Thumb focus with AF-on button for wildlife

[edwardsaltau]

Hi,

I'm new to nature photography and also to digital.(just got a 40D). Anyway I am

interested in how people make use of the AF-on button(or *) for nature

photography. During my first attempt at bird photography last week i found it

hard to actually keep the shutter button half depressed during AI servo focus

and kept either taking a photo when i didn't want to or losing pressure on the

shutter completely. I also wanted to shift between One shot and AI servo focus

more easily as bird are often flying and then still while perching.

I believe a have found a solution but have not yet put it into practise yet and

would like to hear other peoples opinions. I set the custom function so that

the AF-on button acquires focus and metering while the shutter button meters

only. That way i can easily keep the button depressed with AI servo tracking

and can keep the camera on AI servo and simply press the AF-on button for an

instant to get focus on a static subject and then prees the shutter to take the

photo. no need to switch to one shot focus.

Does this sound like goos use of the AF-on button? I'm also interested in other

things people find usefull about this function.

thanks,

edi

[tonybynum]

it's the only way to go. . .

[lauren_macintosh]

The more practice you do the better you get, As I have learned with my eos20d! so keep at it:

[kuryan_thomas]

I use this technique exclusively on my Nikon. See my posts here (scroll down a bit):

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00MghI

[dangoldman]

i always use the * for focus.

[emmett_ward]

I shoot sports and wildlife and it is the only way to go.