What focus point

<p>Good evening,<br>

I need help! I am using a Canon 7D in a badly lighted school gym with a 50mm, f/1.4 and a 85mm, f/1.8 with custom white balance. The ISO is at 800 but my problem is not with the camera or any of its settings. I am cutting off parts of the arms, legs and sometimes the ball . I am using the center focus point where should I be placing the spot inorder to capture the entire body. I was using a 24mm, f/1.8 but that only to much to the shot. Anyone advise will be helpful.</p>

<p>Hi Charles, this is a video about AF focusing with the 7D that I found to be quite good. Do a search with these words:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>youtube 7D Focus Squares Tutorial MichaelTheMentor</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I am not able to change the language of the youtube page to english (doesn't work), so it is better you do the search yourself.</p>

<p>Charles,<br /> I'm not clear about what exactly you are asking about. Your phrase about 'cutting off parts of arms and legs'... Do you mean that those are out of focus, or is it that you cant see those in your view frame or eventual shot?<br>

<br /> Can you rephrase what are your problems with using the 24mm lens. If you post one or two problem images with metadata intact, I'm sure people here can help you more.</p>

<p>For 'what focus point' usage ..there are these Canon 7D Tutorials : <a href="http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/galleries/galleries/tutorials/eos_7d_tutorials.shtml">http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/galleries/galleries/tutorials/eos_7d_tutorials.shtml</a></p>

<p>Charles -</p>

<p>What sport are you shooting? Basketball, Wrestling, Volleyball, or Gymnastics? Or one I didn't mention?</p>

<p>Cutting off limbs is different than out of focus limbs. One is due to the shallow dof you're getting. Even if you have it set to AFS and Center point, the odds are that at 800 iso and a decent shutter speed you're going to be at f1.8 or 2.8 - which on the lenses you mentioned will get you a dof of about 6-8 inches...maybe a foot if you're lucky. </p>

<p>If that's what you're referring to the solution set is: Add more light (flash); Increase your ISO; Decrease shutter speed. All of which have the effect of allowing you to decrease your aperture (F5.6 - f8.0) and get a little more dof. Typically your focus point should be on the part of the body closest to you, as dof tends to be greater behind the in focus object than in front of it. Although some will tell you to pick a middle point and focus on it.</p>

<p>If the problem is that your framing is cutting off limbs, then you need to adjust or move your focus point so that it is where you want it and you get all the body parts in the frame. Adjusting the focal point with the dial and the camera up does take a bit of skill and practice, but it is doable. The alternative is to go with manual focus or to lock focus on a spot and shoot when the action is in that spot.</p>

<p>Dave</p>

<p>Yeah, way too close!</p>