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How to Focus on Mooooving objects?

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netspots

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On my Digital Rebel 300d, I do a half-click on the shutter to focus (using the center point, mostly), hold it, re-compose, then squeeze fully. This works great on a non-moving object, but I'd like to learn how to focus on a moving object.

I moved recently and can't find the instruction manual. Can someone either explain how to do this, or point me in the right direction (URL) to learn?

Thanks!!
 
hello, change the af mode to AI SERVO

Press the right button to access the settings of AF

--
Arny
Portugal
 
netspots said:
On my Digital Rebel 300d
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, with the unhacked DReb/300D, you don't have access to AI Servo except in the Sports mode. And, if I recall correctly, the hack doesn't really help.

You could upgrade to an XT/350D or a 20D :-)

Otherwise, your choices are to use Sports mode or to pretend that AI Focus, which the DR/300D uses in all of the Creative modes, will actually switch to "servo" mode when the subject starts moving. I don't know how well that works on the DR/300D - it doesn't seem to work very well on the XT/350D.

Here's one person's tip on getting the DR/300D into AI Servo mode:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=14026186
 
servo will track movment pretty well, although it usualy only adjustif it senses the distance between the object and lense changing, i dont have my manual to give you an exact amount,

but at home just throw it on auto servo and then move about the house, you will feel and hear the lens adjusting appropriatley
 
kanadianiceman said:
servo will track movment pretty well
Click to expand...
Yes, except that the 300D doesn't have the ability to select AF modes. AI Servo is only available in Sports mode on that camera.
 
I have a DR 300D and shoot NASCAR, never had any troubles. From pit road i can lock onto a car that just came out of turn 4 and snap a shot at the finish line.....at 200 MPH this is just a couple seconds to get it done. Its all in the follow through......lock on and follow it, if need be refocus..snap picture and let the camera just follow the car afterwards. I hope this is what your looking for.

Here's some at about 45 mph.





Here's some at 200 mph.





Handheld with the Bigma.
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Sometimes it is hard to get the camera to drop into it. The trick I use is to aim the camera at the horizon, start moving the camera down slowly at the same time as I half press the shutter. That almost always drops it into servo focus, and it tends to stay there once it starts, so you can pan back up to your intended subject, as long as you keep the shutter button half pressed.
 
is AI servo really able to lock onto a target that is already moving? haven't had much luck with it myself (sports mode on a 300D)
 
I haven't actually tried shooting any moving objects yet since I've owned the 300D and haven't even thought about it until now! I HAVE to use a creative mode to get the AI Servo working??? Is everyone here telling me that I can't shoot RAW if I want to shoot moving objects, when I get to that point????? Man, that really sucks if that's true:( I live by RAW, lol ... don't think I've ever shot in JPG, not even when I first got the camera! Someone please tell me I'm way mis-informed here!! Thanks:)
--
KK
http://imageevent.com/kzmokramr2
 
Doug Pardee said:
netspots said:
On my Digital Rebel 300d
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, with the unhacked DReb/300D, you don't have access
to AI Servo except in the Sports mode. And, if I recall correctly,
the hack doesn't really help.
Click to expand...
I don't have a 300D, but according to the Bob Atkins site, the firmware hack will let you set AI Servo in the Creative Modes. "Enables the ability to select the autofocus mode: AI servo, Oneshot etc."
http://bobatkins.photo.net/photography/digital/digital_rebel_firmware_hack.html

Note: the site also provides a link to the hack.
 
KozmoKramer said:
I haven't actually tried shooting any moving objects yet since I've
owned the 300D and haven't even thought about it until now! I HAVE
to use a creative mode to get the AI Servo working???
Click to expand...
Actually, you have to use the Basic Mode (Sports) to get AI Servo on the 300D (without the hack).
KozmoKramer said:
Is everyone
here telling me that I can't shoot RAW if I want to shoot moving
objects, when I get to that point?????
Click to expand...
Without the hack, you are stuck with AI Focus in the Creative Modes (P, Av, Tv, M) on the 300D. In theory, it will change over to AI Servo if it notices the object moving (I haven't had much luck with it). And since the Basic Modes do not support RAW, then yes you can't get RAW and AI Servo.
KozmoKramer said:
Man, that really sucks if
that's true:( I live by RAW, lol ... don't think I've ever shot in
JPG, not even when I first got the camera! Someone please tell me
I'm way mis-informed here!! Thanks:)
Click to expand...
Well, you could always get the hack. Per the Bob Atkins site, you get:
  • Enables Custom functions menu
  • Enables Flash Exposure Compensation using SET button
  • Enables SET button function when shooting (to change image quality or shooting parameters)
  • Enables Shutter release w/o CF card
  • Flash sync speed in Av mode
  • Enables RAW+JPEG rec. Enables setting the quality of embedded JPEG
  • Enables Mirror Lock up
  • Enables the ability to select the autofocus mode: AI servo, Oneshot etc.
  • Enables setting ISO 3200
http://bobatkins.photo.net/photography/digital/digital_rebel_firmware_hack.html
(note, it contains a link to the hack)
 
dave_s93 said:
I don't have a 300D, but according to the Bob Atkins site, the
firmware hack will let you set AI Servo in the Creative Modes.
"Enables the ability to select the autofocus mode: AI servo,
Oneshot etc."
Click to expand...
Heh. You do get the ability to SET it. The problem is that when you set AI Servo mode, you lose the ability to actually take a picture!

You can set AI Servo with the hack, but if you do the shutter release is disabled. Which is why I said, "the hack doesn't really help."

See, for instance, this thread:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=16460237
 
Doug Pardee said:
Heh. You do get the ability to SET it. The problem is that when you
set AI Servo mode, you lose the ability to actually take a picture!

You can set AI Servo with the hack, but if you do the shutter
release is disabled. Which is why I said, "the hack doesn't really
help."

See, for instance, this thread:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=16460237
Click to expand...
Interesting. Even the latest hack (Undutchables) does not fully support AI Servo. Thanks for the info. I learned something new today.
 
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