Canon 7D focusing

footydad

footydad

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I usually use centre focus point focusing with my Canon 7D, but was going to try giving the 19 point focus a try today.

I'm glad I didn't, otherwise I don't think the player I wanted would of been in focus. Does anyone use the 19 point focus instead of centre focus? I'd be interested to know.

IMG_2196 by Ian Kendle, on Flickr
 
No. not on any camera.. center point (moveable) for sport..that works.. what made you think of using any other when all the advice is center point?
 
To be honest, I do struggle sometimes to keep with play and focus on what I want and did toy with the idea of using the 19 points a try, but glad I didn't.
 
I've used servo and all points for some action stuff. If you read up on the AF system you'll find it can do a heck of a lot more than is immediately obvious. With all AF points active you can chose your initial focus point with the joystick and then the AF will track your subject quite successfully. You can tweak how it tracks within the menu settings.
To be honest the advice only to ever use the centre point is laughable. Why would manufactures put complex AF tracking systems in cameras...
 
Whippet said:
To be honest the advice only to ever use the centre point is laughable.
Click to expand...

Really?
I mite go out on a limb here, but most(all?) pro sports shooters would use center spot focus with surrounding assist points.
 
I use a 7D and I use extended centre point focus which is movable with the joystick. I spent ages going through the numerous settings in the menus for tracking speed/priority etc. and I worked out the best set up for the way I use the camera. Basically centre point but if it can't focus on centre point it looks just next to centre.

If you are having focus problems I recommend that you go through the C.Fn iii Autofocus / Drive menu and read up on each setting. Mainly AI Servo tracking sensitivity and AI Servo 1st/2nd img priority. These settings determine how quickly your camera will search for anything coming into the frame and whether it will try to focus on them.

Hope that helps! I'd be interested to hear anyone else's set up.
 
Whippet said:
To be honest the advice only to ever use the centre point is laughable.
Click to expand...

You must be a really good sports photographer to be laughing at the rest of us........ I offer advice left right and center on what works for me.. but I never laugh at anyone who does it different..
 
KIPAX said:
You must be a really good sports photographer to be laughing at the rest of us........ I offer advice left right and center on what works for me.. but I never laugh at anyone who does it different..
Click to expand...

Its nothing to do with how good I am. The point I am making is that saying you should only ever use just the centre point isn't helpful. Yes it's the best option in alot of cases but to never use the other capabilities of the AF system on a camera designed for action doesn't make sense.
 
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pope said:
Really?
I mite go out on a limb here, but most(all?) pro sports shooters would use center spot focus with surrounding assist points.
Click to expand...

I agree, that's better than just centre point on its own for a lot of sports
 
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I use left and right assist where appropriate..
I set to center point movable to 9 points so I can go top left and right (rare to use bottom).. top if I am wide open and need face.. left and right for boxing/combat sports.. but for field sports (as per this thread) its rarely off center
 
to chip in I've shot a the odd match with specifically the 7D, I use the centre only! but as an array, then I can move that around with the joystick as required.
I wouldn't use all of the focus points in case the camera jumped to the edge of the frame, the action I want is normally in the centre.
however, I'm not very good :)
for ring based stuff I use all the points on a 5Dii because it needs them! on the 7D I use the same sort of setup as it's very fast paced.

for @footydad , do you use back button focusing? or is focusing activated by the shutter?
 
DizMatt, I don't use back button focusing and my focusing is activated by the shutter. I haven't tried back button focusing, what's the advantage, it all seems a bit of faff?
 
Thanks KIPAX, I'll have a look at that and hopefully give it a go.
 
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