Need some pointers on focusing moving objects, specifiicly water/surf

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"Slack\"@ - 22 Dec 2005 21:06 GMT

I have a new respect for some of you sport shooters; it aint easy and
there are a lot ways to screw it up. I shot some beach pictures
yesterday just for practice. We have a huge swell rolling in here in
Socal, so I thought I might be able to get some interesting pictures.

I made two big mistakes: forgot to take a WB ref shot and didn't do well
focusing on the waves. I found it very hard to get the waves in focus
and pull the trigger before the wave had moved out of focus range. So,
how do you go about focusing on something as fluid and fast moving as surf?

Any pointers or criticism would be greatly appreciated:
http://www.pbase.com/slack/beach__surf&page=all

On this one http://www.pbase.com/slack/image/53859515/large I think I
violated the shutter speed vs. focal length rule... should have been
double the speed (min.) than what I used?
_____
Slack

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G.T. - 22 Dec 2005 21:15 GMT

" < Slack"@½³.org >" <"Sla"@ wrote in message
news:xK6dnRDcUJ3RiDbenZ2dnUVZ_sudnZ2d@giganews.com...

> I have a new respect for some of you sport shooters; it aint easy and
> there are a lot ways to screw it up. I shot some beach pictures
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> violated the shutter speed vs. focal length rule... should have been
> double the speed (min.) than what I used?

Yep, or get something with IS. If you wanted f/10 you should have been
using ISO200 or 400 and 1/250 or faster. Actually, I rarely ever use the
Rebel XT at 100 any more unless I really need to. I leave it at ISO200 now
and change when necessary, I used to leave it at 100.

Greg

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"Slack\"@ - 22 Dec 2005 21:34 GMT

>>On this one http://www.pbase.com/slack/image/53859515/large I think I
>>violated the shutter speed vs. focal length rule... should have been
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Greg

Yeah, I've been looking at a long(er) IS lens, but getting one without
the panning IS is worthless to me. The Canons that have both IS types
are bookoo bucks.
_____
Slack

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Brian - 22 Dec 2005 21:38 GMT

Shutter speed doesn't have anything to do with focusing. If you're
getting blur from moving water or camera shake then you would be able
to improve the results by upping the ISO and using a faster shutter
speed.

For focusing issues there is a AI servo focusing mode (or it's called
something like that) on the XT that is supposed to help with focusing
on moving objects - I've never tried it though.

Brian

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G.T. - 22 Dec 2005 22:21 GMT

> Shutter speed doesn't have anything to do with focusing. If you're
> getting blur from moving water or camera shake then you would be able
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> something like that) on the XT that is supposed to help with focusing
> on moving objects - I've never tried it though.

I've used my XT on mtn bike rides and it's AI Servo works pretty well.

In Slack's sample it looks like the problem is camera shake, though.

Greg

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C J Southern - 25 Dec 2005 00:38 GMT

> I've used my XT on mtn bike rides and it's AI Servo works pretty well.

Please tell me that you're not toing 90 MPH down the side of a mountain on
your bike, taking photos!

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G.T. - 25 Dec 2005 06:58 GMT

>>I've used my XT on mtn bike rides and it's AI Servo works pretty well.
>
> Please tell me that you're not toing 90 MPH down the side of a mountain on
> your bike, taking photos!

Of course! J/K, more like stopping and taking photos of others going 30
or 40 mph down the side of a mountain. I use my little A70 to take
photos while riding but not the Rebel XT, and not while I'm doing over
10 mph, like this one: http://www.2fortheroad.net/pacifico/single.html

Greg

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