focussing question

miju

got my Canon 350D last week and having great fun learning it (though am familiarish with controls as my old camera is the near film version of it the Canon 300V)

anways, been trying to take some action shots but with mixed results. main problem is with focus sometimes they are out of focus and other times there are razor sharp. i'm using auto focus at the mo but wanted to ask all you peeps opinion on switching to manual focus?

is manual focus better for action shots and if it is can anyone offer any techniques for focusing manually as quickly as possible?

Borderfox

use ai servo for action not one shot that will fix it for you.

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Switch to AI Servo


I am so slow. Sorry. So new to these Internets.

miju

OK so just so im clear on this. switch it to AI servo and keep it on auto focus ?

thanks guys will give this setting a try over the weekend

miju

sorry just a quick follow up question, should I ever bother using One Shot focus or is it a setting for people who just want to "point & shoot" holiday snaps and the like if you get me

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miju wrote:

OK so just so im clear on this. switch it to AI servo and keep it on auto focus ?

Yes; the focus and exposure settings are automatically changed while you hold the hutter button down half-way.
There are a number of reasons why one would choose one method over the other...they're all kinda weak to explain (in my mind.) - my experience has been: One Shot is better when you can stop and shoot as it helps ensure the subject is in focus before you can shoot wherease AI Servo will shoot regardless (and can lose focus if something else came into the scene for example - best to set only the centre point for focus to minmize this).

Borderfox

One shot in auto focus just means it focus's once till it gets a lock then it stops and AI servo is continous focus. Also one more thing select only the centre focus point when shooting sport most times this is the best option.

miju

thanks very much for the tips guys very much appreciated.

have only taken up photography again after a long while so have forgotten alot of the stuff I learnt, will have to take part in the next boards photo challenge

Borderfox

If you need any more help feel free to pm me..

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Please keep it public so newbies like me can learn!

miju

thanks border fox , expect a flurry of PMs / posts as soon I've gotten to grips with the camera a bit more and decide to REALLy know the ins and outs

PaulieC

The only problem with using AI Servo is if you want to focus on an area, you can't focus lock and re-compose. I do this a lot, but I'm trying to use AI Servo a bit more - I have twins coming up on 2 and One Shot Focus is quickly becoming redundant

Borderfox

Cambo can you photograph one and then the other and put them in the same shot in PS? otherwise shoot outside with a high f stop.