Predictive Autofocus on Elan IIe

I've been getting frustrated in trying to use Canon's predictive autofocus so I went back to the manual. The Elan IIe manual only says "If the subject approaches or retreats from the camera at a constant speed, the camera focuses the subject continuously and predicts the position of the subject for the moment of exposure to obtain accurate focusing." The next paragraph is on Focusing point Operation in AI Servo AF Mode, it says "When the focusing point selection is automatic and the center focusing point first focuses the subject, the camera switches to AI Servo AF if the subject moves to another focusing point in the view finder during autofocusing." I thought that I had remembered that Predictive Autofocus was also for tracking a moving subject from the center point to one of the side points. The Magic Lantern guide says "The...three AF points make it possible to photograph a moving subject that is not in the center...the object is automatically "handed off" from one cell to the next, without the AF losing track." Sorry for the long preamble, but here's my questions: 1. Does predictive autofocus work when the subject moves across the field of view? 2. Do I have to set the focus point selection to automatic(i.e., no eye control) and go for the bulls eye effect? I guess my bottom line question is: What's the best way to photograph a subject moving across the field of view? My experience seems to show that for me it is to select a single focus point for automatic focus and then pan keeping that focus point on the subject. With eye control I find the focus wandering as I "look" ahead of the subject. I'd like to hear your solutions and opinions. Thanks. Ted

ted ive owned my elan IIe for about 6 months and have taken about 500

pictures, i love it! im still trying to find the best set up, for the

certain situations. I don't know if i have a magic answer to your

question, but i can say taht in all the instances ive tried to focus

on a subject using the focusing points, the best solution was based

on the principles of composition or what i wanted the final picture

to show.

This required panning the camara and keeping the subject where you

wanted it in the frame. Personally i dont recommend turning off the

eye control feature. like most news toys this one requires a lot of

practice to master all of its features. you also said " I thought

that I had remembered that Predictive Autofocus was also for tracking

a moving subject from the center point to one of the side points. Im

not sure if your aware of this, but the patented eye focus feature is

completly depends on where your eye is looking, its not using a laser

to shoot at the object or anything 23rd century like that, whatever

your eye is looking at, is what it will focus on.

If you have any more questions email me.---victor vahypolite@usa.net

My first roll of film shot when I got my IIe last spring involved

rollerbladers on Memorial Drive in Boston. In shooting them

manuvering downhill around cones, I found the predictive autofocus

superb. The subject was tracked across the entire viewfinder, from

one red block to the next.

 

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Not one photo was out of focus!

Mario

I got the same querry too. But with EOS5.