on coming shots

suggs

suggs

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Harry
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Hi Guys

im having issues getting sharp on coming MX shots where i cant pan such as shooting head on towards a jump, even ss of 1/1000 dosent do it apart from the odd fluke..

cameras a D200 so im wondering if its the servo AF not up to the job, side on pans and berm shots etc no problems..

cheers
 
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I suspect its the AF on your camera not being able to cope as its the hardest subject for a camera to capture is a object moving quickly towards you.
I had the same problem with my 20D at times but ever since upgrading to a 7D touch wood Ive never had a problem due to the superior autofocus.
 
Yeah recently i think my d200 has started to show its limitations in the af and iso departments although has produced some cracking shots recently, but I think it's time for an upgrade...
 
suggs said:
Yeah recently i think my d200 has started to show its limitations in the af and iso departments although has produced some cracking shots recently, but I think it's time for an upgrade...
Click to expand...

Youll be surprised ny how many more keeperS your get with a more modern body as well. I thought my 20D done well but Im getting alot more keepers with my 7D.
 
yeah, i have some money from recent MX picture sales so think ill put it towards a new body, have been thinking about a D300 for a while as that model has a much improved AF and ISO but still a bit long in the tooth by the latest offerings. unless i jump ship and go Canon..
 
A D300 would be a good choice for you - the Canon 7D is basically a copy of the D300.

The problem you describe is definitely AF related... but its a combination of the camera and the lens... have you got something that focuses fast? ie an AFS type lens?
 
Thanks


I have an 18-70 afs and my other lens is I nifty fifty. The 50mm recently is producing more and better images than the other lens..

I am defo short on kit and think I'm getting away with a lot considering I mostly shoot and sell motocross images, but I'm able to get close enough to use the 50mm.

Think its a d300 for me then and also a fast 70-200 such as a sigma HSM, just can't afford both at the same time so its a case of what first ? like the chicken and egg lol
 
The other thing you need to understand is that as the subject moves closer, so the rate of change of the work the camera/lens is doing increases.

For example, if we look at the spec Canon give for their fastest camera/lens combo they say that:

"with an EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens, the EOS-1D Mark IV can track a subject approaching at 50 kph/31 mph up to about 8 meters/26.2 feet away"

31mp at 8m? Thats neither fast nor close really is it!

So, given that you (and I) have lesser kit than that 7000 quid combination, you need to make sure that you aren't shooting dead head on close up - which generally means shooting longer... and rarely dead head on.
 
My old kit couldn't cope with oncoming shots so I used manual focus.

Pick a spot during practice, set the camera focus point / lens to f8 and practice timing the shot.

You'll not get the hit rate of an expensive camera / lens combination but it does wonders for your technique / planning :D
 
Since you have a nikon you could use trap focus (doesn't work on the newest models).

Basically, you set focus to the back button only(af-on). Set the focus priority for the mode being used to "focus," and put the camera into single servo focus.

Then set the focus distance with the af-on button and release it. Point the camera where you want to capture the subject and press the shutter release button. As soon as a subject crosses the active focus point(s), and is in focus, the camera will trigger. In continuous mode it should stop firing when the subject leaves focus.

This is similar to zone focus (prefocus and timing) but more accurate.
 
interesting idea but not sure it would work that well with motocross because i can be shooing all different distances and directions in a matter of seconds..

all being well ill have a low millage D300 with grip tomorrow, just need to decide if to keep the D200 for a spare or to sell it on...
 
Well, no, nothing is going to make up for a slow AF system if you're going to be changing your direction/subject all of the time. It would still work, you are just stuck with single servo focus.

IMO, the D300 isn't hugely faster in that area. And the D200 has so little value you might as well keep it. (I owned both)

Also IMO, you quite possibly could be better served by not changing your direction so much. Set up for a shot you want to get and wait for it to happen.
 
Thanks, will prob keep the 200 as a spare and its still a great camera far exceding its used value now. I find with motocross it's hard to set up a shot in a specific place because the riders take many different lines because of the terrain there riding. I normally track them with servo af and take the shot when it looks right in the view finder, sometimes taking a few shots as they enter a berm carry through then exit, the bikes chuck up a lot of roost (mud) and that may effect the af at times. It's quite possible I'm being over critical of myself as its not an easy sport to shoot and I'm normally up to my knees in mud lol
 
Let us know how you get on with the D300, if you want any specific help, just ask :thumbs:
 
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