AF area......panning.

[JODmeister]

What's the best AF area to use for panning. I'm still getting to grips with my Sony a55 and am getting some poor just out of focus shots.

Setup: Sony a55-Tamron 70-300 F/4-5.6 Di LD.

I've been practising a lot of panning but the results are pretty poor and I'm sure it's my setup.

So for the question should I set the AF to wide or spot?

Also when panning should I use a single shot or burst?

Also using UV filter but this really should not make a difference?

Cheers.

JOD.

 

[Jaymo_sx]

I use spot focus normally middle, but offset spot focus can be useful.....I think that having the subject that is moving on the edge of your photo gives a better impression of speed/movement eg:

 

[dentonkarl]

I'd be interested in hearing the advice offered here too. Got my first camera and trying to take a varied amount of pictures on different subjects

 

[Toggerman]

Like Jaymo I use mostly single spot as well, usually centre or along the middle row.

Burst shot is a must IMO as panning, especially at slower shutter speeds, is quite difficult and the more shots you take the more likely you are to grab that moment when you and the car are moving in perfect sync.

UV filter shouldn't make a difference.

Do you have any shots you can post as examples?

 

[Suvv]

Not sure if you have seen this or if it will help
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=8216

 

[Effstop]

If you're shooting a moving object, suggest you put the a55 into AF-C (AutoFocus-Continuous) mode, that way the camera will continue to auto focus right up until the shutter fires. In AF-S (AutoFocus-Single) mode, the focus is locked as soon as you press the shutter button half-way. If your object is moving quickly, it may well be out of focus by the time you actually fire the shutter.

Single or multiple shooting is really up to you, but you might find Lo-Continuous drive mode (approx 3.5 fps v approx 7fps for Hi-Continuous) is useful for getting the "money" shot, in conjunction with AF-C focusing.

I'm assuming, of course, that you're not using one of the "Auto" (Auto, Auto+ or one of the SCN) modes. Using them will put the a55 auto focus into AF-A (automatic) mode where the camera will decide whether to use AF-S or AF-C depending on how it's feeling (and it may well make the wrong choice).

If it was me, I'd try Program or Shutter Priority mode, AutoFocus-Continuous mode, Spot focusing, Multi-Segment (or Centre-weighted Average which I prefer) metering and Lo-Continuous (or Hi-Continuous) drive.

I used those settings on my a55 at an airshow earlier this year shooting lots of fast-jet aerial action and I was very happy with the results.

HTH