50D sports mode and ai servo issue

Robbo

Robbo

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Just tested the sports setting out and seems to beep everytime in focus etc and won't shoot untill in focus

in av mode with ai servo on, I get no beeps and just shoots if in focus or not.

Is there a setting that I can change to change the ai servo so it is like it is in the sports mode?

Thanks
 
I am surprised you got what you describe in "sports mode" - my 30D's "sports mode" is AI servo, with aperture banged all the way open to achieve max shutter speed (can't remember if it turns the ISO up too, it might do)

Nope, AI servo is continuous focus mode. You cannot control the focus/shooting priorities - only the 1D family and now the 7D can do that (or the top end Nikons)
 
I've just tried this, using AV mode AI servo it won't take the first shot until it is in focus.

I've had a look through the menus but can't see anything specific relating to this though.
 
desantnik said:
Nope, AI servo is continuous focus mode. You cannot control the focus/shooting priorities - only the 1D family and now the 7D can do that (or the top end Nikons)
Click to expand...

You have me doubting now....

time for another test!
 
Its definitely possible to take seriously OOF shots (ie camera cannot believe its in focus) in AV/TV mode with AI servo turned on, believe me!
 
OK in AV + AI Servo, the 30D will quite happily take the first shot whether focus is achieved or not. It does not wait, it takes the shot immediately the button is pressed.

The 50D waits until focus is achieved before taking the first shot. It will take an OOF shot if focus is not possible (i.e. if there is no contrast or subject is closer than MFD).

Both will continue to take shots in burst mode if tracking is lost.
 
Hmmm... So how come the sports mode has it set to Ai servo with a constant beep when in focus keeping finger half pressed, or no beep when it can't focus when I place my hand over lens, will only shoot once in focus, if loses tracking it then won't shoot till focus found

... But it doesn't have a focus priority setting for normal ai servo mode in other settings, in servo mode my camera will shoot off even if it's not in focus for the first
 
Robbo,
It could be one of the custom functions. There is one on the EOS 1D series which will only allow a shot to be taken in AI SERVO if focus is achieved. You can disable this so it fires whatever. I don't know if this CF also exists on the 50D, it may.
It could also be that this is deliberate in the various "consumer" modes, and you can't change it, which would explain why it is different in AV.
Rgds
Joathan
 
Or maybe the default is that it will take OOF shots in AI SERVO, and that if you want to change it such that it has to focus before a shot is taken, then you disable this CF. Worth a look. Sorry I don't have a 50D to be able to check for you, but it is a known Canon CF.
 
Cheers, will have a look, I know there is a bunch of AF settings etc will post up oncehad a play
 
The 50D didn't add any of the 1D style focusing features, which is why they brought out the 7D after Nikon kicked their butts...

Ok, instruction manual time, because I'm feeling helpful:

http://media.the-digital-picture.com/Owners-Manuals/Canon-EOS-50D-Manual.pdf

From Page 85:

"With AI servo AF the beeper will not sound even when focus is achieved"

As opposed to:

"When focus is achieved in AI Focus AF mode with the servo mode active, the beeper will sound softly"

Basically, it doesn't beep in AI Servo mode.

What it does say on page 54 is that basically "sports" mode actually uses AI Focus and not AI Servo - well, it doesn't actually say that but taking the info above and comparing it to the behaviour described on p54, its definitely that.

Lastly, p173 demostrates that I am correct about the 50D not having 1D/7D AF configuration options, they'd all be in C.Fn III if they were there... and they ain't just like the 30D/40D.

Hope this helps Robbo!
 
Ahh that makse sense....

So even though it says AI servo in the sports setting its basically AI focus? As thats what it is acting like.

Is AI focus really tht bad? I have only used one shot and AI servo before.

Thanks mate.
 
Yeah the "special" modes (portrait, landscape etc) over-ride all sorts of things you might have setup elsewhere on the camera.

Its definitely in AI Focus mode.

When you use AI Focus you are letting the camera guess if a subject is moving and whether or not to switch to AI Servo mode. Errrr no thanks, I don't want a piece of electronic junk *trying* to guess if my definitely moving subject is moving or not!

Keep it simple, if your objective is to freeze sport action (eg football, running etc - but not motorsport!) then just drop it into AV (aperture priority), open up the aperture all the way and check that even in the shadows etc you've got enough shutter speed to freeze the subject (maybe 1/400th-500th for people running). If not, up the ISO and check again. Use AI Servo mode and centre focus point for maximum speed and accuracy.

Well, thats how I would do it on your camera, my D300 is slightly different :D
 
well its only a few £'s more than mine :razz: :lol:

Thanks for that though, has saved me some research time on my nights **** tonight lol....what to do now though?..back to the lens research I think!
 
No Probs - the 50D is very similar to the 30D I used before (and still have!).
 
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