Hello Folks,
In the last two days, I noticed something that I am seeking advice on.
Today, I photographed a boxing tournament using both my R3 and R5, and there are far too many pictures where things other than the boxers were in focus. At least among the 200+ good photos I got, the AF point is on target 98 percent of the time--although the fighters could be a bit more tac-sharp. While I could get right up on the ring, I wasn't leaning on the platform where I could have totally avoided the ropes, as I imagine professional boxing photographers do.
Yesterday, I was photographing a class and for the most part, the subject(s) was standing still. The problem was, the AF point would too easily bounce to something that was physically closer to my camera than the subject was (pole, table, plant, a student, etc).
I finally got good, or so I thought with Back Button Focus, so I am a bit perplexed as to why I can't truly lock on the subject. I'm fine if something comes between my camera and the subject that draws the focus point to it, but I should be able to reacquire the target/subject (ie.: the referee blocking my line of sight to the player). Instead, what I found was all too often, the AF point just wanted to stay on the thing that was closer, and I dare say on an entirely different geometric plane, of sorts, than the subject or rather the subject's face/eye.
So, should I use a bigger focus zone for non-portraits where the person is moving slightly? Should I use Single Shot instead of Servo for non-portraits yet people that are posing? Am I correct to avoid "eye detection" in sports where the players are either wearing helmets or they just jump around too much such that available eyes are few and far between? I also do not honestly think one tracking mode is overwhelmingly better than the other--we all have our favorites, so I don't think choosing the right mode is the be-all, end-all. But what else should I be doing that I'm not. Oddly, enough I also shot a parade the other day, and there were plenty of really good, tac-sharp photos I got of folks milling about, walking, or doing anything but hard 100 percent static posing or fast, erratic movement.
So, what gives? Thank you.
