How to focus on person moving toward you: I am trying to figure out the best way to get a shot of a person walking towards me in focus. I am shooting a Canon T1i. I am also struggling...

Kat16

I am trying to figure out the best way to get a shot of a person walking towards me in focus. I am shooting a Canon T1i. I am also struggling with the back button focus and as to whether this is beneficial in this situation. Thanks for your help, Kat16

deej

I do not use or own a Canon but I believe you need to select AI Servo, then as long as the shutter button is held half way down the camera will continue to focus on the moving subject. The back focus button is mainly used to see how the background is blurred etc.. Before you shoot as a guide.

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

Kat16 wrote:

I am trying to figure out the best way to get a shot of a person walking towards me in focus. I am shooting a Canon T1i. I am also struggling with the back button focus and as to whether this is beneficial in this situation. Thanks for your help, Kat16

Deej is correct about AI servo but incorrect about Back focus button. As you must know already that back button focus replaces the shutter button to focus your lens. I have used back button focus and must say it takes getting use to. In you situation I would say it is not beneficial. back button focus is best used with your cameras light meter. You can meter then re-compose, focus and shoot.

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

Check out this link for back button focus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F4KFyz7KoE

deej

Bangee5 wrote:

quote=Kat16 I am trying to figure out the best wa... (show quote)

Being I don't own a camera with BF I appreciate your correction. Next time I will keep my beliefs to myself.
:thumbup: :thumbup: heh, if anything the OP and I both learned something from you! Thanks!

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

deej wrote:

Being I don't own a camera with BF I appreciate your correction. Next time I will keep my beliefs to myself.
:thumbup: :thumbup: heh, if anything the OP and I both learned something from you! Thanks!

No, do not keep your beliefs or you opinions to yourself. You did right to reply to the OP's post. I did not intend to put you down in any manner. Speak up, speak out and speak loudly.
:thumbup: :thumbup:

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

What Deej was referring to is called the depth of field preview button. It stops the lens down to the selected aperture so you can see what effect that aperture has on focus depth. When viewing through the viewfinder, the image gets dark, but you can see the effect. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but on some cameras, if you use live view, the screen stays bright and the effect is easier to see.

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

GoofyNewfie wrote:

What Deej was referring to is called the depth of field preview button. It stops the lens down to the selected aperture so you can see what effect that aperture has on focus depth. When viewing through the viewfinder, the image gets dark, but you can see the effect. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but on some cameras, if you use live view, the screen stays bright and the effect is easier to see.

On the Canon 60D in live view pressing the DOF button will make the screen go dark as well. I have never found any good use for this since if you have the lens stoped down too far, its to darn dark to see what you you are taking a picture of, much less seeing what is in the DOF range.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Bangee5 wrote:

quote=GoofyNewfie What Deej was referring to is c... (show quote)

Thanks for that info. I was thinking it was a Canon that did that (I shoot Nikon)
I agree, it does get pertty dark. I use the DOF preview button only occasionally. Just mentioned it because deej brought it up.

deej

Thanks to both goofynewfie and bangee5, it's great to hear both of your accurate explanations.

ziggykor Loc: East Texas

Most people don't use the DOF Preview button because the lens stops down to taking aperture so the visible image dims. If one takes the time, your eye adjusts and you really can see what's in reasonable focus. It's one of those tools that is seldom used because we always have time to shoot again to get it right.

The best way I've ever found to photograph an object moving towards me is to select a spot and pre-focus, you can do that using back button focus, then when the object reaches that point press the shutter release button.

Kinda makes ya wonder how we did it before auto focus. Guess it's like shooting a white object, Auto just doesn't work for everything.

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

ziggykor wrote:

Most people don't use the DOF Preview button becau... (show quote)

I think what Kat 16 has in mind is to keep shooting while the subject is coming forward. The camera must keep the subject in focus. However, I could be wrong.

Yes, back in the day of film we pre-focused, not knowning if the shot was good or not.

HarryCleworth

Try "Trap Focus" not sure how to set it up though on a Canon camera or even if it is possible. I use trap focus on Nikon cameras & a Fuji pro.camera.

Basically you pre-focus on a given focus point & as your subject walks towards you, you press the shutter release & the shutter will only fire when in exact focus. It works. Maybe one of you Canon owners can help or just Google it.

Harry

auntmary Loc: Olathe Kansas

Or you could switch to manual focus and adjust as the person approaches.

rts2568

Kat16 wrote:

I am trying to figure out the best way to get a shot of a person walking towards me in focus. I am shooting a Canon T1i. I am also struggling with the back button focus and as to whether this is beneficial in this situation. Thanks for your help, Kat16

From rts2568
Hi Kat16

A simple one for us UHHers. Zone focus (depth of field) to cover the distance you can compose and shoot in in a short time.

Or, move backwards, keeping pace with the subject - just ensure there isn't ariver or lake or swimming pool behind you. In this case make sure that you are shooting a fast enough shutter speed to eliminate camera shake.

Happy shooting.

rts2568