Wedding - Custom Presets / AF technique

[dancook]

Would anyone like to share their custom presets for weddings?

I realise I will probably need to become a lot more familiar with the AF of the 5DM3, 99% of the time I use one shot with centre point focus.

If something happened that I needed to quickly focus on something moving in and out of the focal plane - I'd struggle to change settings quickly. It would be nice to know what technique I should 'focus' on learning to adapt to changing scenarios.

I suppose my issue is that I like to use wide apertures and focus on the eyes, I feel like I'm leaving too much to chance with AF zones.

Thanks

 

[Phil V]

I don't know how much different the 5d III focussing is from the 7d, but I often leave my 7d on continuous AF, I use back button focus, single AF point, and I have different vertical and horizontal AF points.

Using continuous AF with BBF means I can use it as one shot by pressing the * till it focuses then letting go. Then with a moving subject I just hold it. My most common AF points shooting people are top right / top left.

I will warn that lots of people will say that keeping it on continuous makes it less reliable, but I'm happy with my keeper rate.

 

[dancook]

Using continuous AF with BBF means I can use it as one shot by pressing the * till it focuses then letting go.

I get the general idea, but have you worded that correctly as it seems confusing.

I have set the shutter-press to * (freeze exposure), which what I assume you mean. So (for single shot) once I get focus, I let go of BBF and hold shutter down partially for freeze exposure then recompose and shoot?

 

[Phil V]

With BBF, the * button is set to focus, I use the multi function button for Exp lock when required.

So for single shot, a tap of the * button, and for continuous I hold it down.

 

[dancook]

With BBF, the * button is set to focus, I use the multi function button for Exp lock when required.

I see, thanks

By default the AF-ON button is BBF, so if you move that to the *, do you use the AF-ON for something else?

Is the reasoning that it's easier to use *?

 

[Phil V]

I see, thanks

By default the AF-ON button is BBF, so if you move that to the *, do you use the AF-ON for something else?

It may be odd, my early cameras had no AF on, so we always used the * from a custom function, and until none of our cameras have no AF on, we'll keep it that way so they all work the same. I might use 3 different bodies in a day and they all have * set to focus. Only the 7d has AF On.

My Mrs will take some re-training when I move to focus with AF On too.

 

[Furtim]

On the 5D3 you can set the DOF preview button to switch to AI Servo when it's held down. I leave the camera in one shot, but pop the DOF button when I need servo. It's in a fantastically natural position and quite intuitive I find.

 

[Matholwch]

On the 5D3 you can set the DOF preview button to switch to AI Servo when it's held down. I leave the camera in one shot, but pop the DOF button when I need servo. It's in a fantastically natural position and quite intuitive I find.

Yep I do this, and its excellent (how often do you use dof unless doing some macro photos).

This guide is excellent for customisation of the 5DmkIII AF settings
http://www.atrero.com/articles/canon-eos-5d-mark-iii-af-settings/

 

[dancook]

Cheers, I'll give that a try too - and a read.

If anyone has any thoughts about C1,C2,C3 setup - I'm all 'eyes', I'm sure it's a very personal thing - but the reasoning will help me forge my own

 

[paulefox]

Really good advice, thanks have been reading it

 

[Jayst84]

If anyone has any thoughts about C1,C2,C3 setup - I'm all 'eyes', I'm sure it's a very personal thing - but the reasoning will help me forge my own

I have C3 set for room shots, so mirror lock up, 2 second timer, one shot AF (not that I use it, manual focus with live view is quicker and more accurate) and exposure of something like 200 ISO at f/8 for 2 seconds - of course this changes depending on the venue and the shot, I will save it to whatever is a good starting point for each venue. A room shot involves the most faffing about with settings, so it's good to have it on it's own custom bank to quickly flick in and out of.

C1 and C2 will be set depending on the venue, the job and what part of the shoot I'm at. I may have one set to a slow shutter for waving around on the dancefloor, and one set to 'safe' happy snap settings for quick party group shots, or portraits, etc. Or, one may be set for shooting ambient while the other is set for flash. At events, one will probably be set to 'red carpet /media wall mode' so I can always quickly return to that if need be.

Regarding AF - I have both cameras set to use only the cross type AF points, and use the joystick to move between them. Usually centre and top left/right. Clicking the joystick will toggle from the centre point and your last used point, so you don't have to keep scrolling through them all. Then make sure you set it to continuous scrolling or whatever it's called, so it's one click to go from the top right to the top left point, and vice versa rather than having to scroll all the way across the viewfinder.

I use the focus button to focus, and the shutter button to take photos (crazy, I know). This means you can use servo and stop tracking whenever you like, as already spoken of above. I use a lot of one shot AF though, as when shooting in the dark, this will let you use the AF assist beam on your flashgun.

I never use any auto modes, so can't recommend anything about exposure lock.

 

[Serendipitous Sid]

I suppose my issue is that I like to use wide apertures and focus on the eyes

For portraits yes, but if you do that for the general run of wedding pictures, I reckon your reject rate may well surprise/dismay you. A lot can happen very quickly at a wedding ...