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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Mark IV Settings--HELP!!
Steven Limentani, Photographer
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Charlotte | NC | United States | Posted: 8:48 PM on 02.03.10 |
| ->> I read Brad Mangin's article on Peter Read Miller's Mark IV settings and decided to try them last night when I shot a basketball game. Shot with a 70-200, 2.8, AV, ISO 6400. When I went to focus with the shutter button--no response. Assumed that this was a problem with one of the settings in C.Fn III and tried changing some. No response. Switched lenses, still no luck. Tonight starting with a blank slate, All of the C.Fn III and they were all fine. C.Fn IV 1-3 and the camera will not focus. I now understand the concept that to focus you need to push the AF-on button, but what is the role of AE lock and why would you be doing two separate actions when you are trying to shoot action? |
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Stew Milne, Photographer
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Providence | RI | USA | Posted: 12:02 AM on 02.04.10 |
| ->> Almost every sports photographer I know uses back button focusing. It makes sense, one button to trigger the shutter and a different one to focus. Many times you don't want the camera to refocus when you push the shutter button. |
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David Seelig, Photographer
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Hailey | ID | USA | Posted: 12:04 AM on 02.04.10 |
->> Hi Stew
Glad you said almost, but then we do not know each other. LOL
David |
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Ryan Kelly, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Newport News | VA | USA | Posted: 1:20 AM on 02.04.10 |
| ->> I'd be interested in hearing arguments against back-button focusing, especially in sports... just seems like time shaved and photos saved by cutting out the potentially unnecessary action of the shutter button doing extra work. |
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Steven Limentani, Photographer
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Charlotte | NC | United States | Posted: 2:34 AM on 02.04.10 |
| ->> So far I have heard that people commonly perform back button focusing, but why separate one function into two? What is the advantage? |
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Peter Buehner, Photographer
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Kevin Krows, Photographer
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Forsyth | IL | USA | Posted: 7:36 AM on 02.04.10 |
->> Steven --
I once shot the first quarter of a basketball game with the AF switch on the lens set to MF (Manual Focus). I generally don't chimp until a time out so I didn't catch it until the end of a quarter. Boy did I feel dumb. Even dumber admitting it here on SS. |
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Randy Abrams, Photographer
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Bath | NY | US | Posted: 7:49 AM on 02.04.10 |
->> Kevin--
I think you'll find that we all do similar things (whether we admit it or not-:). I've recently caught myself a few times accidently either hitting the MF button on my 70-200 or the VR switch on my 300/2.8. I usually don't catch the fact that I did for a few frames (espcially the VR until I notice a slight hitch in the focus or feel the VR kicking in). Sorry, this was a little off the OP topic.
As far as rear AF, I use it all of the time. |
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Stew Milne, Photographer
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Providence | RI | USA | Posted: 10:47 AM on 02.04.10 |
->> Steven, it's NOT one function. It is two, AF and shutter release.
Peter: excellent link to explain why.
Yes, it is a matter of preference, but I think once you try back-button focus, you'll never go back.
Randy: I constantly check that my AF/MF button is in the right position. I've done the same thing a few times by accidentally knocking the button to MF and then wonder why my camera isn't focusing. I eventually just put gaffers tape over those buttons. If I need to MF, then I can take the tape off. |
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Monty Rand, Photographer
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Bangor | ME | USA | Posted: 10:56 AM on 02.04.10 |
->> Stew: I'm going to try the back button focus. I've heard of others doing it that way so my next game I'm going to try it.
Peter: Great link. |
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Bryan Hulse, Photographer
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Nashville | Tn | USA | Posted: 11:06 AM on 02.04.10 |
->> After 10 years of shooting sports using the shutter button to activate the AF, I decided to try the 'back button focusing' method about a month ago. After about a 1 hour learning curve, I couldn't believe I hadn't moved to the back button focusing years ago.
At least in my little pea brain, it really simplifies the AF/Shutter release process.
But I must say, every now and then I pick up my camera and for a few seconds can't figure out why the shutter release won't trigger the AF. |
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Svein Ove Ekornesvaag, Photographer
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Aalesund | Møre og Romsdal | Norway | Posted: 11:31 AM on 02.04.10 |
->> Many good reason to use back button focus, but als many good reasons to use shutter button focus.
For portraits, landscape etc. I like using back button focus. When the subject is not moving it's nice to focus with one button, compose the image and then press and release the shutter button many times without having to refocus.
For sports I hate it so far. The main reason why I don't use back button focus for sports is because operating camera with two fingers instead of one takes more time. And if something happens suddenly I think it's easy to forget to push the back button to focus first. Auto focus in good light and with ai servo is so fast I hardly notice that the camera focus before I press the shutter all the way down.
But yes, I guess it's only a matter of preferences and "old" habits. |
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Marshall Wolff, Photographer
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Framingham | Ma. | USA | Posted: 2:58 PM on 02.04.10 |
->> I use the back button focus for everything. Sometimes I'll switch my camera with the short lens to shutter release focus if I know I'm gonna raise my camera way up in the air for some hail mary's. Other than that I use it all the time.
Marshall |
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Nick Doan, Photographer, Assistant
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Scottsdale | AZ | USA | Posted: 3:10 PM on 02.04.10 |
->> In simple terms, if you are using Continuous Focus or AI Servo Focusing, and a single AF point; using back button Focus allows you to release the Focus button and reframe the image.
If you are used to using single-button focus and can reframe images while using a single-point continuous focus, then don't worry about what other people are doing. Just do it the way you are comfortable with.
In this case, the image at the end is much more important than which buttons you pushed to capture it.
(I would suggest trying it out though, so you can see if there is any benefit in using a combination that you are not familiar with. As a craftsman, one should understand what tools are out there and which ones might improve our skill set.) |
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David Seelig, Photographer
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Hailey | ID | USA | Posted: 3:19 PM on 02.04.10 |
| ->> Chuck Westfall told me along time ago that shutter button focus was a bit more responsive. |
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