Impossible AF shots

danielchtong · 05-22-2008, 05:56 PM

Rookery in Toronto: first batch of shots
The first two were done in the same second. All were from A300mmF4 in
its panning shots with focus being adjusted continuously. I doubt the
best AF of any make (incl the best of Canon/Nikon) can manage this

At long last a luck shot . A so-called unobstructed and heavily
cropped one

Daniel
Daniel TONG's Photo Galleries at pbase.com

Damn Brit · 05-22-2008, 06:00 PM

Regarding the first shot, I was wondering where all the Concords went after they were retired.

Nice captures.
Gary

PentaxPoke · 05-22-2008, 06:03 PM

Fantastic!

rfortson · 05-22-2008, 07:04 PM

Wow, that's really impressive Daniel! I agree that it can't get much better than that. What was your "keeper" percentage? Surely the camera got fooled sometimes.

BTW, the exposure and colors are very nice as well.

Nels · 05-22-2008, 07:09 PM

Absolutely awesome shots! Way to go.

borno · 05-22-2008, 07:25 PM

Those are great daniel

Just when I was getting half decent at BIF with manual focus I got a 1.7x afa and have been getting lazy. Sometimes autofocus is frustrating but my eyes aren't so good anymore.

Jewelltrail · 05-22-2008, 08:58 PM

Awesome--great to see this--thank you Dan!

Ernest

**Douglas_of_Sweden** · 05-22-2008, 10:35 PM

Ouch! Your camera is really badly back focusing!

Seriously, really nice pictures.

PentaxPoke · 05-22-2008, 10:52 PM

Originally posted by Douglas_of_Sweden

Ouch! Your camera is really badly back focusing!

POTD

axl · 05-22-2008, 11:53 PM

great focusing... well done

raider · 05-23-2008, 12:14 AM

back focusing? I don't see it.

danny09 · 05-23-2008, 12:32 AM

Excellent focusing...awesome shots..tell us how did u do that?? what was the setting like?? looks a little low light to me?any quirks :-)

PentaxPoke · 05-23-2008, 12:35 AM

Originally posted by raider

back focusing? I don't see it.

Your kidding right? It was sarcasm! The thing he was focussing on was behind the trees

danielchtong · 05-23-2008, 01:38 AM

Ernest, Douglas_of_Sweden, PentaxPoke, axl, rfortson, Gary, Tom, axl, Thanks for taking time to comment

Originally posted by danny09

Excellent focusing...awesome shots..tell us how did u do that?? what was the setting like?? looks a little low light to me?any quirks :-)

BIF ok with manual focus lens: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

I wrote extensively on my method of doing manual focus for fast subject like BIF. Basically at 1/1500s or faster, SR off, M mode, F stop F5.6 or further stepped down to get better DoF and firing in burst while adjusting the focus continuously . When flying bird came within 50-80 ft I raised up the camera and fired already. The first second of shots will be blurry but I have to adjust the focus so by the 2nd or 3rd second the image has to be in focus. It is NOT a traditional focus trap method which enables you to take a sharp 1st image. But for Pentax (even with the fast AF of K20D) , the camera cannot cope with metering and AF in the 2nd shot. Basically it will hunt under AF. It takes a split second before the bird is gone out of sight.

Originally posted by borno

Those are great daniel

Just when I was getting half decent at BIF with manual focus I got a 1.7x afa and have been getting lazy. Sometimes autofocus is frustrating but my eyes aren't so good anymore.

I am 59 and I wear glass as well. That 1.7x TC is an amazing piece of optics/mechanism

Originally posted by rfortson

Wow, that's really impressive Daniel! I agree that it can't get much better than that. What was your "keeper" percentage? Surely the camera got fooled sometimes.
.

Low keeper rate of course because of my method. But it is not film. Who cares?

With traditional method of manual or AF it would have been impossible to get the subsequent shots. All done with my short A300mmF4

Another series also from A300mm

Daniel , Toronto

christinelandon · 05-23-2008, 02:18 AM

The second shot of the trio of Canada geese is outstanding! Your technique is obviously well-executed in this shot. Nice work, Daniel!

05-22-2008, 05:56 PM	#1
danielchtong Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 885	Impossible AF shots Rookery in Toronto: first batch of shots The first two were done in the same second. All were from A300mmF4 in its panning shots with focus being adjusted continuously. I doubt the best AF of any make (incl the best of Canon/Nikon) can manage this At long last a luck shot . A so-called unobstructed and heavily cropped one Daniel Daniel TONG's Photo Galleries at pbase.com

05-23-2008, 12:32 AM	#12
danny09 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 417	Excellent focusing...awesome shots..tell us how did u do that?? what was the setting like?? looks a little low light to me?any quirks :-) Last edited by danny09; 05-23-2008 at 12:33 AM. Reason: Removed quotes :-)

05-23-2008, 01:38 AM	#14
danielchtong Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 885 Original Poster	Ernest, Douglas_of_Sweden, PentaxPoke, axl, rfortson, Gary, Tom, axl, Thanks for taking time to comment Originally posted by danny09 Excellent focusing...awesome shots..tell us how did u do that?? what was the setting like?? looks a little low light to me?any quirks :-) BIF ok with manual focus lens: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review I wrote extensively on my method of doing manual focus for fast subject like BIF. Basically at 1/1500s or faster, SR off, M mode, F stop F5.6 or further stepped down to get better DoF and firing in burst while adjusting the focus continuously . When flying bird came within 50-80 ft I raised up the camera and fired already. The first second of shots will be blurry but I have to adjust the focus so by the 2nd or 3rd second the image has to be in focus. It is NOT a traditional focus trap method which enables you to take a sharp 1st image. But for Pentax (even with the fast AF of K20D) , the camera cannot cope with metering and AF in the 2nd shot. Basically it will hunt under AF. It takes a split second before the bird is gone out of sight. Originally posted by borno Those are great daniel Just when I was getting half decent at BIF with manual focus I got a 1.7x afa and have been getting lazy. Sometimes autofocus is frustrating but my eyes aren't so good anymore. I am 59 and I wear glass as well. That 1.7x TC is an amazing piece of optics/mechanism Originally posted by rfortson Wow, that's really impressive Daniel! I agree that it can't get much better than that. What was your "keeper" percentage? Surely the camera got fooled sometimes. . Low keeper rate of course because of my method. But it is not film. Who cares? With traditional method of manual or AF it would have been impossible to get the subsequent shots. All done with my short A300mmF4 Another series also from A300mm Daniel , Toronto Last edited by danielchtong; 05-23-2008 at 01:50 AM.

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05-22-2008, 06:00 PM	#2
Damn Brit Guest	Regarding the first shot, I was wondering where all the Concords went after they were retired. Nice captures. Gary

05-22-2008, 06:03 PM	#3
PentaxPoke Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,411	Fantastic!

05-22-2008, 07:04 PM	#4
rfortson Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Houston TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,129	Wow, that's really impressive Daniel! I agree that it can't get much better than that. What was your "keeper" percentage? Surely the camera got fooled sometimes. BTW, the exposure and colors are very nice as well.

05-22-2008, 07:09 PM	#5
Nels Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Collinsville, Ok. Photos: Gallery Posts: 218	Absolutely awesome shots! Way to go.

05-22-2008, 07:25 PM	#6
borno Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: md-usa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,580	Those are great daniel Just when I was getting half decent at BIF with manual focus I got a 1.7x afa and have been getting lazy. Sometimes autofocus is frustrating but my eyes aren't so good anymore.

05-22-2008, 08:58 PM	#7
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	Awesome--great to see this--thank you Dan! Ernest

05-22-2008, 10:35 PM	#8
Douglas_of_Sweden Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,374	Ouch! Your camera is really badly back focusing! Seriously, really nice pictures.

05-22-2008, 10:52 PM	#9
PentaxPoke Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,411	Originally posted by Douglas_of_Sweden Ouch! Your camera is really badly back focusing! POTD

05-22-2008, 11:53 PM	#10
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	great focusing... well done

05-23-2008, 12:14 AM	#11
raider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,989	back focusing? I don't see it.

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05-23-2008, 12:35 AM	#13
PentaxPoke Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,411	Originally posted by raider back focusing? I don't see it. Your kidding right? It was sarcasm! The thing he was focussing on was behind the trees

05-23-2008, 02:18 AM	#15
christinelandon Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 812	The second shot of the trio of Canada geese is outstanding! Your technique is obviously well-executed in this shot. Nice work, Daniel!