Initiating Focus for Sports Photography

jamesward93

jamesward93

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,146
Name
James
Edit My Images
Yes
More out of interest than anything else, but when shooting sport how do you start your auto focus? Do you half press the shutter release button or have you enable the AE Lock/AF function, then use the * button to initiate focus?

I hope that makes sense!! :thinking:
 
Always used the rear* button to focus and the shutter to set exposure and fire when i used Canon, i shot a lot of amateur stuff where players were running in and out of shadows and it was ideal for the camera to set exposure every time the shutter fired as opposed to using the same exposure setting for the first time the shutter fired.
 
I can tell you how the thread will go.. Most pro users have the * set for back button focus... some dont know what your talking about and some (like me) have tried it and couldnt get on wiht it... So I use the half press and track..on the rare occasion I track :)

I use manual exposure as much as I can so it dont matter too much anyways..
 
Also helps massivly to lock focus on a subject then move camera so subject is left or right of centre frame for arty type and stock type photos.
 
Gary Coyle said:
Also helps massivly to lock focus on a subject then move camera so subject is left or right of centre frame for arty type and stock type photos.
Click to expand...

the mkIII is so easy to move the focus point with the little joystick.. just a slight move of thumb and press to send back to preset..
 
KIPAX said:
the mkIII is so easy to move the focus point with the little joystick.. just a slight move of thumb and press to send back to preset..
Click to expand...

And so easy to forget, particularly if you have the red focus point rectangle set to a dim setting
 
Thanks for your replys.

Tony, how come you didnt get on with it, what was it that you didnt like about it?

I'll give it a go tonight and see how i get on with the back button, can always revert if i don't like it. I presume that using the * button will still use your manually selected focus point and not just the centre point.
 
jamesward93 said:
Thanks for your replys.

Tony, how come you didnt get on with it, what was it that you didnt like about it?.
Click to expand...

Just about everyone who does use it says they had to give it a few goes to get used to it.. To be fair I prob didnt give it a good enough whack.. Every game I was at I needed to get shots... I cant afford a few matches playing and getting used to a new system..

Plus I have athritis in all my small joints which there are a lot in the hands... OK when your used to somehting but a bit of a problem when you change position for hrs :(
 
Have to say I could never get on with the * button. Dont really have any issues using the shutter button for everything and I suppose its just down to personal choice. A bit like Marmite love it.......hate it!
 
I've tried it and didn't get on with it...

Using the 30D and Sigma 70-200 it just seemed a little slower to come out of "hibernation" when I did press the * button. Much quicker just to half-press...i'm using Manual exposure anyway, so metering isn't much more than a green dash going up and down a scale in the viewfinder. I know better than to trust my camera...:D
 
jamesb84 said:
I've tried it and didn't get on with it...

Using the 30D and Sigma 70-200 it just seemed a little slower to come out of "hibernation" when I did press the * button. Much quicker just to half-press...i'm using Manual exposure anyway, so metering isn't much more than a green dash going up and down a scale in the viewfinder. I know better than to trust my camera...:D
Click to expand...

Agreed.. i think with the joystick to set focus point being so simple and quick.. the fact i manual exposure as much as i can.. i cant see any great need to change my ways...and a bit like ianmarsh its a hassle to change yer ways when yer getting on a bit haha :)
 
I tried back button and hated it, don't fell there's any benefit to it IMHO
 
I gave it a try last time I read a thread like this. I certainly liked the idea of having a separate action for the focus and the exposure but the problem was that at the same time I got a cheap ebay battery grip for my camera that doesn't have the focus lock button on it so I wouldn't be able to focus in portrait. I'm assuming the Nikon grips will have this button. That'll teach me for being cheap.
 
Why not go the other way? Set the * (back) button to pause the af. Helps in servo to stop the af tracking and you can compose off centre for those arty/stock pictures.
 
I'm pleased to see that there are quite a few * button (Canon) AF-ON button (Nikon) users who don't get on well with the "back button" method.

I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me as I don't like that method either.

What beats me is that people tell me I'm at a disadvantage by shooting half-press - and yet I've managed so far and I've never had a brides father moan at me for half-pressing :D And I've still got plenty of shots of birds in flight and the odd bit of sport where everything's fine too.

If I get chance to shoot at the weekend I'll MAKE myself shoot with the back button but I'm not convinced it'll make me a better shooter. :thinking:
 
All my shooting uses the * button. tried it a few times and quickly got used to it. Only problems when someone else tries to take a shot and I forget to say how to focus :)

The mai reason to use this is to separate the exposure from the focus button. Shooting sports means the exposure at the point of focus, the exposure locks when using the half press. As the subject moves in many situations you will find the exposure is wrong - especially moving from shade to bright sun.

Using the * means you can track your subject by holding down the button down and only press the trigger when you want to take the shot and exposure is taken at the point you take the shot.

THere's a lot written about this. If you can, keep trying for a couple of weeks. I never use any other way!
 
OK, so i tried both methods at the game last night. Whilst i had no real problems with using the back button to focus and track, i did find that compared to a half press on the shutter release, it was quite a bit slower. I kept switching methods throughout the game and haven't made my mind up which i prefer yet, I'll keep trying and see which one i settle on
 
It shouldn't be slower? i don't see any speed difference. What focus point(s) were you using?
 
jamesward93 said:
OK, so i tried both methods at the game last night. Whilst i had no real problems with using the back button to focus and track, i did find that compared to a half press on the shutter release, it was quite a bit slower. I kept switching methods throughout the game and haven't made my mind up which i prefer yet, I'll keep trying and see which one i settle on
Click to expand...

I tried it last night too, I got a lot more keepers and the ones I got seemed to be spot on. Very impressed with my new button :D
 
I have used the back button for sometime as I find half press of shutter sometimes means shot taken, maybe I'm too heavy handed :)

Reading about this on the forum I got the impression that you have to change camera settings to use it, mine has always worked this way or am i missing something?
 
bootie said:
I have used the back button for sometime as I find half press of shutter sometimes means shot taken, maybe I'm too heavy handed :)

Reading about this on the forum I got the impression that you have to change camera settings to use it, mine has always worked this way or am i missing something?
Click to expand...

Usually a custom function!
 
purpleclouds said:
I tried it last night too, I got a lot more keepers and the ones I got seemed to be spot on. Very impressed with my new button :D
Click to expand...

Yeah thats what you get with the MKIII matey.. CF card door release button on the D3 works better at setting focus than the shutter release on the MKIII :D

***runs for cover with hands over head for protection***
 
TheBionicDan said:
Yeah thats what you get with the MKIII matey.. CF card door release button on the D3 works better at setting focus than the shutter release on the MKIII :D

***runs for cover with hands over head for protection***
Click to expand...

I best go for the legs then eh :razz::lol:

I got more keepers, not some keepers :p
 
Hmmm i might have to give it another bash, if Phil can get it to work then............:exit:
 
I always ue the back button (AF-ON) and 51pt 3D focus - pick up focus in the centre then camera follows the action - re frame - whatever you want and everything stays in focus. Fantastic. Once you get used to it there is no other way (not for me anyway).
 
well at least the snows starting to melt, so you should have too many games postponed:suspect:

One thing with the back button focus, did you not find the button a bit too small and not really in the best place ergonomically?

I think if the button was a bit bigger it would be ok
 
Rovers_Andy said:
well at least the snows starting to melt, so you should have too many games postponed:suspect:

One thing with the back button focus, did you not find the button a bit too small and not really in the best place ergonomically?

I think if the button was a bit bigger it would be ok
Click to expand...

I've only got dainty fingers so it's a good size for me.. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top