How do you get sharp focus on moving subjects?

barracuda · 22nd March 2009

hi, I am using a canon 20d, an old cam without any face regconition. so if i want to shoot a person running, how can i get a sharp focus on the face, esp with all those possible focusing points?

Please share your experience. Many thanks in advance.

gamebit · 22nd March 2009

I think you need to pan the shot, with the focus point set on the face.

ortega · 22nd March 2009

focus

fast shutter speed/flash to freeze subject
or panning

Rashkae · 22nd March 2009

Originally Posted by barracuda

hi, I am using a canon 20d, an old cam without any face regconition. so if i want to shoot a person running, how can i get a sharp focus on the face, esp with all those possible focusing points?

Please share your experience. Many thanks in advance.

Who the heck needs face detection? All the sports photogs out there have no "face detection". Learn how to use the camera instead of relying on marketing gimmicks.

navlem · 22nd March 2009

Use Continuous AF instead of Single AF would help.

Anson · 22nd March 2009

Since you are using a Canon system... use "AI Servo"... to keep your moving subject in focus.... example as shown below:

huggable · 22nd March 2009

1. Anticipation.
2. Dynamic AF
3. Pre-focus, or using manual focus.

boyboy · 22nd March 2009

since when did SLRs have face detection anyway?

oh wait. my d300 does have some sort of focus preference for a person's eyes. but it can't always be relied on anyway.

the alternatives are to lock the focus point on the eyes and use dynamic AF and AF tracking, and to shoot bursts. it's about probability as well.

navlem · 22nd March 2009

I think D90 have face-detection..

Anson · 22nd March 2009

Originally Posted by navlem

I think D90 have face-detection..

Only in LV mode... and the AF is slow......

barracuda · 22nd March 2009

[quote=Anson;4910493]Since you are using a Canon system... use "AI Servo"... to keep your moving subject in focus.... example as shown below:

[quote]

What is the difference between AI servo & AI Focus? They seem to be the same to me.

Anson · 22nd March 2009

Originally Posted by barracuda

What is the difference between AI servo & AI Focus? They seem to be the same to me.

AI Servo is Continuous Focus (CF)... while AI Focus... is Single Shot follow by CF...

iRaphael · 22nd March 2009

well. I would just set it at shutter priority with AI servo.

then I would shoot at 1/125, 1/250, etc, depending on the situation.

AI servo rocks. you should practise it by doing by panning some cars and stuff. perhaps you could try focusing on something like the car plate or the headlights.

cookie88 · 22nd March 2009

Also helps to have a "reasonable" DOF. If shooting at large apertures and DOF is only a few cm, then chances of OOF pic is higher.

Snoweagle · 22nd March 2009

Originally Posted by barracuda

hi, I am using a canon 20d, an old cam without any face regconition. so if i want to shoot a person running, how can i get a sharp focus on the face, esp with all those possible focusing points?

Please share your experience. Many thanks in advance.

I think face recognition is not integrated into Canon's DSLRs, only the compacts. Anyway use AI Servo and pan, make sure that your shutter speed is enough.

Anson · 22nd March 2009

Originally Posted by Snoweagle

I think face recognition is not integrated into Canon's DSLRs, only the compacts. Anyway use AI Servo and pan, make sure that your shutter speed is enough.

Canon's 5DM2 does have face detection (not recognition), however it can only be used in LV... and it is slow....

liarliar · 22nd March 2009

I used to be a sniper. Times was good no war so i now snipe with a cam. Its the only thing i am good with in life i guess. The principle of this 2 profession's the same. You locked on and trail your target, or you aim ahead predicting your target's next approaching location.

Snoweagle · 22nd March 2009

Originally Posted by Anson

Canon's 5DM2 does have face detection (not recognition), however it can only be used in LV... and it is slow....

Maybe it's a prototype for DSLRs.

Anson · 22nd March 2009

Originally Posted by Snoweagle

Maybe it's a prototype for DSLRs.

Actually it is quite common in some of the new dslr... Olympus, Nikon & Canon all have at least 1 dslr model that have face detection....

Limsgp · 22nd March 2009

AI servo is continuous focus mode, the camera will assume the subject is moving and attempt to focus accordingly, partly by predicting the subjects distances wrt the camera.

For AI Focus, the camera will decide whether the subject is stationary or moving, and dynamically select the appropriate focusing mode accordingly. i.e. If subject starts to move, it will switch to AI Servo, and when subject stops, it will switch to one shot, provided you're constantly half-pressing the shutter button all the while.

Basically, if you trust the camera's AI, you can leave the camera on AI Focus 100%. However, in practical shooting, usually pple don't trust the camera's AI, and preferred to tell the camera what mode to use depending on the situation.

Guess the default setting is AI Focus for Full Auto mode.

Originally Posted by barracuda

What is the difference between AI servo & AI Focus? They seem to be the same to me.

22nd March 2009	#1
barracuda Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 618	How do you get sharp focus on moving subjects? hi, I am using a canon 20d, an old cam without any face regconition. so if i want to shoot a person running, how can i get a sharp focus on the face, esp with all those possible focusing points? Please share your experience. Many thanks in advance. __________________ Come visit my blog

22nd March 2009	#2
gamebit Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 411	Re: How do you get sharp focus on moving subjects? I think you need to pan the shot, with the focus point set on the face. __________________ α700 \| SAL2470Z \| SAL70200G \| KM85F1.4G \| SAL100M28 \| Rokkor58F1.2 Flicker

22nd March 2009	#3
ortega Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: NorthEast Posts: 16,507	Re: How do you get sharp focus on moving subjects? focus fast shutter speed/flash to freeze subject or panning __________________ The Law

22nd March 2009	#5
navlem Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 874	Re: How do you get sharp focus on moving subjects? Use Continuous AF instead of Single AF would help. __________________ like.no.other™ http://www.flickr.com/photos/navlem/

22nd March 2009	#6
Anson Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,715	Re: How do you get sharp focus on moving subjects? Since you are using a Canon system... use "AI Servo"... to keep your moving subject in focus.... example as shown below: __________________ Canon 450D, BG-E5, 18-200mm F3.5-5.6 IS, 50mm F1.8, 580EX2, Panasonic FZ50, FL36, Panasonic TZ7

22nd March 2009	#7
huggable Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: East side Posts: 3,029	Re: How do you get sharp focus on moving subjects? 1. Anticipation. 2. Dynamic AF 3. Pre-focus, or using manual focus.

22nd March 2009	#8
boyboy Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 549	Re: How do you get sharp focus on moving subjects? since when did SLRs have face detection anyway? oh wait. my d300 does have some sort of focus preference for a person's eyes. but it can't always be relied on anyway. the alternatives are to lock the focus point on the eyes and use dynamic AF and AF tracking, and to shoot bursts. it's about probability as well. __________________ http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...9&l=8ea073cc13

22nd March 2009	#13
iRaphael Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jurong West Posts: 284	Re: How do you get sharp focus on moving subjects? well. I would just set it at shutter priority with AI servo. then I would shoot at 1/125, 1/250, etc, depending on the situation. AI servo rocks. you should practise it by doing by panning some cars and stuff. perhaps you could try focusing on something like the car plate or the headlights.

22nd March 2009	#14
cookie88 Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sengkang Posts: 292	Re: How do you get sharp focus on moving subjects? Also helps to have a "reasonable" DOF. If shooting at large apertures and DOF is only a few cm, then chances of OOF pic is higher.

22nd March 2009	#17
liarliar Deregistered Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 642	Re: How do you get sharp focus on moving subjects? I used to be a sniper. Times was good no war so i now snipe with a cam. Its the only thing i am good with in life i guess. The principle of this 2 profession's the same. You locked on and trail your target, or you aim ahead predicting your target's next approaching location.