AF modes for shooting fast moving sports

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I've been practicing shooting faster moving objects. I've come to realise I've only ever been shooting oneshot selected AF point in just about everything I have shot.

I figure I need to have a crack at some sports and learn a different skill.

I had my first attempt at some football and it was reasonable but I'd like to get better. I was using AI servo on my 50D and panning using a selected AF point, usually the center.

Now I've been reading some online guides/info and it suggests using all AF points selected as the camera will track the movement and select with AF point it likes. I use the 50D, it also says even if you select an outer focus point and the movement is not on that spot another focus point will be used anyway.

Is this correct, any tips for this?

I tried to find the old Rudy Winston videos on the canon autofocus system but it seems to have gone? I remember it had some good advice for the AI system :(
 
Best to ask a Mod if they can move this to the Sports section.

n.b. best to stick to centre point.
 
On the 7D and 1D boddies you have the option to use the other focus points as assist points to maintain focus. You can also use different zones so the focus points in different parts of the frame are in use and others areas are not.
 
Hi Danny. I use a 50D - I find it best to stick to the centre point. It makes composition tricky at times but when the target is moving, its the best bet.
 
Thanks :)

Am I right in thinking that if the player for example moves away from the center point to an outside point then the camera automatically tracks that?
 
with the advanced focusing systems of the 7D and 1D yes but if you want it to maintain focus, on the 50D you need to track the player with the centre point unless you choose an alternative focus point then you track with that point. using auto point selectio is leaving things open to miss focusing I don''t think AI servo works on auto point anyway??
 
As Little John says, you have to track with the center point. A pain as sometimes the composition isn't ideal that way. Main issues are how quickly the autofocus kicks in, I've learned to try to shoot ahead of the action. I also use a little red square that shows where the focus point was (can't remember which menu) which helps when it goes wrong!
 
Photodiva said:
As Little John says, you have to track with the center point. A pain as sometimes the composition isn't ideal that way. Main issues are how quickly the autofocus kicks in, I've learned to try to shoot ahead of the action. I also use a little red square that shows where the focus point was (can't remember which menu) which helps when it goes wrong!
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Thanks both of you. :)

Why do you select the red focus point on when you know it will always be the center? Or do you mean you select in on in DPP to show you where your focus was?

I've just found a canon field guide for the 50D, this says in AI servo even if you select a manual AF point, it may not be the AF point that achieves sharp focus.

To me this suggests it will then select an outer point if it has to even though you haven't selected it.

It then says "In auto AF mode the camera starts with the center point and continues to track movement as long as it's within the other 8 AF points"

That's why I have been desperately trying to find the 3 hour video on the canon AF system that was done when I bought my 50D. I'm sure it would have cleared up my questions on the 50D af system :)

When you say shoot ahead of the action do you mean to allow yourself some composition due to shooting center AF point?

Sorry for all the questions I'm hoping to get out again Sunday to shoot some more sport and progress my learning a bit more :)

I will have a play with the outerpoints in servo and see what I get. As mentioned I think I will give the full auto a miss in case in selects a player I wasn't hoping to get in full focus.
 
You need to select your required number of AF assist points, that way if your subject moves off the centre point one of the assist points will take over the tracking and focussing of the subject, shooting footy its very difficult to predict which way a player may twist or turn, use centre point to initiate the tracking process and if your subjects moves out of the centre points area one of the assist points kick in and help out until you get your subject covered by the centre point again.

Full auto AF mode will usually default to selecting the point of the strongest contrast which isn'y necessarily your intended target.

For improved accuracy you need to ideally be tracking your subject a short while before you actually fire the shutter, you are then giving your AF system time to actually lock onto your subject and start tracking it
 
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Gary - I don't think you can choose extra assist points on the 50D.
 
Gary Coyle said:
Didnt realise the OP had a 50d Rob for some reason i thought a 1d series, best just to bin it then. :lol:
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:D

Haha While I agree my wife says you are wrong :'(

I did think about an upgrade this year but I thought it wasn't worth the money until I had mastered a few more techniques with this body. :)

The limitations are still all me at the minute :D
 
dannyjo22 said:
Thanks both of you. :)

Why do you select the red focus point on when you know it will always be the center? Or do you mean you select in on in DPP to show you where your focus was?

I've just found a canon field guide for the 50D, this says in AI servo even if you select a manual AF point, it may not be the AF point that achieves sharp focus.

To me this suggests it will then select an outer point if it has to even though you haven't selected it.

It then says "In auto AF mode the camera starts with the center point and continues to track movement as long as it's within the other 8 AF points"

That's why I have been desperately trying to find the 3 hour video on the canon AF system that was done when I bought my 50D. I'm sure it would have cleared up my questions on the 50D af system :)

When you say shoot ahead of the action do you mean to allow yourself some composition due to shooting center AF point?

Sorry for all the questions I'm hoping to get out again Sunday to shoot some more sport and progress my learning a bit more :)

I will have a play with the outerpoints in servo and see what I get. As mentioned I think I will give the full auto a miss in case in selects a player I wasn't hoping to get in full focus.
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The red square show me where the focus was, even if I thought it was elsewhere! It only shows on the camera LCD. Helps in the learning process and shows when I ought to delete!
I find there is a bit of a lag in some light conditions so the more time you can allow the better chance there is of the AF locking on. Its less about composition and more about locking onto the target. I've no idea about other options :|
When I first started shooting footie I had no idea where the ball would go next, but with a bit of experience you begin to find it can be a bit easier to predict.
Thank heavens its digital.
 
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cornishboy said:
Any differing views from Nikon users or is the agreement centre point?
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I think pretty much everyone uses centre point in the main but there are circumstances when an alternate point may be desired. Maybe Gary & Tony could comment on that.

Also some use expansion (i.e. automatically use points to the side of centre point).
 
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I use centre point when in landscape mode but a different one when in portrait mode as the centre point is one or 2 points below ideal
 
center point but linked to the ikle thumb joypad so i can easy move it about as I may move the center point to the side for free kicks or penalties depending on the angle i am at....and like gary mine auto jumps up top center when the camera turned to portrait...

i use left/right assist only as for field sports theres not usualy much happening above or below the players :) and i only use that on the 400mm for distance subjects.. for the close up action i have the other camera with no assist... pretty confident i cant miss close up :)
 
KIPAX said:
center point but linked to the ikle thumb joypad so i can easy move it about as I may move the center point to the side for free kicks or penalties depending on the angle i am at
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This something I would like to be able to do, but I can't find a way of doing it on the 7D. Please correct me if there is a way of doing it. Nearest I can get is having to press two button then use the joystick to set focus point.

I have tried the assist points but prefer the center point.
 
never owned a 7d... on my 1d you can set it in the functions to link the af with the joypad

center point isnt instead of assist.. center point is center point and there is a left and right assist... i dont use them mfor close things where i am filling the frame most of the time.. but for sitance stuff... just in case:)
 
It's in CFIII I think from memory (or might be IV)

Something like; enable multifunction dial direct control of AF points.
 
Found it. :bonk:
C.Fn IV - I. - Custom Controls, AF point direct section and reassign it to the joystick. Page 220 of the 7D manual.
Each press of the joystick center button will toggle between center point and the last focus point selected.
 
Sgt_Bilko99 said:
Found it. :bonk:
C.Fn IV - I. - Custom Controls, AF point direct section and reassign it to the joystick. Page 220 of the 7D manual.
Each press of the joystick center button will toggle between center point and the last focus point selected.
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you will be happy now... i used mine tonight ..pushed it over to the right as the player was going in to take a free kick.. made for a better frame.. then press and it flicks back to center.. just move it round with yer thumb and press to go back... much easier :)
 
KIPAX said:
you will be happy now... i used mine tonight ..pushed it over to the right as the player was going in to take a free kick.. made for a better frame.. then press and it flicks back to center.. just move it round with yer thumb and press to go back... much easier :)
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Will try tomorrow hopefully. Another thing to try and master. :thinking:
Should make it easier like you said for framing corners and free kicks.
 
So you are using the thumb to choose the focus point and then again when using back button focus - that must take practice - off to read the manual again!
 
KIPAX said:
center point but linked to the ikle thumb joypad so i can easy move it about as I may move the center point to the side for free kicks or penalties depending on the angle i am at....and like gary mine auto jumps up top center when the camera turned to portrait...
)
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Can you remember off hand how to set this Tony?

Just looking at the Instruction Manual PDF on P97 & it's not exactly clear.

If not, not to worry I'll look in the manual proper when I have it in my hands.
 
cornishboy said:
So you are using the thumb to choose the focus point and then again when using back button focus - that must take practice - off to read the manual again!
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Never had to do both at once :)
 
Moochos gracias :thumbs:

Wont have much sports to photograph in the near future as we're off for 2 weeks in the sun at the end of the month :thumbsdown:

I'll have to get used to it photograph some tits in the garden ;)
 
Tony - didn't you post recently your CFIII settings? I can't find it.

Wanted to see what you had set and see if I could figure them out.
 
cornishboy said:
So you are using the thumb to choose the focus point and then again when using back button focus - that must take practice - off to read the manual again!
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KIPAX said:
Never had to do both at once :)
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That's probably because only the 7D has the functionality to do it; ie set the AF On button to a linked point, and the exposure lock (*) to whichever one you've selected with the joystick.
 
DemiLion said:
That's probably because only the 7D has the functionality to do it; ie set the AF On button to a linked point, and the exposure lock (*) to whichever one you've selected with the joystick.
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Update to this comment. Having seen the 1Dx with it's latest software, it looks as though the functionality of the 7D may well have been extended to both the 1Dx and the 5DIII.
 
I've got a 500D and end up with about 10 / 200 decent shots.

I can spot the action great, I'm just not nailing the focus :(

AI Servo, centre point (always landscape). where am I going so wrong? I've done 3 full matches now.

Maybe I'm not tracking the player enough..? Or maybe the cheapo 55-250 isn't up to the job?
 
Joe that is areally low hit rate even for a 500D in fact I used my 500D and 450D quite sucessfully shooting sports but I used the 70-200 2.8IS. So it is either your tracking technique or the 55-250.
 
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