Struggling with AI servo

LCPete

LCPete

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Hi Ive been struggling to get sharp shots of moving subjects using AI servo on my 7D at the zoo
did not get any sharp ones today of moving subjects with AI servo but did fine with stationary animals using single shot
I think its a matter of not having enough light and so cant get a high enough shutter speed but just want to be sure my settings are OK:)

heres one from today of a cheetah walking towards me shooting through wire
its a 100% crop just converted to a jpeg not sharpened
the focus point was on the cheetahs nose the leaves are in focus but the cheetah is not
I would have thought that a shutter speed of 1/400 is enough?

settings
AV mode F6.3
Speed 1/400
ISO 1600
focal length 400mm (100-400L) camera 7D
exp comp +2/3

camera C FN III settings
1) AI tracking sensitivity in the middle
2) 0 AF priority tracking priority
3) 0 main focus priority
6)AF mode single point



IMG_3495.jpg


PS forgot to say that I was using back button focus but now gone back to normal (shutter button half press)
going back tommorrow for another go!
 
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I would be awary of concluduing too much from that shot. It's impossible to say that the nose is not in sharp focus, or that the leaves are, or the relative positions of the leaves/animal when DoF is so shallow.

Suggest you do an AF check and microadjust as necessary. Lots of threads on that, but if the AF is okay, it's got to be either a technique issue or a camera set-up thing (both not uncommon).
 
Take a look at this set up

I have used this for a long time now on everything from birds in flight to cars to animals in zoos and it seems to be good all round AI servo settings.

It should be a good place to start your settings off with and take it from there
 
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HoppyUK said:
I would be awary of concluduing too much from that shot. It's impossible to say that the nose is not in sharp focus, or that the leaves are, or the relative positions of the leaves/animal when DoF is so shallow.

Suggest you do an AF check and microadjust as necessary. Lots of threads on that, but if the AF is okay, it's got to be either a technique issue or a camera set-up thing (both not uncommon).
Click to expand...

Thanks Richard good point about the shallow DOF I have checked the AF and am sure its OK
I am getting good shots with stationary subjects and single shot AF even at F5.6
Maybe I need a smaller apeture for more depth of field when using AI servo to give me more chance of getting the focus:)
 
nigpd said:
Take a look at this set up

I have used this for a long time now on everything from birds in flight to cars to animals in zoos and it seems to be good all round AI servo settings.

It should be a good place to start your settings off with and take it from there
Click to expand...

Thanks for the links Nigel am going to have another go tomm:)
 
LCPete said:
Thanks Richard good point about the shallow DOF I have checked the AF and am sure its OK
I am getting good shots with stationary subjects and single shot AF even at F5.6
Maybe I need a smaller apeture for more depth of field when using AI servo to give me more chance of getting the focus:)
Click to expand...

Then I would say camera set-up or technique. Subject doesn't look to be moving that fast, 7D and L-grade lens should eat that.

Just a thought. That image doesn't quite look right, flat, and there's a pattern in the the bokeh. Were you shooting through a fence, or is there a filter fitted?
 
HoppyUK said:
Then I would say camera set-up or technique. Subject doesn't look to be moving that fast, 7D and L-grade lens should eat that.

Just a thought. That image doesn't quite look right, flat, and there's a pattern in the the bokeh. Were you shooting through a fence, or is there a filter fitted?
Click to expand...

Thanks Richard yes was shooting through wire going to try again today
The lights not good tho so may struggle a bit with shutter speed:)
 
Oh right, then the fence won't help. Also for any others reading, that 100-400L (and other long lenses) seems prone to protection filters messing about with sharpness at the long end.

When the light is really dull like that, I'd try just a hint of fill-in flash to put a bit more punch into it.
 
Thanks for your help Richard am at the zoo now
Am trying out 2 lenses and cameras to double check that its not an equipment fault
At the mo its pin Sharp with 7 d and 70-200 f4 and not good with 40d and 100-400 both with AI servo
Beginning to think its the 100-400 lens focus being sluggish
Also not good with 7d and 100-400 and good with 40d and 70-200
 
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nigpd said:
Take a look at this set up

I have used this for a long time now on everything from birds in flight to cars to animals in zoos and it seems to be good all round AI servo settings.

It should be a good place to start your settings off with and take it from there
Click to expand...

sorry to jump on your thread but is there any links like this for setting up the 400d for bird /wildlife photography
i am suffering the same problem and really think a link like that would help me.
thanx
geoff
 
There are a few settings you could use and you need to play about with them to see which combination suites you. The link Nigel sent is all fine and dandy if you have good light, and seeing as that bloke is in Costa Rica he probably has good light more times than we have hot dinners. Besides anyone who says you should set the camera to Adobe RGB :thinking: I had a 100-400 on the 7D Pete and it worked fine, sold it to a mate on here and he had problems with it. The lens had a new focus locking ring replaced before I sold it and it was calibrated,after Trev4 helped him out and doing a microadjustmernt for him he was happy, ok it was on a 50D but you may have an issue with with that side of things. But as mentioned shooting through a fence is doing you no favours and a subject coming towards you is even more of a challenge. I assume you had IS turned off Pete?
 
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u8myufo said:
There are a few settings you could use and you need to play about with them to see which combination suites you. The link Nigel sent is all fine and dandy if you have good light, and seeing as that bloke is in Costa Rica he probably has good light more times than we have hot dinners. Besides anyone who says you should set the camera to Adobe RGB :thinking: I had a 100-400 on the 7D Pete and it worked fine, sold it to a mate on here and he had problems with it. The lens had a new focus locking ring replaced before I sold it and it was calibrated,after Trev4 helped him out and doing a microadjustmernt for him he was happy, ok it was on a 50D but you may have an issue with with that side of things. But as mentioned shooting through a fence is doing you no favours and a subject coming towards you is even more of a challenge. I assume you had IS turned off Pete?
Click to expand...

Thanks Rich Im beginning to suspect that the autofocus on the 100-400 is starting to get sluggish its definately not the camera I tried the 70-200 on it today and its was spot on
I tried a few things out today and swapped lenses and bodies over (70-200 , 100-400 40D and 7D) to try to get to the bottom of it
have got hundreds and hundreds of piccies to go through :D but I should know whats going on when ive gone through them all:)
I did use IS but I was handholding anyway:)
forgot to say that Ive had the lens quite a long time now and have had some nice shots with it in the past but now getting more out of focus ones than I should
 
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Tried again today but the light wasnt really good enough to try moving subjects but dont think that there is anything wrong with the camera as I was able to get this one with the 70-200 and 7D:)
untitled-7web.jpg


Did manage this not very good one with the 100-400 and 7D the eye is in focus so the lens is probably OK but the giraffe was only moving slowly
will have to have another go on a better day:)
IMG_4397web.jpg
 
CarlEvans said:
So does having a filter to protect the glass on a 100-400 make a difference to the performance of focusing?
Click to expand...

Possibly, in theory perhaps in certain situations, but in reality a filter should not affect focusing.

They do affect sharpness though, because with longer focal lengths the lens only looks through a small section in the middle and even the slightest imperfection becomes greatly magnified.
 
HoppyUK said:
Possibly, in theory perhaps in certain situations, but in reality a filter should not affect focusing.

They do affect sharpness though, because with longer focal lengths the lens only looks through a small section in the middle and even the slightest imperfection becomes greatly magnified.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. I'm heading out for some wildlife in the morning so I'm going to take it off and see if I can get some sharper results!
 
HoppyUK said:
Possibly, in theory perhaps in certain situations, but in reality a filter should not affect focusing.

They do affect sharpness though, because with longer focal lengths the lens only looks through a small section in the middle and even the slightest imperfection becomes greatly magnified.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. I'm heading out in the morning for some wildlife so I'm going to take it off and see if I can get some sharper results.
 
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