Having trouble getting sharp focus on a moving subject

[ilzho]

Ok, I have been taking pictures of horse racing, some good, some not so much.

I am using Rebel Xsi, usually in a creative mode, AV or TV or just starting manual mode as well.

I am in AI servo, using center af point, continuous shooting mode.

I have not tried Back button focusing (yet).

These pictures where taken in later afternoon, early evening, (6-7 pm) so the ISO is a little higher, just trying a few different things.

One thing that is common is that I am getting more pictures out of focus than in sharp focus, so clearly I am doing something wrong.

Either I'm not getting the center af point on my subject, or camera shake, or too slow of a shutter speed. Or I need more practice 🙂

My post processing is pretty bad as well as I am only using what Iphoto has to offer.

I am panning my shots, either to freeze the motion or to try a little motion blur.

I realize it will be very hard for you all to give me any concrete advice as you are not with me, but as always, you have giving me sound advice.

This one is in focus.

This one, not so much.

Some others......

[TTMartin]

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@ilzho wrote:

Thanks!

Good advice.

I did try auto af point one time at the track and I learned not to do it when it's a group of horses together, because it grabbed focus of a subject that was in the background and the front horses were out of focus.

Now, I probably did some things to create that, but I guess if the horse is clearly by itself, auto af point would probably work better.

From that day, I just figured I better learn how to use the center af point, haha.

This rebel only has 9 points, so I try to use the center one.

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When you are in AIServo and Auto AF point selection mode, it starts with the center AF point. Just like if you had the center AF point alone selected. The difference is that if the center AF point loses focus, then the other 8 AF points will try to continue tracking.

When you tried it, did you pay attention to where the center point was when you started, or did you assume that it would just pick up on the front or closest horse?

[ilzho]

Honestly I don't remember.

I assume I started shooting the pics too early as they are coming closer to me and after taking a few series of shots I would take my finger off of the button and try to reset the focus to get the center point on a horse that I see is separating and take a few more shots before they all pass by....

Hard to explain.....

[TTMartin]

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@ilzho wrote:

Well, I'm using my brother's camera/lens so he has the software on his machine, but I'm getting my set-up in the next week or so.

Until then, I'll keep playing around and start shooting in raw.

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Seriously, spend the $130 and get the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Refurbished lens. 

Best case is you love it and keep using it when you buy your own camera. 

Worse case is you don't care for it, and you give it to your brother as thanks for letting you use his camera. 

[Waddizzle]

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@ilzho wrote:

It's canon macro lens EF 100mm 1:2.8 USM.

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That's a great lens.  I recently bought one, and have been amazed by the "regular" shots that it can take.

[ilzho]

ok, stupid question, I honestly haven't played enough with the different types of metering modes.

I have it in evaluating mode.

Should I change it, or just leave it for now and practice with it on evaluative mode?

Would that help/hurt the sharpness or it has more to do with exposure?

Thanks....

[RobertTheFat]

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@Waddizzle wrote:

"My post processing is pretty bad as well as I am only using what Iphoto has to offer."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Try visiting this link ... 

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support?tab=drivers 

... and download the latest Canon DPP software for the computer.  You will need the serial number on the camera to download some software applications.  DPP4 is not the best package, but it is free, and it is a start.  Canon's DPP is a good introduction to many of the concepts and strategies behind processing your camera's images.

DPPis most flexible when you process images saved as RAW format.  It also allows for lens correction, distortion and vignetting, but only for Canon lenses it seems.

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I don't think DPP 4 supports the XSi. AFAIK, he'll have to use DPP 3.

[ilzho]

Well I just finished the first race, 5 pictures in raw is what I get in my burst. I'm not complaining as I did get a good one, now it will be up to post processing to make that black horse visible haha.
I'll post later. I always appreciate everyone's help, I really do.

[TTMartin]

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@ilzho wrote:

ok, stupid question, I honestly haven't played enough with the different types of metering modes.

I have it in evaluating mode.

Should I change it, or just leave it for now and practice with it on evaluative mode?

Would that help/hurt the sharpness or it has more to do with exposure?

Thanks....

---

You should just leave it in Evaluative Metering mode.

Your exposures look fine.

The only time metering can impact sharpness, is if it severely underexposes the photo, you have to push the photo to make it brighter, and in doing so create a lot of noise. And then use a lot of noise reduction to get rid of the noise, which will make the picture softer. 

[Waddizzle]

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@RobertTheFat wrote:

---

@Waddizzle wrote:

"My post processing is pretty bad as well as I am only using what Iphoto has to offer."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Try visiting this link ... 

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support?tab=drivers 

... and download the latest Canon DPP software for the computer.  You will need the serial number on the camera to download some software applications.  DPP4 is not the best package, but it is free, and it is a start.  Canon's DPP is a good introduction to many of the concepts and strategies behind processing your camera's images.

DPPis most flexible when you process images saved as RAW format.  It also allows for lens correction, distortion and vignetting, but only for Canon lenses it seems.

---

I don't think DPP 4 supports the XSi. AFAIK, he'll have to use DPP 3.

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DPP4 is the version available for download at the link for an XSi.

[ebiggs1]

B from B,

"I don't think DPP 4 supports the XSi."

I thought that also but I don't use DPP 3 or 4 enough to be a competent authority.  It has also been many many years since I touched an XSi.