1D MkIII and hockey: what focus settings do you use?

<p>I have been shooting hockey for the local papers. Not bad, but I would like to get more consistent focus. What settings do you all use, specifically for hockey?</p>

<p>(I mean all the settings, i.e. focus area, focus mode, and all the C.Fns. Yes, I have read the Canon .PDF, but I am not clear on the best settings that work for you all for hockey with its specific challenges).</p>

<p>As further background, I shoot with a 70-200 2.8L IS, and use settings like 1600 ISO, 1/320th sec, f/2.8</p>

<p>Michael</p>

<p> </p>

<p>For most sports you want to use AI Servo. I use either the middle or the inner focus points for football and basketball. You should probably get used to using the back button focusing methods as well.</p>

<p>Back button focusing is CFn IV-1. I set mine to 3 which takes the focusing off the shutter release button and places it on the AF On button.</p>

<p>AI servo, of course, and back focusing, yes, I often use that too - it i not C.Fn IV on a 1D, though.<br>

So you still use one spot, not auto spot selection? And how about all the other settings? The 1D has a lot of focus tuning settings. Any sports pros here - what do you use? <br>

I am trying to get my 'in focus' percentage up. Of course I hae no problem with this in other situations, but hockey is a bit beyond my experience. Movement is less predictable, so any 'AI" type tracking less successful. Sure it is me not using the right settings.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Hi,<br>

Canon told me to get my lens calibrated to my mark 3. I have found that the Mark 3 focusing is very poor and I use my mark 2n with my 400mm for most of my sports work .I would try to use a prime lens like the 135mm f2 and see if your result are better. All the above information is correct.</p>

 

<p>Marc - some nice pics on your site - oddly enough I was just editing pics of the Western Wall a few minutes ago. Small world.</p>

<p>So, the 1D3 is really not that good at fast focusing? I was putting that down to rumour, and I thought my failure to focus well was me. Not the case, then? What do you use, what custom settings and what focus spot settings (one chosen, or centre, or all/camera choosrs closest)?</p>

<p>I use the 70-200 2.8L IS. Today I noticed Canon Canada has raised all prices majorly - I mean major (eg the 430EX flash was $329 a day or two ago; now $429)... so not a good time for new lenses :-(</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I think it's the settings. It took me about a month of shooting to get it down, and now it focuses fine. I shoot professional sports and have had no problems at all with it, but it did take fiddling. I don't think there is a single set for all sports, or even for one sport, it depends on what you are trying to get. </p>

<p>OK, that makes sense. I just hope I can get some starting points. I am very happy to vary from there - but what might be a reasonable starting point for all settings / C.Fns for ice hockey?</p>

<p>Right now I use</p>

<ul>

<li>vanilla exposure (1600 ISO, f/2.8, 1/320th, manual) </li>

<li>AI servo</li>

<li>Centre focus spot</li>

<li>High speed drive</li>

<li>Standard Custom Fucntions</li>

<li>White balance off the ice</li>

</ul>

<p>I suspect that by tuning the C.Fns I can get a lot closer to consistent focus.</p>

<p>For the record, I usually shoot non-moving objects, as a pro photographer, and have had no problems at all with the Canons (5D, 1D3). But sports, especially fast- and random-moving hockey, is new to me. By the time I aim at a skater, he is already 3 yards to the left and 15 yards closer to me... by the time I find the puck it's gone... so I am sure my issues are my unfamiliarity with that shooting.</p>

<p>I am very familiar with that fact there are no recipes. But any thoughts regarding a starting point would be good.</p>

<p>Cheers, and thanks,<br>

Michael</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Excellent post above by Michael, both about the technical settings and the challenges of shooting fast action.<br>

I find that I have to go through my own "training camp" at first just like the players to get my anticipation and reflexes back up to game speed to follow whatever sport I'm shooting. After a period or quarter or two, I'm getting a higher percentage of keepers, but I'm sure rusty at the start of every season.<br>

Firing the first frame at what I think is the peak action, and taking a burst of three to five, usually gives me at least one decent shot. If I fire too soon, the peak action tends to elude the camera, falling between frames.<br>

It's pretty much essential in sports like hockey, basketball, football, and soccer to pre-select your subject in advance of the play, and fire when (s)he makes a nice move, or collides with someone, etc. <br>

I'm just not fast enough to switch subjects on the go in a fast-moving sport, and neither are most other shooters. Getting the puck or ball in the shot is another challenge.</p>

<p>I highly recommend <a href="../canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00RxVT">the download referenced in a recent post</a> .</p>

<p>The documents in the download provide a good guide for getting started, but it's a lot of reading. Some of the focus adjustments in the CF take a bit of thought and care in setup. Start with what sounds best, run some tests, and then adjust accordingly. I can probably give you mine, but it is set up for boxing/MMA, which is probably somewhat different than what you would want for hockey. I shoot much closer (at the ring, or even under the ropes into the ring) and have much slower moving obstructions (officials who often stand in one spot for at least 10 to 20 seconds) than someone shooting hockey would encounter.</p>