Using AF for moving targets?

Ilovemypentax · 05-24-2015, 08:41 AM

When you set the AF to continuous are you supposed to hold down the shutter release halfway while you follow the target? That seems the way mine works unless I am not doing it right. I thought continuous AF does it on its own and you don't have to hold down the button.

JarrettP · 05-24-2015, 09:36 AM

That's just how it works. You need to activate the AF system using the half press or back button for it to engage. Continuous just means it will continue to adjust while you are focusing instead of getting a lock and holding it.

derekkite · 05-24-2015, 10:10 AM

Originally posted by Ilovemypentax

When you set the AF to continuous are you supposed to hold down the shutter release halfway while you follow the target? That seems the way mine works unless I am not doing it right. I thought continuous AF does it on its own and you don't have to hold down the button.

S or single finds focus and stops. C or continuous will continue to adjust focus as long as you hold the button down.

Ilovemypentax · 05-24-2015, 06:26 PM

OK, thanks!

r0ckstarr · 05-25-2015, 04:04 AM

It's a lot easier if you use Back Button Focus.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/38-photographic-technique/236970-perfect-...everytime.html

Top banana · 05-25-2015, 10:34 AM

Have a quick look in the 'post your photos' section - I have just put some up from my K3 where I used the AF-C on motorsports, and it seems to cope with fast moving sports action fairly well. Also I have just recently changed over to using the back button focus and it now seems much better than using the half-push shutter button method.

Pentaxians · 05-27-2015, 04:42 AM

Bookmarked

DeadJohn · 05-28-2015, 09:02 AM

Back button AF has already been mentioned. USE IT! I can keep the AF mode switch in AF.C all the time.
Quick press of the AF button = AF.S.
Hold button = AF.C.
No button press = MF with lenses that allow quickshift, or use the same focus distance as the last photo.

05-24-2015, 08:41 AM	#1
Ilovemypentax Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 121	Using AF for moving targets? When you set the AF to continuous are you supposed to hold down the shutter release halfway while you follow the target? That seems the way mine works unless I am not doing it right. I thought continuous AF does it on its own and you don't have to hold down the button.

05-25-2015, 10:34 AM	#6
Top banana Veteran Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 339	AF for moving targets Have a quick look in the 'post your photos' section - I have just put some up from my K3 where I used the AF-C on motorsports, and it seems to cope with fast moving sports action fairly well. Also I have just recently changed over to using the back button focus and it now seems much better than using the half-push shutter button method.

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05-24-2015, 09:36 AM	#2
JarrettP New Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 7	That's just how it works. You need to activate the AF system using the half press or back button for it to engage. Continuous just means it will continue to adjust while you are focusing instead of getting a lock and holding it.

05-24-2015, 10:10 AM	#3
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	Originally posted by Ilovemypentax When you set the AF to continuous are you supposed to hold down the shutter release halfway while you follow the target? That seems the way mine works unless I am not doing it right. I thought continuous AF does it on its own and you don't have to hold down the button. S or single finds focus and stops. C or continuous will continue to adjust focus as long as you hold the button down.

05-24-2015, 06:26 PM	#4
Ilovemypentax Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 121 Original Poster	OK, thanks!

05-25-2015, 04:04 AM	#5
r0ckstarr Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,507	It's a lot easier if you use Back Button Focus. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/38-photographic-technique/236970-perfect-...everytime.html

05-27-2015, 04:42 AM	#7
Pentaxians Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 733	Bookmarked

05-28-2015, 09:02 AM	#8
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834	Back button AF has already been mentioned. USE IT! I can keep the AF mode switch in AF.C all the time. Quick press of the AF button = AF.S. Hold button = AF.C. No button press = MF with lenses that allow quickshift, or use the same focus distance as the last photo.