oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Fran,

Sorry the photos did not go thru, I lost my internet connection. Here they are. These photos were taken at about 90 yards away.

Jim D

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Another good book is "Canon EOS 7D" by David Busch

Jim D

Fran Loc: Northeast, United States

Thanks for the tip. I downloaded a sample of the book to check it out.

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

The only focus mode that works is auto, since the action is so fast you do not have time to set that. Set the auto focus mode to AI servo. This will accurately track fast action. Metering can be evaluative or center weighted average. I would avoid spot metering for this kind of shot.

The real key to freezing the action is your shutter speed. The following will hold true for shooting baseball and other fast action:

1. a shutter speed of 1/100 sec. will leave you with unacceptable blurring.

2. 1/250 sec. will freeze some of the action, but not enough of it.

3. 1/320 sec. will nearly always freeze the motion of the players, but leave a slight blur on the batter or thrown ball.

4. 1/500 sec. freezes everything.

If the fast shutter speed makes the practice shot way too dark, raise the ISO. If it s only slightly too dark, increase the exposure composition. With a burst of 8 frames per second you will be able to capture dramatic moments almost on demand. I would love to see a few of your better shots.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I use AI Servo AF mode 90% of the time.

Custom function settings in C.fn.III
- I set the AF sensitivity to as fast as it will go.
- AI Servo 1sh/2nd image priority to 0.
- AI Servo AF tracking method set to 1 but is only in play when you use 19-point AF auto selection and AF point expansion. But if you switch to this focus mode it will help keep you your focus on the original focal point.
- Lens drive when AF impossible to 0

Go to Custom function III-6 and make sure you enable all of the modes. The camera comes from the factory with only 3 of the 5 modes enabled. You want to enable Spot AF, and AF point expansion. Use Single-point AF, or AF point expansion at sporting events. Spot AF is for getting focus on caged animals, very small, or subjects in cluttered areas.

If you have low light at the sporting event, and you need to open up to a wide aperture, you need to focus on the face of the subject. Otherwise if you are stopped down enough to have a better DOF it won't be as critical. Use your IS if hand holding. Keep the shutter speed at a minimum of the reciprical of the focal length. 300mm = 1/300th minimum or faster 1/500th better.

Sorry, my reply took a while to type, and I see other simular replies now.

Fran Loc: Northeast, United States

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]

Hi Jim, thanks for your reply. This is very helpful. Also your pictures are amazing!!! I would love to capture shots like these. In the second shot the riders hat must have just hit the ground and you captured it before it fell flat; very cool.

Regarding incorrect reference to the model camera. I wish I could say that I'm a Nikon convert and haven't gotten use to placing the D after the number rather than before; but I can't. Silly mistake.

Have a great day and thanks again for replying.

barry.lapoint Loc: Colorado

Nice shots Jim. Love this stuff! Here is a shot taken by my partner, Rick, at the Greeley Independence Stamped a couple years ago. Glad to have him as a partner (he has great instincts!)...we shoot a lot of weddings together. Again, nice shots Jim!

Fran Loc: Northeast, United States

Thanks Jim! I will check it out. I want to master this camera!!!

:D

Fran Loc: Northeast, United States

Another great shot. You guys are making me want to go to a rodeo!!!

john merry Loc: tincan bay qeensland aus

great info on the 7d i take a lot of macro shots with a 100mm 2.8 macro lens the alservo with spot metering and 8 frames per second works well for me the hard part is getting the bug in focus once thats done your home and hosed regards john

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Make sure that what you are shooting is the dominate object. You don't need the autofocus being fooled by another object. The sports photos on pg 1 are a perfect example to that.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Sorry jeep daddy, but do not agree with you on the AF sensitivity. Say you are tracking a runner going to first. Suddenly the umpire gets in the shot between the runner and you. If this is set to fast the focus will jump to the umpire. As you keep tracking the focus will then have to go back to the runner. This is a lot of movement for the AF. If you have it set to slow as you pan past the umpire the focus will not change. As soon as you are past the ump it will pick up the runner as if nothing happened. The delay, slow, is to try and keep the AF from jumping all over the place.

Jim D

Modnar Loc: Batley' West Yorkshire, UK

Hi Fran
I am a Uk 7D user. My setting for this kind of shot are:
Set appropriate white balance.
Set to use Av
Set Single-point AF
Set AI Servo (moving image)
Set drive mode high speed continuous.
Use f5.6
Use ISO 400

This should work. You might want to try fine tuning the ISO and aperture.

I guess this is a little too late for the game but I hope you team won.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Modnar,

I have a question. Why would you use Single-point AF? If you use AF expansion and you get off target during tracking one of the four surrounding points will pick up the focus and keep it. Much better for fast moving objects.

Jim D

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

More specifically to the Canon 7D -
In Full Auto everything is done for you even "Sports Mode"- page 52
Creative Mode is the same, but you can change a few things - page 53
In P, Tv, Av, M, or B you control a lot more... - page 57
The Drive Modes are: - page 83
- One Shot AF for Still Subjects
- AI Servo AF for Moving Subjects
- AI Focus AF for Automatic Switching Between The Two
Now the question is one of selecting the proper AF Area
- Default AF Area Selection Modes - page 87
-- Single Point (Manual selection)
-- Zone AF (Manual selection of a zone)
-- Auto Select 19-point AF
- AF Area Selection Modes Added With Custom Functions
-- Spot AF (Manual Selection)
-- AF Point Expansion (Manual Selection)
Each one is explained from there

There are also some good write-ups and videos at http://goo.gl/jsl94