Canon EOS 7D autofocus mode for action shots?

[stephges]

A little back story:
I got my 7D (coming from a 20D I've had since 2004) in November of last year. Yesterday I went over to my brother-in-law's house to get some shots of his new puppy (see thread here for pictures) and it's really my first time to seriously use the camera. I shot a little bit with it before but because of my work schedule and it getting dark so early I didn't have much opportunity to use it.

Anyway, I feel like I got some great shots, but most of the action shots I got were OOF (except maybe here and here... those were really the only decent action shots). There's definitely a learning curve with the AF modes coming from a 20D, but I feel like I might be using the camera incorrectly (as in I have the settings set up improperly since I don't feel like I had this much issue with the 20D). I shot the pictures of the dogs yesterday with AF point expansion in AI servo mode. My custom function settings are as follows:
AI Servo tracking sensitivity: 0
AI Servo 1st/2nd img priority: AF priority/Tracking priority
AI Servo AF tracking method: Continuous AF track priority
Lens drive when AF impossible: Focus search on

Is this about right for getting action shots? What AF mode do you guys like to use for action shots? I also like to go out to BBSP and shoot out there. I'll be visiting in a couple weeks and I'd like to get this sorted out before then :) I see these photos some of y'all post of BIF that the camera continues to track even behind an obstruction and I want to be able to do that, too! :D

[stephges]

No one can help me?

[Kenski Photo]

I use AI Servo and shoot at 8FPS and just go at it. I am not a "SPORTS" shooter but I can tell you that shooting a few indy and nascar races that You have to make sure you can get a good focus on it first with a half press than once you see and hear the focus confirmation, blast away. It is alot better when you have a IS lens like the 70-200 where you can set it to stab 2 which is for panning.

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by stephges

No one can help me?

Post a few of your problem shots.

[arich]

See here: SportsShooter.com - Canon 7D setting for sports
and here (lots of the same info): http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...-settings.html

The only difference I have from the above settings is that I use the AF-ON button to focus instead of the * button. I also have separate focus points set depending on the camera orientation (in softball/baseball for instance I have my vertical AF point set towards the top of the frame and my horizontal point is usually over to the left or right side so that I can keep the batter/fielder/pitcher in the "back" of the frame.

[stephges]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

Post a few of your problem shots.

Here are a couple where the focus seems slightly off (but not horribly bad). The shutter speed was 1/640 sec. in both shots. I noticed in several of the pictures that the shutter speed seemed a little slow but 1/640 sec. should be fast enough, right?





Here a shot where the focus is pretty dead on but both dogs are moving more slowly and the shutter speed is 1/800 sec. In the shots immediately preceding this one the focus was on my dog's back instead of her face, for some reason, but in this particular shot the focus is on her face.



Here's one where the focus is WAY off. I'm not sure if it's me or the camera. This shot is SOOC and the shutter speed is 1/640 sec.

[stephges]

Originally Posted by arich

See here: SportsShooter.com - Canon 7D setting for sports
and here (lots of the same info): http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...-settings.html

The only difference I have from the above settings is that I use the AF-ON button to focus instead of the * button. I also have separate focus points set depending on the camera orientation (in softball/baseball for instance I have my vertical AF point set towards the top of the frame and my horizontal point is usually over to the left or right side so that I can keep the batter/fielder/pitcher in the "back" of the frame.

Thanks for the links. Out of curiosity, why do you choose to use the AF-ON button instead of the * button? Do you use the * button for something else?

[stephges]

I just found this VERY helpful article for anyone else who is interested!
Setting Up Your New Canon 7D by Guest Contributor Doug Brown | Deep Green Photography

[Kenski Photo]

The last pic was focused to the left and behind the dog. I can see that easily. If I get a min I can D/L the pics and take a look at them to see where the heck it was focusing.

[arich]

Originally Posted by stephges

Thanks for the links. Out of curiosity, why do you choose to use the AF-ON button instead of the * button? Do you use the * button for something else?

*shrug* just preference. I prefer the feel of the AF button more, it has a firmer press to me (if that makes any sense). It also falls more naturally under my thumb.

What focus point selection do you use? You might consider doing a focus test with your lenses as well to make sure they aren't front or back focusing. I keep meaning to do this myself since the 7D allows you to micro-adjust the focus in-camera

[ldelacruz]

Robert,
I don't have a 7D but are you sure there is a beep when it focuses? On my cameras it only beeps in one shot not AI Servo.

Stephanie,
Keep in mind that you have to keep the focus point on the dogs eye. Keeping the focus on the the eye as you and the dog are moving is the hard part especially if you are using focus point expansion. I would have to say it is most likely the focus point moving to his nose, back or ground as the dog is running. Try a single focus point next time and do your best to keep the focus point on the eyes or forehead.

[stephges]

Originally Posted by Kenski Photo

The last pic was focused to the left and behind the dog. I can see that easily. If I get a min I can D/L the pics and take a look at them to see where the heck it was focusing.

Thanks. Not sure why it was focusing back there since I had the center point selected in point expansion mode.

[stephges]

Originally Posted by arich

What focus point selection do you use? You might consider doing a focus test with your lenses as well to make sure they aren't front or back focusing. I keep meaning to do this myself since the 7D allows you to micro-adjust the focus in-camera

I was using the point expansion mode (center point activated) but previously (on my 20D) I just used the center point only (since it didn't have all the AF options the 7D has). I've informally tested my lenses and they seem to be ok (they're focusing where I tell them to) but I haven't done any serious testing with any sort of specific setup.

[stephges]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

Stephanie,
Keep in mind that you have to keep the focus point on the dogs eye. Keeping the focus on the the eye as you and the dog are moving is the hard part especially if you are using focus point expansion. I would have to say it is most likely the focus point moving to his nose, back or ground as the dog is running. Try a single focus point next time and do your best to keep the focus point on the eyes or forehead.

Yeah, I understand that. Sometimes it's quite difficult when the dogs are moving unpredictably! :-) I just thought since my keeper rate with action shots on this camera (vs. my 20D) is so low that something was not set up properly. As I stated in a previous post, I used the center point only on my 20D and I'm using a different AF mode (point expansion) on my 7D. I might switch back to the center point only to see if I get better results. There's definitely a learning curve with the AF coming from the 20D! :-D

[BethG]

Stephanie - I had the same problem last weekend with my 7D...switched to single point and it cleared it up. (no pun intended)