Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Thanks for sharing your technique and experience with us. I can see that some people might say that it helps to have $20k of gear. But action and wildlife are challenging subjects to shoot and great gear helps...

bluezzzzz Loc: Stamping Ground, KY

Thanks for posting that link, I found it very helpful.

I've put the three selectable AF parameters into MY MENU 1 on my Canon 5D so I can quickly and easily experiment with them without having to mess with the 6 cases that Canon has inserted into the AF menu. Your explanation has made the most sense of anything I've read so far, in terms of how to individually set these parameters, without having to just randomly try stuff to see what happens.

Please let us know if you ever write that longer article on those 6 cases.

Marshall

John Gerlach Loc: Island Park, Idaho

I actually don't use the 6 cases, as I just modify one of them to suit the way I shoot.

John Gerlach Loc: Island Park, Idaho

Yes, good gear does really help. I was lucky that the nature photography business was exceeding generous to me over the decades. It also helps to live way under your means, never put yourself in a position where you must borrow money, and invest a lot in Vanguards S&P 500 index fund and let the compounding of stock appreciation and dividends go on undisturbed for decades.

Bill_de Loc: US

I am strictly amateur, but agree with never borrowing money. I do depend on Wall Street for my toys. Years back I opened a trading account. I invested $1,600 in a tech stock (either Macromedia or Hauppauge Digital) and said to a friend / coworker that when it hit $10,000 I was buying a Nikkor 500 F/4.0 and a second F100. About six months later he yelled over to me, order that lens. Yup, this was during the dot-com era.

More recently a stock I bought for $2.30 (Ariad) and held on to for a while sold for $23.00. That became a Nikkor 800mm and eventually a D850. My monthly income would leave me hard pressed to save up for either of these things and their importance was too low to borrow.

Patience is a necessity.

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John Gerlach Loc: Island Park, Idaho

Very good Bill. I have always allowed my money to "WORK" for me as some day I may not be able to work so much. The formula for doing financially well is so easy, but sadly most Americans completely miss it as evidenced by the horrible saving rates in this country. Actually saving is the wrong word, it should be investing, and primarily in an inexpensive index fund since most managed funds underperform the index fund, especially over time.

bluezzzzz Loc: Stamping Ground, KY

Canon has provided three AF parameters, and five choices for each parameter. If I have Googled "combinations" correctly then that makes 5X5X5 = 125 possible combinations of those three parameters. No wonder Canon tried to simplify things for us lowlifes and suggested only six cases.

I don't use the cases either; was just hoping that if you ever expanded on your explanation of the three parameters that you provide us a link there.

Thanks,

Marshall