Those with a 7D: What autofocus mode do you use?

[D-pearce92]

Hello all

Have been playing around with settings and have seen the other focus modes that the 7d has and I'm wondering what mode people use. Am using single point but is there any advantage u using single Pont with expansion or zone?

Dex

 

[tijuana taxi]

Depends on what i'm photographing, but not keen on the centre point spot focus, think i'm a bit too shaky to use it accurately

Centre point with expansion can be handy with moving targets in conjunction with al servo

 

[GPmotophoto]

Dex , I use the 19 point AF in Al Servo mode & also use several of the custom function settings in autofocus/drive.Al sevrvo tracking needs to be set for slow, continuous AF track priority & I also set focus search to off.If you can get to the BSB round at Brands I'll give you a heads up.

 

[D-pearce92]

Depends on what i'm photographing, but not keen on the centre point spot focus, think i'm a bit too shaky to use it accurately

Centre point with expansion can be handy with moving targets in conjunction with al servo

What's the advantage over the expansion over just using single point?

Dex , I use the 19 point AF in Al Servo mode & also use several of the custom function settings in autofocus/drive.Al sevrvo tracking needs to be set for slow, continuous AF track priority & I also set focus search to off.If you can get to the BSB round at Brands I'll give you a heads up.

That's interesting Gary, everyone I've spoken to have said choosing your focus point is the best way rather than the camera maybe choosing what you don't want.
Do you find the af pretty accurate with all the points selected? Might have to try it this weekend at Lydden Hill.
Have just set my camera up using these settings whereas before I haven't altered anything so hoping I will get a few more frames sharper frames.
http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=342995

 

[pete.rush]

What's the advantage over the expansion over just using single point?



That's interesting Gary, everyone I've spoken to have said choosing your focus point is the best way rather than the camera maybe choosing what you don't want.
Do you find the af pretty accurate with all the points selected? Might have to try it this weekend at Lydden Hill.
Have just set my camera up using these settings whereas before I haven't altered anything so hoping I will get a few more frames sharper frames.
http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=342995

I've not got a 7D, but in answer to your questions...

Using focus point expansion means that the points around the focus point you have chosen become active, so increasing your chances of capturing the subject in focus, ideal for moving subjects

Spot Auto Focus is mainly used to focus on a very small area, definitely not for moving subjects for example macro photography or the ‘ring shot’ at a wedding.

As for whether to use a single focus point or have all the focus points active, it depends on the situation, say for example, you have no obstructions between you and the car or bike so the camera won't focus on a branch or safety barrier of the mesh on the safety fence because that's the closing subject to focus on, then having all the focus points active will concentrate of the car and focus on the car. However if you have an obstruction in the way, using a single focus point with expansion will give you the control over what you want in focus rather than the camera picking the closest object to focus on.

http://digital-photography-school.com/focus-points-on-the-canon-7d-and-other-models

 

[GPmotophoto]

When Canon launched the 1d mkiv I went to a demo day & was lucky to pick up a Canon guide to settings.I was told these basic setting were suitable for nearly all Canon bodies & I pretty much use this as my bible.Link to site

http://www.canon.co.uk/Images/EOS 1D MK IV AF guide_tcm14-721275.pdf

 

[killwilly]

I found the link below quite useful when setting my 7D.

http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=34832

 

[D-pearce92]

I've not got a 7D, but in answer to your questions...

Using focus point expansion means that the points around the focus point you have chosen become active, so increasing your chances of capturing the subject in focus, ideal for moving subjects

Spot Auto Focus is mainly used to focus on a very small area, definitely not for moving subjects for example macro photography or the ‘ring shot’ at a wedding.

As for whether to use a single focus point or have all the focus points active, it depends on the situation, say for example, you have no obstructions between you and the car or bike so the camera won't focus on a branch or safety barrier of the mesh on the safety fence because that's the closing subject to focus on, then having all the focus points active will concentrate of the car and focus on the car. However if you have an obstruction in the way, using a single focus point with expansion will give you the control over what you want in focus rather than the camera picking the closest object to focus on.

http://digital-photography-school.com/focus-points-on-the-canon-7d-and-other-models

Thanks Peter, that makes alot more sense alot More now.

When Canon launched the 1d mkiv I went to a demo day & was lucky to pick up a Canon guide to settings.I was told these basic setting were suitable for nearly all Canon bodies & I pretty much use this as my bible.Link to site

http://www.canon.co.uk/Images/EOS 1D MK IV AF guide_tcm14-721275.pdf

Will have a read of that tonight, Cheers Gary

I found the link below quite useful when setting my 7D.

http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=34832

Funny you should link me to that, found that yesterday and have set my 7d up using those settings.