AF C. just pisses me off.

Ben_Edict · 05-04-2010, 04:12 PM

Originally posted by ManOf7

So from what I read here, I should use AF-S for the standing still, and then AF-C for when he takes off or is in flight?

Yes. In AF-S the camera basically will only fire, when the AF has locked, whereas in AF-C you can shoot without waiting for the AF to lock.

Ben

**monochrome** · 05-04-2010, 04:22 PM

I shot my son playing in the Conference Tournament for his college lacrosse team last weekend. Haven't processed ANYTHING yet, but the point is I used AF-c with the rear focus button enabled.

K10D, DA55~300 (SR enabled, TAv, 1/500, f/11, free ISO) and from what I can see in previews almost every shot is tack sharp. At 1/500 I stopped all motion except 100mph shots on goal.

I was also able to continuously zoom to keep players in good composition as they moved toward and away from me, and to pan while focusing and shooting.

I will post to this thread when I have some ready.

Arpe · 05-04-2010, 05:26 PM

At f11 you should have everything in focus! Combined with 1/500 it must've been pretty god lighting.

**monochrome** · 05-04-2010, 09:31 PM

Originally posted by Arpe

At f11 you should have everything in focus! Combined with 1/500 it must've been pretty god lighting.

Actually I was a bit concerned about 1/500 and did shoot some at 1/1000. DoF is nearly the entire range from MFD to infinity.

It was an outdoor game with just a light cloud overcast, but very bright light directly overhead. I had asked some years ago for advice on settings to shoot Lacrosse and these were the consensus - has worked quite well.

Arpe · 05-05-2010, 02:44 AM

You''re lucky. I shoot local rugby sometimes at a local park that has lights. I have to use f2.8 and 1/350, ISO1600 ish!! Not great.

Ira · 05-05-2010, 04:54 AM

Originally posted by monochrome

I used AF-c with the rear focus button enabled.

What's a rear focus button?

Arpe · 05-05-2010, 05:13 PM

The button on the back of the camera that says "AF".
I have turned off AF on the shutter button and use the rear button exclusively for AF. Good for sport.

Ira · 05-05-2010, 05:33 PM

Originally posted by Arpe

The button on the back of the camera that says "AF".
I have turned off AF on the shutter button and use the rear button exclusively for AF. Good for sport.

Wow--I feel ridiculous, always referring to it as AE-L.

How is that better for sport? For getting a better grip/hold of the camera?

Marc Sabatella · 05-05-2010, 05:39 PM

No, it's so the camera focuses when *you* ask it to, not on every shot as it would normally. If you're going to take a whiole bunch of shotsin a row of the same subject, no point letting the camera refocus between them. It justs slows things down and risks error. Although I have my camera set up the other way - focuses on half-press *unless* I press the rear button (labeled "OK" on my K200D).

Arpe · 05-05-2010, 05:51 PM

I like to keep my finger hal-pressed on the shutter button when taking action shots - it means I'm ready to fire, and it keeps SR activated (one of my wishes to to be able to turn it on full-time). But I'm not always pointing at what I want focussed, or if I am I usually have others running in front of or passed the camera, so if the camera was trying to focus the whole time it would get thrown by those other people. So by using the AF button (there is an AEL button as well) on the back I can control when it focusses.

When I am riding the shutter button to take a continuous sequence I usually also ride the AF button unless I see something coming either at the edge of the frame or out my other eye, it takes a bit of practice. I can now start and stop focussing while all the time holding the shutted button down for coninuous shooting (and zoom in or out at the same time!).

Actually it means a worse grip on the camera, the K20D AF button was in a better place I think. I was annoyed, and still am, that the K-7 button was moved even further left and down a bit (I think) to make the grip worse. But with a big lens being supported by the left hand the grip is adequate. I've seen the placement of this button on other makes and it looks more sensible.

Ira · 05-05-2010, 06:03 PM

My head is about to explode.

So on the K-x, I have to look for the AF/AE-L setting which says what? And is it only that one setting I have to change to toggle between using that button for AE-L and AF on demand?

Ira · 05-05-2010, 06:05 PM

It's conversations like this which make me love my Taks more and more every day.

Arpe · 05-06-2010, 01:59 AM

Okay - I have K-7, not sure about K-x. I see one button is both AF and AEL -RTFM

Actually that pic of you looks like your head is about to explode too!

Arjay Bee · 05-06-2010, 05:20 AM

K20D has one AE-L button and one AF button

Pauld · 05-06-2010, 05:54 AM

If the birds are still enough you should always focus on the eye and not the body. You want the eye/face to be the sharpest part of your picture and if you focus on the body you'll get varing results.

05-04-2010, 04:22 PM	#17
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Use of AF-c I shot my son playing in the Conference Tournament for his college lacrosse team last weekend. Haven't processed ANYTHING yet, but the point is I used AF-c with the rear focus button enabled. K10D, DA55~300 (SR enabled, TAv, 1/500, f/11, free ISO) and from what I can see in previews almost every shot is tack sharp. At 1/500 I stopped all motion except 100mph shots on goal. I was also able to continuously zoom to keep players in good composition as they moved toward and away from me, and to pan while focusing and shooting. I will post to this thread when I have some ready.

05-04-2010, 04:12 PM	#16
Ben_Edict Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SouthWest "Regio" Photos: Albums Posts: 3,309	Originally posted by ManOf7 So from what I read here, I should use AF-S for the standing still, and then AF-C for when he takes off or is in flight? Yes. In AF-S the camera basically will only fire, when the AF has locked, whereas in AF-C you can shoot without waiting for the AF to lock. Ben

05-04-2010, 05:26 PM	#18
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	At f11 you should have everything in focus! Combined with 1/500 it must've been pretty god lighting.

05-04-2010, 09:31 PM	#19
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Arpe At f11 you should have everything in focus! Combined with 1/500 it must've been pretty god lighting. Actually I was a bit concerned about 1/500 and did shoot some at 1/1000. DoF is nearly the entire range from MFD to infinity. It was an outdoor game with just a light cloud overcast, but very bright light directly overhead. I had asked some years ago for advice on settings to shoot Lacrosse and these were the consensus - has worked quite well.

05-05-2010, 02:44 AM	#20
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	You''re lucky. I shoot local rugby sometimes at a local park that has lights. I have to use f2.8 and 1/350, ISO1600 ish!! Not great.

05-05-2010, 04:54 AM	#21
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Originally posted by monochrome I used AF-c with the rear focus button enabled. What's a rear focus button?

05-05-2010, 05:13 PM	#22
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	The button on the back of the camera that says "AF". I have turned off AF on the shutter button and use the rear button exclusively for AF. Good for sport.

05-05-2010, 05:33 PM	#23
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Originally posted by Arpe The button on the back of the camera that says "AF". I have turned off AF on the shutter button and use the rear button exclusively for AF. Good for sport. Wow--I feel ridiculous, always referring to it as AE-L. How is that better for sport? For getting a better grip/hold of the camera?

05-05-2010, 05:39 PM	#24
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	No, it's so the camera focuses when you ask it to, not on every shot as it would normally. If you're going to take a whiole bunch of shotsin a row of the same subject, no point letting the camera refocus between them. It justs slows things down and risks error. Although I have my camera set up the other way - focuses on half-press unless I press the rear button (labeled "OK" on my K200D).

05-05-2010, 05:51 PM	#25
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	I like to keep my finger hal-pressed on the shutter button when taking action shots - it means I'm ready to fire, and it keeps SR activated (one of my wishes to to be able to turn it on full-time). But I'm not always pointing at what I want focussed, or if I am I usually have others running in front of or passed the camera, so if the camera was trying to focus the whole time it would get thrown by those other people. So by using the AF button (there is an AEL button as well) on the back I can control when it focusses. When I am riding the shutter button to take a continuous sequence I usually also ride the AF button unless I see something coming either at the edge of the frame or out my other eye, it takes a bit of practice. I can now start and stop focussing while all the time holding the shutted button down for coninuous shooting (and zoom in or out at the same time!). Actually it means a worse grip on the camera, the K20D AF button was in a better place I think. I was annoyed, and still am, that the K-7 button was moved even further left and down a bit (I think) to make the grip worse. But with a big lens being supported by the left hand the grip is adequate. I've seen the placement of this button on other makes and it looks more sensible.

05-05-2010, 06:03 PM	#26
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	My head is about to explode. So on the K-x, I have to look for the AF/AE-L setting which says what? And is it only that one setting I have to change to toggle between using that button for AE-L and AF on demand?

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05-05-2010, 06:05 PM	#27
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	It's conversations like this which make me love my Taks more and more every day.

05-06-2010, 01:59 AM	#28
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	Okay - I have K-7, not sure about K-x. I see one button is both AF and AEL -RTFM Actually that pic of you looks like your head is about to explode too!

05-06-2010, 05:20 AM	#29
Arjay Bee Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Horn Island, Torres Straits, Q Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,713	K20D has one AE-L button and one AF button

05-06-2010, 05:54 AM	#30
Pauld Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 507	If the birds are still enough you should always focus on the eye and not the body. You want the eye/face to be the sharpest part of your picture and if you focus on the body you'll get varing results.