Possible improvement on focusing method

djsilver666666

At a soccer game today, I had a sort of revelation on what could help improve my sport photos. Almost every game there are photos which are accidently focused on the background instead of the players, if a limit could be set to inform the camera to ignore material beyond a certain level then this could prevent focusing on the background altogether.

(I have the Canon digital Rebel XTi, and use the "one shot" focusing method to prevent it from changing when I move away from a player, always in Av mode.)

Since I do dabble in coding, I know this should be possible, and probably not really hard if someone who knows the camera firmware and has access to the source decides to attempt it. I'm thinking the way to do it would be to add a "set limit for focusing" option somewhere in the menus, which when you take the next picture it would store that value. Then it could simulate that as the max possible focusing limit for the lens when you reboot the camera.

I'm just stabbing in the dark here, no idea if this has already been done or discussed, so if anybody takes the trouble to respond if they know anything, I would appreciate it!

jdryan3

djsilver666666 wrote:

I have the Canon digital Rebel XTi, and use the "one shot" focusing method to prevent it from changing when I move away from a player, always in Av mode.

I'm not sure what you mean by "move away from a player". Do you mean focus and recompose? Or focous, shoot, lower the camera and move down the field?

djsilver666666 wrote:

...to add a "set limit for focusing" option somewhere in the menus, which when you take the next picture it would store that value.

Why not just use manual focusing? It sets a pretty good limit.

djsilver666666

Sorry about the obscurity, I did mean recomposing. Normally by focusing on the player and shifting a little to accommodate the ball or other players. I keep the camera glued to my face for the whole time of play, those micro-seconds count!

As for the manual focusing, to be honest I've never tried. But my left hand is not near adept enough to adjust the zoom and focus while still getting the shot.

Thanks for the reply though.

jamesl

djsilver666666 wrote:

Sorry about the obscurity, I did mean recomposing. Normally by focusing on the player and shifting a little to accommodate the ball or other players. I keep the camera glued to my face for the whole time of play, those micro-seconds count!

As for the manual focusing, to be honest I've never tried. But my left hand is not near adept enough to adjust the zoom and focus while still getting the shot.

Thanks for the reply though.

What I have done is use one shot, but also link focussing to the "*" button on my 30D. This way, I click the star to focus, and the shutter button does not affect the focus. This allows me to set a focus and have it stay while I snap away. Check your user manuals for how to set it up this way. It should be an option in your Custom Fuction area.

I also set my focus point to center point, which I find is much easier to get a good lock with.

Good luck!

James

jdryan3

jamesl wrote:

What I have done is use one shot, but also link focussing to the "*" button on my 30D. This way, I click the star to focus, and the shutter button does not affect the focus. This allows me to set a focus and have it stay while I snap away. Check your user manuals for how to set it up this way. It should be an option in your Custom Fuction area.

I also set my focus point to center point, which I find is much easier to get a good lock with.

I agree on splitting the focus and shuttr. On the 5D and 50D it is Custom Function 4. As a matter of fact, it drove me absolutely bonkers when I got the 50D that the focus was on the shutter, until I split it off.

And I also pick my focus point, usually the center, or an outlying one that has the subject in focus but as it moves into the frame. I never use auto/multi focus points.

i_worship_the_King

Any idea how to do this on a Nikon? I've never even heard of moving the focus off the shutter...


Not convinced it's better, but I'll try anything once

Mitchell

i_worship_the_King wrote:

Any idea how to do this on a Nikon? I've never even heard of moving the focus off the shutter...


Not convinced it's better, but I'll try anything once

What Nikon camera do you have?

I routinely use the focus button on the back of my D2X for sports and birding instead of the half-depress shutter focus. You can set this option on the AF menu section. This is definitely a more accurate way to focus track and produce more keepers.

I know the D200, D300, D700 and D3 all have this function.

i_worship_the_King

Currently just a D70 and a D70s, but D2xs is on the Xmas list ... at the top.

Mitchell

i_worship_the_King wrote:

Currently just a D70 and a D70s, but D2xs is on the Xmas list ... at the top.

Sorry, but the D70 does not have this function.

I hope santa is good to you. You will be amazed with a D2x. I made that same jump (D70 to d2X) a few years ago.

i_worship_the_King

College does tend to limit those things. I decided a while back I was going to try to get a good lens or two before jumping on the new body bandwagon. Now, however, THE TIME HAS COME