As a beginner, I've found zone auto focus using the middle 9 points to be helpful. The viewfinder feedback is easier to see with 9 points. I'll switch to single point at the end of a game to practice single point af. That's the eventual goal. Thanks for the great videos!
I have tried different focus options over the years, and Totally agree that single focus with the 9 point is by far the most forgiving when shooting sport.
Another good one Rob. The Nikon equivalent of AI-Servo is AF-C (continuous) The closest to the "Case" settings on Nikon is "Focus tracking with lock-on", you can vary how quickly the AF responds to a "new" AF lock and adjust for erratic subjects. Both of the above relevant to the D5, D850 and D500, not sure on other Nikon bodies.
Love this thank you. I have been struggling with my focus for any movement photography, as I have been trying to focus on the face and failing miserably, so will definitely try focusing on the chest. I’ve also been trying to work out how to use the cases properly too but never finding any info on them so thanks again. Will give them all a try and see which one I prefer.
Hi Rob! Still getting back to your video content to refresh ideas and making sure that I'm not losing track! Seeing that sport events are picking back by the day! Let's keep it that way!!! Cheers
Great stuff! I learned some cool info today that I'll use for basketball later. One question: I tend to have issues with focus when a basketball player is driving right toward me. I figure I am doing something wrong. Please tell me what you do and I will try to mimic it next time. Thanks!
Hi im trying to set up my canon 7d with 70-300ml for surf photography.When i hold down the shutter button to focus in AI Servo mode with single point focus or expand focus i dont hear a beep telling me i have achieved focus or the focus point does not light up.I have selected case 1.Is this the way AI servo works.Maybe it is working but i prefer to see my focus points light up or something in a highly sophisticated piece of photography equipment like a 7d.It says in the manual that thr is no beep when focus is acheived in AI Servo.I dont like the sound of this and how do you track a subject if nothing even lights up on the focus point in the viewfinder.Maybe i need to adjust some more settings on my camera to get it working properly or maybe it is working already some of the practice shots ive taken of a windmill came out ok.
Hi Rob: Canon user forever. I found with digital,that I always keep shutter speed at 1/2000 of a second.Depending on conditions of course.With film I felt good with 1/1000 of a second.
I do rodeo photography and I use the single focus point. If I point the focus point on the cowboy then the animal is out of focus. Is there a focus point that will bring the entire frame into focus?
Question: Do you like shooting at a particular f/stop regularly? I particularly like being wide-open because of the look it delivers, but find I have more out-of-focus shots. I use single-point and AF-C and don’t drop below 1/1000 for the shutter speed. Curious if you have any suggestions to capture more keepers. Thanks!
Personally I always shoot wide open (so f2.8 for my sports lenses). If you shoot f4 then yes you would probably get more in focus but that's the trade off
Steven, I’ve been desperately trying to find AF setting advice for shooting swimmers too, butterfly being the hardest… Of course AF-C (Ai servo) and back-button focusing. But I am still struggling in choosing between AF areas (single point or larger) and subject tracking options… Happy to swap advice if you want (though I shoot Nikon)
I have to ask, why would you use the center point for focus? And not top-center one? Everyone has their preferences, but it sounds a little odd, when you want to focus on the face, which is usually at the top of the frame, not the middle.
Thanks for another great video Rob, I tend to use case 4 but will give case 1 a try! do you go with the default settings? Good luck and best wishes to you & Mrs S.
Hi Rob just watching this video, like your other subscribers it is AI servo not AL servo. I photograph Basketball using my Canon 5DMkiii and I find case 4 is a good one to use. As for my focuse points I always use the 9 point focus points. Love watching your videos and please pass on our wishes to Mrs Sambles with the birth. All the best from Mark Sunny Brisbane Australia.
All the best to you and Mrs S. you must absolutely be at the birth never mind work/videos it’s a life changing experience. Perhaps best to keep your camera in the bag until after the arrival 🤭 I tend to use a 9pt cluster. Case 1 or 4 for soccer and rugby but tend to use 3 for cricket. Much slower for the most part and holding focus is good for the slower pace
I mostly use Case 4, which is the consensus pick I have heard from most sports photographers. Otherwise, players coming at you can go faster than the focus system adjusts. This was a problem I had when using Case 1. I assign Case 2 to the depth-of-field preview button. So, when I want the camera to hold focus on a subject longer, I hit that button. Of course, there is no right and wrong. The important thing is to be comfortable with how the focus system reacts. The Canon manuals make the I look like an L. Everyone calls it AL unless/until they waste brain power leaning it's an I (stupid name anyhow).
AL SERVO :D An honest mistake, but I can't stop laughing. "Hi, sir, what's your name? -I'm Al.. Al Servo".
As a beginner, I've found zone auto focus using the middle 9 points to be helpful. The viewfinder feedback is easier to see with 9 points. I'll switch to single point at the end of a game to practice single point af. That's the eventual goal. Thanks for the great videos!
Thank you - its great to hear that you are experimenting
I have tried different focus options over the years, and Totally agree that single focus with the 9 point is by far the most forgiving when shooting sport.
Another good one Rob.
The Nikon equivalent of AI-Servo is AF-C (continuous)
The closest to the "Case" settings on Nikon is "Focus tracking with lock-on", you can vary how quickly the AF responds to a "new" AF lock and adjust for erratic subjects.
Both of the above relevant to the D5, D850 and D500, not sure on other Nikon bodies.
Thanks for the Nikon info man
Love this thank you. I have been struggling with my focus for any movement photography, as I have been trying to focus on the face and failing miserably, so will definitely try focusing on the chest. I’ve also been trying to work out how to use the cases properly too but never finding any info on them so thanks again. Will give them all a try and see which one I prefer.
Thanks for commenting, glad it was useful
Hi Rob! Still getting back to your video content to refresh ideas and making sure that I'm not losing track! Seeing that sport events are picking back by the day! Let's keep it that way!!! Cheers
Hi Rob: I feel Case 5 and 6 is asking more from Camera than what it can do.I really like Case 4. I agree with using single point, center focus.
Thank you for this. Will try aiming for chest!
Now that the R5/6 have more advanced face detection modes, do you ever use those when shooting sports? Or do you still stick to single point?
I have a brand new EOS 90D and there doesn’t seem to be a Case setting or single point focus. There is a Spot AF or 1pt AF.
Great stuff! I learned some cool info today that I'll use for basketball later. One question: I tend to have issues with focus when a basketball player is driving right toward me. I figure I am doing something wrong. Please tell me what you do and I will try to mimic it next time. Thanks!
It's basically the steps in this video man
AI Servo
Hi im trying to set up my canon 7d with 70-300ml for surf photography.When i hold down the shutter button to focus in AI Servo mode with single point focus or expand focus i dont hear a beep telling me i have achieved focus or the focus point does not light up.I have selected case 1.Is this the way AI servo works.Maybe it is working but i prefer to see my focus points light up or something in a highly sophisticated piece of photography equipment like a 7d.It says in the manual that thr is no beep when focus is acheived in AI Servo.I dont like the sound of this and how do you track a subject if nothing even lights up on the focus point in the viewfinder.Maybe i need to adjust some more settings on my camera to get it working properly or maybe it is working already some of the practice shots ive taken of a windmill came out ok.
Hi Rob: Canon user forever. I found with digital,that I always keep shutter speed at 1/2000 of a second.Depending on conditions of course.With film I felt good with 1/1000 of a second.
Hi man i wanna know which setting should i use during the night using Canon eos 1100D
Check out my other videos. I talk a fair bit about this
I do rodeo photography and I use the single focus point. If I point the focus point on the cowboy then the animal is out of focus. Is there a focus point that will bring the entire frame into focus?
Thanks!
Great information
Thanks Rob!
I’m using case 4 on my 1dx. Maybe I need to try case 1 the next time.
I used case 4 for a while. To be honest I'm not sure if one is any better or worse than four!
AL servo?
Question: Do you like shooting at a particular f/stop regularly? I particularly like being wide-open because of the look it delivers, but find I have more out-of-focus shots. I use single-point and AF-C and don’t drop below 1/1000 for the shutter speed. Curious if you have any suggestions to capture more keepers. Thanks!
Personally I always shoot wide open (so f2.8 for my sports lenses). If you shoot f4 then yes you would probably get more in focus but that's the trade off
No one seems to cover focusing on players coming toward you.... butterfly swimmers for arguments sake.
Steven, I’ve been desperately trying to find AF setting advice for shooting swimmers too, butterfly being the hardest…
Of course AF-C (Ai servo) and back-button focusing. But I am still struggling in choosing between AF areas (single point or larger) and subject tracking options… Happy to swap advice if you want (though I shoot Nikon)
I have to ask, why would you use the center point for focus? And not top-center one? Everyone has their preferences, but it sounds a little odd, when you want to focus on the face, which is usually at the top of the frame, not the middle.
Centre point is going to be the most consistent focus point in my experience. Plus 9/10 during the action you're aiming at the chest not face
Such a great video, thank you. Keep up the good work 👍
Great Video ! Looking forward to the Q&A one ... any hints when it will be up?
Within the next week all being well
Thanks for another great video Rob, I tend to use case 4 but will give case 1 a try! do you go with the default settings?
Good luck and best wishes to you & Mrs S.
Yeah mostly default for me
get on with it
around 03:00 he starts talking about sports photography
And you'll never get those 3 minutes back 😉
@@RobSambles its ok, I would have wasted them anyway
AL Servo, this made my night!! :) Good luck to you and your better half
Hi Rob just watching this video, like your other subscribers it is AI servo not AL servo. I photograph Basketball using my Canon 5DMkiii and I find case 4 is a good one to use. As for my focuse points I always use the 9 point focus points. Love watching your videos and please pass on our wishes to Mrs Sambles with the birth. All the best from Mark Sunny Brisbane Australia.
I'm all good either way - it's the one to use though
Thanks for the well wishes, really appreciated
Thx what about rugby 😅😅😅
Thank you
All the best to you and Mrs S. you must absolutely be at the birth never mind work/videos it’s a life changing experience. Perhaps best to keep your camera in the bag until after the arrival 🤭 I tend to use a 9pt cluster. Case 1 or 4 for soccer and rugby but tend to use 3 for cricket. Much slower for the most part and holding focus is good for the slower pace
Thank you really appreciate it. In the bag after the arrival for sure but not before, I'm getting all the extra work in whilst I can!
I mostly use Case 4, which is the consensus pick I have heard from most sports photographers. Otherwise, players coming at you can go faster than the focus system adjusts. This was a problem I had when using Case 1. I assign Case 2 to the depth-of-field preview button. So, when I want the camera to hold focus on a subject longer, I hit that button. Of course, there is no right and wrong. The important thing is to be comfortable with how the focus system reacts.
The Canon manuals make the I look like an L. Everyone calls it AL unless/until they waste brain power leaning it's an I (stupid name anyhow).
Good info on the cases thanks. Definitely making me think I'll do some experimenting with the cases some more
Good old Alfredo Servo. Al to his mates.
Who the heck is Mr. Al Servo?
Not a canon user, but isn’t it “a” “i” servo?
Yes. AI stands for Artificial Intelligence.
Yeah - either way though it's the best one to use
Rob Sambles Photo I fully agree with this.
Big Al lmao
I'm like your video.
AI, not AL...
2 minutes in your still waffling on about things you want but nothing to do with the title... You need to get tot he point. Way to much waffle.
Yeah.. that's 2 mins you're never getting back 🤣
AL Servo? Struggle to give a like after that. Artificial Intelligence Servo as in Ai Servo 😂😂
Why focus on your face . I thought you are gonna teach us to focus