Autofocus or not?

[fatbrat1]

Was wondering how many people use autofocus all the time and how many use MF and pre-focus? Or a combination of both for different situations?

[BertMk2]

I use both - most of the time AF seems to be ok but if you're shooting through a fence (which being a mere speccie I often am) then AF will occasionally pick up the fence rather than what's beyond it - the closer to the fence you are the better really. Of course AF will always choose the worst possible moment to find the fence so it can pay to switch to MF if the AF is particularly fond of the fence in question.

[Tim the Grey]

99% AF. As you say Bert, a mesh fence is irresistable for a Contrast Detection AF system... Then I go MF.

AF is way quicker than me, these days...

[fatbrat1]

I thought Autofocus was the way to go!!! A lot of my images are pin sharp in the middle, but almost exhibit what looks like camera shake at the edges...if that makes any sense..so this weekend I decided to try only using MF at Rockingham for the Britcars. Not as many keepers but the shots that are good are abs pin sharp throughout. Anybody got any ideas??

[Tim the Grey]

I get this when using slower shutter speeds. See the Best of 2009 for an example...
It tends to be that there is subject movement around the point of focus.

Another thought may be insufficient depth of field? Are you changing other settings other than AF/MF?

If you put something up it may help to understand the issue more?

[zac510]

I like to use the custom function that turns the thumb joystick into thing that selects the auto focus point, so I can select it to be the front of the car or so.

A pro-snapper friend of mine told me that a lot of sports photographers change the custom function to make the * button to the autofocus instead of half pushing the shutter button. Alternatively you can hold the * button to get permanent autofocus when you need it.

Haven't had a great amount of luck with the latter myself but there are some ideas you can play around with

[LewisCraik]

I have switched * to AF, that way I can use either method without moving my eye from the viewfinder. Having said that I hardly ever use MF for motorsport.

[andrewc]

The only times I'll switch to MF is when it gets dark (Britcar 24) or for when a car comes suddenly into frame and there isn't time to get a focus lock. This would be normally if there is a blind corner or crest, or I'm looking for a rearwards shot of a car through a corner.

[Daniel Pinnegar]

I used to use AF when I was first getting used to my camera! Then I started using MF when at the A1GP last year. But found it really hard when the cars are soo fast!

So as some of you are saying, I use a combination of the two. But I guess it depends upon the situation and the conditions.

[Richard B]

I use "back button focus" using the * button on the back of the camera. Custom function 4 on a Canon works pretty well.
Additionally I use spot focus, it's quicker and more accurate; select the area in the picture where the car is likely to be and set that area in the camera as your focus point.

[MikeHoyer]

I've started using MF a lot, and the pictures are often far sharper than using autofocus. It takes practice though.

[fatbrat1]

I agree with Mike. I was up at the Britcars at Rockingham over the weekend, on the saturday ran pretty much everything on Autofocus, and on the Sunday all on MF. Sundays shots (the ones in focus that is) are much sharper throughout than saturdays on AF.

My dad used to do loads of motorsport photography in the 60's and 70's, he is adamant that even top of the range AF systems struggle to keep up with fast cars, mind u also says that all of us using AF all the time have no talent!!!!!

[Richard B]

Found this quote on Canon Professional Network; it's from Steven Tee of LAT, probably the top F1 photographer..
"It’s like autofocus; when it was first introduced it was ‘pooh-poohed’ as if no real sports photographer should use it, but now it’s here and it does a better job that I can most of the time, so I use it.”
Rest my case.........

[Tim the Grey]

A real Pro uses/does whatever works to get the shot they want.

I have switched AF to MF and back, Aperture Priority to Shutter Priority to Manual, and back, spot to ESP metering, and back, Single AF to Continuous AF, etc, etc, etc.

I can get decent pictures whichever, so long as I know what I'm changing, and why...

[MikeHoyer]

Yeah, what he said! Whatever works for you...