Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

Here are some settings I gleaned from Sports Shooter that are specific settings for the "7D"
I have a 7D and have used them to take sports photos.
http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=34832
I might add that the 7D has for it's price level the ability to set the buttons on the rear of the camera to make use useable to your desires.
Good luck.
Of course you want to keep in mind that where you are able to shoot from, and the preferred areas are down the first or third base lines determines how much back ground you will get in your photos. Also be aware where you shoot from, the distance between you and the batter, pitcher, the lens you are using, also determine how in focus the players will be in relation to the back grounds, i.e. stands.
If the coach asked you to shoot, some of the best shots you will shoot are shot during pre-game warm ups, batting practice. If you are not allowed to shoot down the baselines during the actual game play try to get on the field and shoot the players as they are doing between innings warm ups or practice. You can isolate a player and you will get some great shots.
A suggestion is shoot all the players in their positions, then concentrate on the pitcher, batter, then concentrate on the base runners. You can only take so many shots of the batter, the pitcher.
You may want to pre-focus on some spots. If a player is on first, and you know we might steal second, or get moved to second by the batter pre-focus on second base.
Good luck

ishootthings Loc: Western shore of Lake Michigan

Thank you for your info! It is friends like you who make this forum so special!

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Nice photos! Good action shots, thats what I like.

Jim D

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Those settings sound pretty much like I suggested. I don't bother with sharpness sense I normally shoot on raw.

Fran, that is something I should have asked you. Are you shooting in raw or jpg? If shooting jpg there are a couple more suggestions that can be made.

Pre-focus is something I did not mention because I didn't know if you have the camera set up for back focus. To pre-focus you simply focus on something in the area where you expect the action to take place like second base as mentioned by Dun1. This is easy to do if using the back focus button. Before I learned how to do this, thanks to a couple of guys here, it was a real pain! You have to hold the shutter button half way down and hope your finger doesn't slip off. Keep in mind every time you would push the shutter button the camera would focus again.

With back focus you set the focus and wait for the action to start and push the shutter. At the rodeo I would focus on the gate and wait for them to open it. This also makes the camera react quicker because it does not have to hunt for the initial focus point. The time it saves might only be the time it would take to get 1 or 2 photos but they may be the ones that count!

Jim D

Fran Loc: Northeast, United States

Awesome shots! Thanks for sharing!!!

Fran Loc: Northeast, United States

Many thanks to everyone for sharing thier knowledge. This is great info. Keep it coming!!! :)

I am off to chase water falls today. Any suggestions???

Fran Loc: Northeast, United States

Fran, that is something I should have asked you. Are you shooting in raw or jpg? If shooting jpg there are a couple more suggestions that can be made.

Pre-focus is something I did not mention because I didn't know if you have the camera set up for back focus. To pre-focus you simply focus on something in the area where you expect the action to take place like second base as mentioned by Dun1. This is easy to do if using the back focus button. Before I learned how to do this, thanks to a couple of guys here, it was a real pain! You have to hold the shutter button half way down and hope your finger doesn't slip off. Keep in mind every time you would push the shutter button the camera would focus again.

With back focus you set the focus and wait for the action to start and push the shutter. At the rodeo I would focus on the gate and wait for them to open it. This also makes the camera react quicker because it does not have to hunt for the initial focus point. The time it saves might only be the time it would take to get 1 or 2 photos but they may be the ones that count!

Jim D[/quote]

Hi Jim, when I shoot baseball I am shooting JPEG. I find it easier to process the photos.

I do pre focus on a base and wait for the action to arrive. The back button focus is something new to me that I have yet to try. If I want to use the back button to focus on a base, do I press the back button, release, hold the camera on the base until the action arrives, press the shutter?

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Fran,
Yes, you would focus on the base and wait.

I would suggest a couple of changes in the menu and I will explain why. The firt time I heard of this came from Swamp Gator. I made the changes and love it. Have heard of this a couple more times including from a Canon rep.

Go to C Fn IV, 1 Press the set button. Select metering start and press set. You will have 3 choices; pick "metering start" and press set again. Using the large wheel pick "*", select "Metering and AF start" and press set button. Press menu a few times to get out of the menu.

You have now made 2 changes to the way the camera will work. To focus press the large * button (on the upper right side). You will always use this button to focus now. The shutter button will now only set your metering and take the photo.

The advantage to this is your focus is not on the shutter button any more so when you snap a photo the focus will not change, unless you are holding the * button. To take a normal shot press an hold the * then press the shutter.

To pre-focus on second base use the * button. Let go of it and wait for the action then press the shutter button. When you let go of that button your focus will not change.

Normally the shutter button does everything. Problem with that is your focus is constantly changing every time you press that button. You can pre-focus using the shutter button but then you have to constantly hold it till the action starts then press it all the way. If you aceently take your finger off that button you will lose the focus point you had. When you press that button again the focus will change. Now, using 2 buttons, the focus won't change after you leave go of the *.

It might take you a little bit to get used to it but I love it! My thumb is always up there anyway.

Jim D

lotsa50 Loc: Melbourne Australia

Thankyou! Its great getting all this info and then being able to go out and try it.. :)

Santa Fe Rose

[quote=barry.lapoint]

And that AI-Servo works GREAT! I've been using it on my 1D mark3 for years.[/quote

Beautiful and amazing photos. Please share more.]

Jgay Loc: Mason, OH

Thank you. This is very helpful. I just finished a 3 part video presentation through b&h and the covered af/priority tracking so I know exactly what you are talking about. I need to locate the Focus search as well the surround point focus. They covered this as well and it appeals to me. Have much to learn, but am on my way. Many thanks!!![/quote]

Hi, I'm new to this site and was just wondering what you're talking about when you say you just finished the 3 part video through b&h? I also have a 7D and am constantly looking for more training on it. I haven't figured out all the ways to navigate around on this site so I wasn't sure if "b&h" was referring to something here or somewhere else. Thanks! -Janet