Neilp Loc: Jersey, C.I.

I got late to a hotel last night...2000hrs or so..and there was a cycle race on in the town centre, right outside front door of the hotel..so i went out with 70-200 2.8 and tried to get a few shots..as much as an experiment with the camera as anything.

Was pretty much in front of the cyclists as they came out of a corner and were coming straight at me.

Could nto really come up with settings that would get many in focus shots.

I had AF points set to the full 61 point...so maybe that was the issue.

Tried various of the AF Menu' Case settings' but did not have much time to get a setting that gave decent results. of the 5 laps of the last race i saw, i fired off about 200 shots..probably getting about 10% in focus.

Just wondering if there is anyone who has experience with the auto focus options for this type of movement...fast acceleration towards the camera with a small amount of left to right movement..Cyclists are in pack..so I am guessing that maybe I would have been better with the 9 point centre focus group, to prevent the focus tracking the first cyclist in view..and then following them by switching AF points

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Neil, you've just experienced one of the most difficult shooting scenarios, and with dwindling light.
I assume it was a crit?
I have no experience with the mklll, but it should do a heck of a lot better than my ll which has one off the worst focus systems known to man.
Don't know if you'll get another chance but the more focus points, the more likely the camera will pick the wrong one. Your speed needs to be 500 and better at 1000, unless your panning.
I would try BBF in AI-servo, with center focus point and keep the sun to your back. The lll probably has a ultra sensitive upper/side point, if so, use one so you can get the scene tight and fill the frame.
To focus the body is easy, but you want the faces sharp. One of the problems is all the jersey graphics are the perfect focus lock at the expense of the face. Very difficult when they are moving straight at you at 50kph. By comparison cars a kids stuff.
Since most crits go 30-50 laps there are good manually pre-focus ops.
Good luck. SS

RTFM

On a MkIII using AI servo I would use centre point with focus assist points. Set the AF setting to fire only when in focus. That will slow it down a bit but at least the shot will be in focus.

Neilp Loc: Jersey, C.I.

Hi guys, thanks

Yes Bourenmouth crit.

I was guessing it may have been having multi point focus selected, but with only 5 laps left of the last race did not get much of a chance to even get in to a good position.

I tried the BBF method a while back and did not get on with it. Far far too many shots where I would forget to press the bloody button.
I'd now rather use the back button set to STOP AF. So I can lock focus and hold the rear button in.

Had forgotten about the setting to Fire once focus locked, seem to remember I have it on mid point at moment.

I guess since the jerseys can easily 'capture' focus, moving the focus up a bit off centre would help to.

Any suggestions on the AF tracking/ focus lock sensitivies settings? from AF1 page?

I live in Jersey, and we only have the one town crit every year so I won 't be able to try these ideas out again till next year.

Neilp Loc: Jersey, C.I.

Just checked image info now.

I had ISO set at 3200, wide open at f2.8 in AV, that was giving shutter speeds, at best 250, down to 125th. The cyclists were coming out of a corner at the top of a short climb, so speeds were not excessive, but accelerating , down a slope towards the finish.

With AF Point Display Enabled on playback, it is easy to see the problem

As you say, the jerseys contrast always captures the focus points.

Neilp Loc: Jersey, C.I.

And I do have AI Servo 1st shot set to Release priority

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Own a 5D Mk111 ???? and cannot handle it on sports photography??? You would be better off with a point and shoot camera.

Neilp Loc: Jersey, C.I.

In a bad mood this morning due other things been up since 0530 now gind someone has borrowed some my laser building level.. And then brought it back broken.
Have you actually read my first post about it being a first experimental shoot, having no time to set it up for action.
Do you actually know anything about the 5 D 3 focus system? If yes, then how about some helpful comments,
If not then I don't need dumb ass commentd like that. Thought people on this forum where a bit more mature and above shit like you just posted.

So fuck off

stopmedown1 Loc: England UK

Really no need to swear....

Neilp Loc: Jersey, C.I.

I am afraid today there is . Spent most of my morning dealing with imbeciles, been up since early equipment broken, still mothing achieved. Client wanted building work finished. Also doing timelapse of the build, tripod also gone missing, then get insulting comments from some jerk who can't even be bothered to offer anything helpful , just insults. What i wrote is far tamer than he would have received in person.

Nothing useful to say, them say nothing .
Just stopped for lunch and half a day wasted due to other people

stopmedown1 Loc: England UK

Sorry, but it is much better to bite your tongue. We can all swear but it is much, much better not to. There's a time and place and it isn't on here. I've got so many things that are wrong in my life that I should be entitled to swear all the time but I don't, it's disrespectful to others on the site.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Use the idea of the broken clock that has the correct time twice a day. Using manual focus, set the focus to one area and shoot as the subject arrives there. You'll know that whatever you shoot in that spot will always be in focus.

Rathyatra Loc: Southport, United Kingdom

Yesirr -

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Rathyatra Loc: Southport, United Kingdom

Not the swearing, of course!! JUST your justified anger at such an unhelpful and insensitive reply to your genuine request for help!!

Dback4430 Loc: Lockport Il

Here is an article I was reading on the subject.
Hope your day gets better.

http://cpn.canon-europe.com/files/product/cameras/eos_5d_mark_iii/AF_guide_EOS5D_MarkIII_eng_January2013.pdf