Canon D7 - Auto Tracking Focus Question (Page 3): As an example, the attached picture was taken by my son using AI Servo AF of the Thunderbirds at over 600mph. He sited in, held the...

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

As an example, the attached picture was taken by my son using AI Servo AF of the Thunderbirds at over 600mph. He sited in, held the shutter half-way down letting the camera track the focus, and waited until he was ready. He has some of two planes coming at each other from opposite directions too. Amazing.

Fran Loc: Northeast, United States

St3v3M wrote:

As an example, the attached picture was taken by my son using AI Servo AF of the Thunderbirds at over 600mph. He sited in, held the shutter half-way down letting the camera track the focus, and waited until he was ready. He has some of two planes coming at each other from opposite directions too. Amazing.

Amazing!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Fran wrote:

St3v3M wrote:

As an example, the attached picture was taken by my son using AI Servo AF of the Thunderbirds at over 600mph. He sited in, held the shutter half-way down letting the camera track the focus, and waited until he was ready. He has some of two planes coming at each other from opposite directions too. Amazing.

Amazing!

Its even better when you zoom in. You can take shots like this too! AI Servo is the way to go for sports. I like Spot Focus, but you have to keep the focus point on the action. Auto Point 19 seems great, but usually locks on the the object closet to the camera. Try them all and you will find a favorite too. And above all post your pics.

ThomasS Loc: Colorado

barry.lapoint wrote:

Festina Lente wrote:

Outstanding and easy to understand explanation Barry!
Perhaps you should be writing a book.
I learned something that I had understood incorrectly previously. Thanks!

Thanks! Ya never know who's listening out there...sorry, who's reading out there.

Thank you Barry. I have misinterpreted how to use some of my 7D's capabilities too. I don't do much sports action shooting, but some wildlife (including Grandchildren) can move very quickly.

gstephens3 Loc: Northwest Georgia

oldtool2 wrote:

Fran wrote:

The high school baseball team in our town has made... (show quote)

Morning Fran,

First, you own a 7D, not D7. I haven't shot a baseball game yet but it is on the to do list. I did get to a rodeo, which has very fast action. Here are the settings I used, pretty much what has been suggested so far. Don't look for the 9-point surround assist; our 7D does not have it.

I use AI servo and AF expansion. In the menu go to C, Fn III. Under C, Fn III, 1 (AI Servo tracking sensitivity turn the large wheel counter clockwise one click. Under C, Fn III, 2 select 0, AF priority/tracking priority. Under C, Fn III, 3 select 1, continuous AF tracking priority. Under C, Fn III, 6 make sure the AF expansion is checked. Under C, Fn III, 10 enable focus display in AI servo.

Now exit the menu and press the Q button (top left corner) and use the joystick to select spot metering in the metering mode. Make sure you are shooting in continuous mode and have plenty of memory. At 8 fps you can take a lot of photos!

These settings have been pretty much suggested by a few UHH members, including birdpix, to use for BIF. I have found them to work very well for most fast action photos. I also have watched the 3 videos on B&H and these are the same setting suggested in them by Canon.

Here are a couple of shots taken using these settings.

Jim D

quote=Fran The high school baseball team in our t... (show quote)

Hi,
I am eavesdropping as this topic very much interest me. I read these very concise clear instructions, grabbed my camera, started to follow along only to discover that you lost me at hello....or step 1. I feel like such an idiot. But where should my menu selection be turned so that my C FNs match those you describe?

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

gstephens3 wrote:

Hi, I am eavesdropping as this topic very much interest me. I read these very concise clear instructions, grabbed my camera, started to follow along only to discover that you lost me at hello....or step 1. I feel like such an idiot. But where should my menu selection be turned so that my C FNs match those you describe?

What camera do you have?

gstephens3 Loc: Northwest Georgia

gstephens3 wrote:

oldtool2 wrote:

Fran wrote:

The high school baseball team in our town has made... (show quote)

Morning Fran,

First, you own a 7D, not D7. I haven't shot a baseball game yet but it is on the to do list. I did get to a rodeo, which has very fast action. Here are the settings I used, pretty much what has been suggested so far. Don't look for the 9-point surround assist; our 7D does not have it.

I use AI servo and AF expansion. In the menu go to C, Fn III. Under C, Fn III, 1 (AI Servo tracking sensitivity turn the large wheel counter clockwise one click. Under C, Fn III, 2 select 0, AF priority/tracking priority. Under C, Fn III, 3 select 1, continuous AF tracking priority. Under C, Fn III, 6 make sure the AF expansion is checked. Under C, Fn III, 10 enable focus display in AI servo.

Now exit the menu and press the Q button (top left corner) and use the joystick to select spot metering in the metering mode. Make sure you are shooting in continuous mode and have plenty of memory. At 8 fps you can take a lot of photos!

These settings have been pretty much suggested by a few UHH members, including birdpix, to use for BIF. I have found them to work very well for most fast action photos. I also have watched the 3 videos on B&H and these are the same setting suggested in them by Canon.

Here are a couple of shots taken using these settings.

Jim D

quote=Fran The high school baseball team in our t... (show quote)

Hi,
I am eavesdropping as this topic very much interest me. I read these very concise clear instructions, grabbed my camera, started to follow along only to discover that you lost me at hello....or step 1. I feel like such an idiot. But where should my menu selection be turned so that my C FNs match those you describe?

quote=oldtool2 quote=Fran The high school baseba... (show quote)

Didn't look long enough. I found it. Yeah. So the autofocus mirror lockup should be disabled?

gstephens3 Loc: Northwest Georgia

7d

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

gstephens3 wrote:

7d

Hey Gina, in the future click Quote Reply otherwise your reply may get lost in with others. No worries for now.

To help - look for my post at the bottom of page 2 where I walk you through the Manual. There is also a link to tutorials. If you need more help though please free to ask. Above all practice with all the settings and post your pics!

Fran Loc: Northeast, United States

I received a couple of requests for the links to the three B&H videos. They are below.

I also included a link a video clip of regarding the focus features of the 7D.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nBVeWszWrU

3 part video series thru b&h regarding Canon auto focusing features. I watched it yesterday and found it helpful. The link is below.

http://www.video.bhphotovideo.com/?fr_story=6705482e45f83bfb581744e6bbf1bee3836e657f&rf=s...

(you need to type canon autofocus in that sites search box to access the three part video.)

ishootthings Loc: Western shore of Lake Michigan

Yes, I have that one also AND the Canon EOS 7D for Dummies, by Doug Sahlin, also very good!

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

St3v3M wrote:

More specifically to the Canon 7D - br In Full Aut... (show quote)

The settings I listed above come very highly recommened by some of the best BIF photographers on UHH. Also recommended if you watch the 3 part series posted on B&H. Those videos, while sponcered by B&H, are part of seminars given by Canon. Those 3 videos are well worth watching because he not only gives recommendations but goes into detail as to why you should use certain settings. He also goes into the other settings, explains how and why they work and the problems you can run into using them settings.

Jim D

CameraOwner Loc: central florida

oldtool2 wrote:

Fran wrote:

The high school baseball team in our town has made... (show quote)

Morning Fran,

First, you own a 7D, not D7. I haven't shot a baseball game yet but it is on the to do list. I did get to a rodeo, which has very fast action. Here are the settings I used, pretty much what has been suggested so far. Don't look for the 9-point surround assist; our 7D does not have it.

I use AI servo and AF expansion. In the menu go to C, Fn III. Under C, Fn III, 1 (AI Servo tracking sensitivity turn the large wheel counter clockwise one click. Under C, Fn III, 2 select 0, AF priority/tracking priority. Under C, Fn III, 3 select 1, continuous AF tracking priority. Under C, Fn III, 6 make sure the AF expansion is checked. Under C, Fn III, 10 enable focus display in AI servo.

Now exit the menu and press the Q button (top left corner) and use the joystick to select spot metering in the metering mode. Make sure you are shooting in continuous mode and have plenty of memory. At 8 fps you can take a lot of photos!

These settings have been pretty much suggested by a few UHH members, including birdpix, to use for BIF. I have found them to work very well for most fast action photos. I also have watched the 3 videos on B&H and these are the same setting suggested in them by Canon.

Here are a couple of shots taken using these settings.

Jim D

quote=Fran The high school baseball team in our t... (show quote)

I am new here.
Thank you Fran for asking the question.
Thank you Jim for your clear instructions. I have finally set a custom function on my camera. :!:

lotsa50 Loc: Melbourne Australia

So glad you posted this one Fran. I was off to the football to watch my son today and all the responses got me clicking like mad. I now know too how to take the sports photos. ( well its a start, more practice needed)
Cheers and hope you had a good night. Heres a couple I got of today!
(Aussie rules football) :)

ishootthings Loc: Western shore of Lake Michigan

What am exceptional photo!!! Thank you for posting it, it is truly an inspiration! I have oodles to learn about my Canon 7D!