? Can someone explain how to set it up? I normally shoot sports and fast kids so I know it needs to be in al servo continuous but this is really upsetting me. Any advise.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

SCaldwell wrote:

Hello,
I just received a 7d Mark ii but for some reason I can't get any pictures that are really in focus. Some are almost there but just a little off. What the heck am I doing wrong? Can someone explain how to set it up? I normally shoot sports and fast kids so I know it needs to be in al servo continuous but this is really upsetting me. Any advise.

We need more info than that* and a few sample shots, check "store original" so we can download and enlarge as well as see exif data.

*Lens or lenses, lighting, hand held or tripod/monopod, aperture, shutter speed, RAW or jpeg etc.

Yes, it could be a problem with the gear or its settings, but maybe you just need to learn to work with this camera and your lens.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

SCaldwell wrote:

Hello,
I just received a 7d Mark ii but for some reason I can't get any pictures that are really in focus. Some are almost there but just a little off. What the heck am I doing wrong? Can someone explain how to set it up? I normally shoot sports and fast kids so I know it needs to be in al servo continuous but this is really upsetting me. Any advise.

Select the center focus point and take some shots like that. See if it's still OOF. If so, maybe it's the lens. how many lenses have you tried?
If the subjects are NOT moving, take it out od AI-Servo and use One Shot.
As was said, post a pic!!!
SS

SCaldwell Loc: Edge, Texas

I've only tried my 70 200 2.8 IS II and my 50 1.4 with it. I had already deleted the ones from the 70 200. Here are a couple taken with the 50 with the center point selected in both single shot and AI servo. But this is basically what i get.

(Download)

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

SCaldwell wrote:

I've only tried my 70 200 2.8 IS II and my 50 1.4 with it. I had already deleted the ones from the 70 200. Here are a couple taken with the 50 with the center point selected in both single shot and AI servo. But this is basically what i get.

OK, parts are sharp other parts aren't, it is the depth of field, the two I looked at in detail were both at f/2.8, just about the shallowest depth of field the lens will get.
If you were hand holding the shot of the plant you really needed a bit faster Shutter Speed to offset camera movement and a smaller f/stop for more DOF
The ball shot, you could have used a much slower SS (say between 1/1250 and 1/2000) which would have allowed a small f stop for more DOF. But most don't really what everything in focus, the "bokeh" or out of focus background isolates the subject and draws attention. Also on the composition of the ball game shot, I would have either gotten in closer to show the collision between them up close or back off a bit more so the feet aren't cut off, then crop as a vertical/portrait format.

SCaldwell Loc: Edge, Texas

I know this is a dumb question for experienced photographers. But if you use Av as I did on the plant shot and want to shoot at 2.8 how do you get a faster ss when you are not given that option. As far as composition on the football shot not even concerned about that yet just trying to focus on figuring out how to setup the camera.

skingfong Loc: Sacramento

SCaldwell wrote:

I know this is a dumb question for experienced photographers. But if you use Av as I did on the plant shot and want to shoot at 2.8 how do you get a faster ss when you are not given that option. As far as composition on the football shot not even concerned about that yet just trying to focus on figuring out how to setup the camera.

In AV mode, you have to raise ISO to raise the shutter speed.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

SCaldwell wrote:

I know this is a dumb question for experienced photographers. But if you use Av as I did on the plant shot and want to shoot at 2.8 how do you get a faster ss when you are not given that option. As far as composition on the football shot not even concerned about that yet just trying to focus on figuring out how to setup the camera.

Besides increasing the ISO to control the shutter speed, you can also shoot in either shutter priority (Tv mode) or manual mode. There is also the possibility you need to micro focus adjust your lenses.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

Why are you shooting at 2.8? do you think that gives you the best quality shot??? I use it only when the light requires me (inorder to get a faster shutter speed) or when I actually WANT a small depth of field. I'm sure your lens has a optimum focus at a smaller opening (perhap f8?)

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

SCaldwell wrote:

I've only tried my 70 200 2.8 IS II and my 50 1.4 with it. I had already deleted the ones from the 70 200. Here are a couple taken with the 50 with the center point selected in both single shot and AI servo. But this is basically what i get.

notice that these were shot with a 50mm lens at 1/60. Maybe not fast enough. Camera shake?

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

foathog wrote:

Why are you shooting at 2.8? do you think that gives you the best quality shot??? I use it only when the light requires me (inorder to get a faster shutter speed) or when I actually WANT a small depth of field. I'm sure your lens has a optimum focus at a smaller opening (perhap f8?)

While not necessarily germane to this thread, I have often heard from people who use their lenses wide open most of the time. Their argument is usually that they purchased a fast lens specifically to use it's widest aperture and they're going to take advantage of that benefit most of the time. Its like a badge of honor. I've even heard this from experienced photographers who should know better. I never feel constrained to shoot wide open just because I can, preferring to use the best aperture to get the results I'm after.

Haydon

In the second image with the dog, you are shooting a 50 mm at F2.8 approximately 5 feet away. This will give you no more than 3" in focus and judging by the way you framed it, this will minimize the amount that remains sharp in the image. You might want to delve deeper into DOF because I suspect you need to study up more on shallow DOF to use it in a strong compositional way. Download a DOF app on your smartphone. This will aid you in so many ways. Also your shutter speed for the 50 mm was at 1/60 of a second without IS which is IMO too slow of a shutter speed to ensure blur free imaging.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

SCaldwell wrote:

Hello,
I just received a 7d Mark ii but for some reason I can't get any pictures that are really in focus. Some are almost there but just a little off. What the heck am I doing wrong? Can someone explain how to set it up? I normally shoot sports and fast kids so I know it needs to be in al servo continuous but this is really upsetting me. Any advise.

Use Av mode, keep an eye on shutter speed so that it's up around double the inverse of the focal length, up the ISO if needed, use IS, use single focal point, use AI Servo focus mode and never use AI Focus mode. AI Focus has a lag when shooting action and will net out of Focus first shots every time.

Practice good panning technique as much as possible.

SCaldwell Loc: Edge, Texas

Thanks for all the suggestions

Paris Hanson

I have the same camera, Google back button focus and set your camera to use it, great tool for sports photography, I don't use anything else but back button focus anymore, even for stills