Point of focus when taking birds

docholiday

docholiday

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David
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Hi all, just looking for some thoughts on this subject, I use a 600mm Canon and have it set on focusing at centre spot, so when taking a picture all my bird faces are dead centre as I try to focus on the eyes, if I am lucky and can get close this sometimes means I crop the tail, just wondered how others set up, I am using a 7D but have a 1D mk4 arriving next week
Thanks
David
 
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docholiday said:
Hi all, just looking for some thoughts on this subject, I use a 600mm Canon and have it set on focusing at centre spot, so when taking a picture all my bird faces are dead centre as I try to focus on the eyes, if I am lucky and can get close this sometimes means I crop the tail, just wondered how others set up, I am using a 7D but have a 1D mk4 arriving next week
Thanks
Davd
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Move the focus spot David :thumbs: perhaps you are looking for answers from somebody who uses a 600mm David :shrug: Dont mean to be ignorant but I just wondered if I was reading your request right that was all :thumbs:
 
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u8myufo said:
Move the focus spot David :thumbs: perhaps you are looking for answers from somebody who uses a 600mm David :shrug: Dont mean to be ignorant but I just wondered if I was reading your request right that was all :thumbs:
Click to expand...

No Rich you are reading correct, just wondered how people who shoot birds set there focus up, if you put the focus up a few points then change from landscape to portrait you are stuffed or if you quickly want to go to BIF. interested to know what the consensus is
 
docholiday said:
No Rich you are reading correct, just wondered how people who shoot birds set there focus up, if you put the focus up a few points then change from landscape to portrait you are stuffed or if you quickly want to go to BIF. interested to know what the consensus is
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7D has the option of swapping AF points when you switch between portrait and landscape. See p.214 of the manual.

Make sure you've got it set up so that the joystick will select AF points. See p.218 and p.220
 
You also have the option of the custom setting which you can register and call up at the twist of the dial David.
 
now we are getting somewhere,Thought there must be more to it than I was doing. believe it or not I dont have a manual for the camera so been flying it seat of pants and a bit of internet browsing
 
My 7D manual is still in the plastic wrapping. I downloaded the PDF version, which I can read on my PC,iPad and phone.
 
PM me your address David and I will send you mine if you want it.
Rich
 
The one thing I really like about the 7D is the ability to switch AF modes (and/or the focus point) on the fly while still looking through the viewfinder - all very quick and easy. You can toggle through all the focus modes (single point, Spot AF, Zone AF, all points) as well as changing a single point in a matter of seconds.
 
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focus on the eye then move the focus spot to elsewhere to frame the shot.
 
Roy C said:
The one thing I really like about the 7D is the ability to switch AF modes (and/or the focus point) on the fly while still looking through the viewfinder - all very quick and easy. You can toggle through all the focus modes (single point, Spot AF, Zone AF, all points) as well as changing a single point in a matter of seconds.
Click to expand...

Thats what I have being trying to work out, Rich is going to send me a manual so I can look it up, once again TP and its members come through :clap::clap:
 
Guys, Changing the Focus point and/or AF area mode on the 7D is not difficult, here is how you do it.

1. Go into C.Fn III -6 and select/register the AF area modes you may wish to use (note they are not all available as default) You only need to do this once unless you want to change your selections.
2. Press the Multi-controller button
3. Press the M-Fn button to toggle through the available AF area modes

Pressing the Multi-controller and toggling with the M-Fn button becomes second nature after a short while and can easily be done while still looking through the viewfinder. You can change from, say, single point to point expansion in seconds.

To select a AF point manually:-

1. Press Multi-controller button
2. Use the joystick to change the point (note you can assign this to other buttons if you want).

Hope this helps.
 
Roy C said:
Guys, Changing the Focus point and/or AF area mode on the 7D is not difficult, here is how you do it.

1. Go into C.Fn III -6 and select/register the AF area modes you may wish to use (note they are not all available as default) You only need to do this once unless you want to change your selections.
2. Press the Multi-controller button
3. Press the M-Fn button to toggle through the available AF area modes

Pressing the Multi-controller and toggling with the M-Fn button becomes second nature after a short while and can easily be done while still looking through the viewfinder. You can change from, say, single point to point expansion in seconds.

To select a AF point manually:-

1. Press Multi-controller button
2. Use the joystick to change the point (note you can assign this to other buttons if you want).

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

That's how I handle it Roy:thumbs: I have 3 AF area modes registered Single point, AF point expansion & Spot, changing them becomes second nature, once you get used to it.

To select a AF point manually,you can just use the joystick as long as the meter is active, pressing the joystick in, will centre the AF point.
 
Going to have a go at using the joystick myself as it is not so easy focussing and recomposing on a fast moving object. The way I have it now is that the head/eye of the victim is in the centre of the frame, using the centre AF point, and the limbs/wings may be lopped off.
 
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