Focusing on people moving towards camera

[Trevoreast]

Quick question?
People walking towards you in low light were ISO 800 F2.8 only gets you a shutter speed of 1/30

Would you prefer to use one shot or AI servo, and why ?

Trev

[Colin]

Re: Focusing on people moving towards camera

AI servo at f2.8 you have a very shallow depth of field and you will need all the help you can get to get a good in focus shot. But if it is too low in light you may not get focus at all.

[Bryan Conner]

Re: Focusing on people moving towards camera

I would choose AI Servo over One Shot because I would want to take as many frames as possible to increase my chances of the focus being sharp. The possibility of AI Servo being successful tracking the subject seems to be a better bet than one shot nailing the focus on a moving subject that well, moved since focus was locked.

Another alternative would be to shoot manual focus, focus a bit in front of the couple, and then fire off as many shots as possible as they walk into focus. Just like we had to do in the days before auto focus when shooting sports.

[Trevoreast]

Re: Focusing on people moving towards camera

Thanks Bryan and Colin I got time to experiment with a combination of both will have to look through them to see what gave the highest hit rate

I use the back AF with one shot, how much diferent is that to AI servo ?

Trev

[Treff]

Re: Focusing on people moving towards camera

Trev,
Something I have learned over the years.
If you see someone coming towards you in Dim Light.
1. Be very suspicious.
2. Put one hand on the camera the other on your wallet.
3. Depending on the size of the person be prepared to run.
4. If he encroaches to close flash him/her in the eyes with the 580 full power seems to work best for temporary blindness.
5. If the camera is a TXri5 mark 27 just hand it over. It's not worth the pain.
6. If all else fails call him Sir and push the ISO to 4000 and stick everything on P.
Cheers.
Treff
PS Forgot to mention the monopod.......................I think you will find all your thoughts in that direction are illegal.

[Trevoreast]

Re: Focusing on people moving towards camera

Trev,
Something I have learned over the years.
If you see someone coming towards you in Dim Light.
1. Be very suspicious.
2. Put one hand on the camera the other on your wallet.
3. Depending on the size of the person be prepared to run.
4. If he encroaches to close flash him/her in the eyes with the 580 full power seems to work best for temporary blindness.
5. If the camera is a TXri5 mark 27 just hand it over. It's not worth the pain.
6. If all else fails call him Sir and push the ISO to 4000 and stick everything on P.
Cheers.
Treff
PS Forgot to mention the monopod.......................I think you will find all your thoughts in that direction are illegal.

LOL nice one Treff
Trev

[Colin]

Re: Focusing on people moving towards camera

It's worth having a look at this video on YouTube it covers all you want to know about focus modes.

[Trevoreast]

Re: Focusing on people moving towards camera

Thanks Colin, I will have to check out more of those videos. Mark is very good.

The question on whether AI servo is better or worse than the back af button with one shot, in the condtions I mentioned.
I will know the answer when I check some pics I took the other day.
Trev