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AUTOFOCUSING with AF-ON...is it worth it?

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Saturoldan

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Hi all!

Yesterday I came to the presentation of the new 1DIV here in Spain. A well-known sports photogapher here was who talk about the camera and it was quite interesting. I could feel the experience in his words, so it was very exciting.

I felt curious about a question regarding action photographers (sports, pj, wild...). He said that he separate the release/exposure functions (in main button) and AF (in AF-ON or * in older models) and that this was very advantage for him.

Canon says that the new AF-ON button in the 1DIV is now bigger because they listen to an increasing number of action photographers who separate those functions.

I have tried to separate AF from exposure/release but when I focus with AF-ON it is a little confusing for me, and don´t feel comfortable, so I just do all with the main release button. Why should a person like me adapt to this working way?

Wich is your opinion? is it really favourable to do so when you are tracking a fast car or motorbike, tacking a football player or when doing BIFs? even when your incomings depends on this?

Thanks!

--
...With the birds I'll Share This Lonely View...
 
There are two reasons depending on how you set things up. Some of the settings affect how exposure readings are taken - i.e. separating exposure control from focus. But, you're talking about the separation of focus from shutter. As a sports photographer I'll tell you it is beneficial SOME TIMES but not all the time. But, it simply makes sense to keep things the same every time you shoot - so I always shoot with af-on controlling my focus. That way my hand doesn't get 'confused' at the wrong moment and forget whether my finger or thumb is controlling focus.

Here's the situations in sports where it's beneficial. Having the two separate allows you to disengage continuous focus (AI-Servo). Let's say I'm shooting baseball and I'm expecting a steal of second base (and I'm on the third base line). I can focus on the bag then take my thumb off. I can then frame my shot the way I like it - bag at the left with enough room for the shortstop to cover but also for the base runner to enter the frame. That's the peak moment I want to capture. If I track and follow the runner I could lose focus at that peak moment - I also won't get the framing right. Now, I shoot with a lens on a monopod - I can sit back and wait and not be worried about obtaining focus at the critical moment. I also don't have to keep the shutter button half-pressed to maintain focus. Now the play happens and I get the shot. But the ball is overthrown and the runner gets up and runs to third -- I can immediately start continuous focus again by putting my thumb on the af-on button. I don't have to switch between manual focus or one-shot focus and ai-servo. Similarly during non-action I can focus the shot using my single focus point and release af-on and recompose so my in-camera framing is correct. The benefit of single-shot without having to switch shooting modes which requires a button push and dial turrn.

Now, is there any benefit during action sequences in a sport like soccer or football? no. none. It's theses other instances where you want the benefit of either one-shot or focus lock without having to keep shutter half pressed where the benefits of separating focus from shutter comes out.
 
Embrace it. Awkward as it may be at first, there is no better way to use the camera efficiently. Even if you are setting exposure manually, the ability to leave the camera in AI-Servo and shoot stills at will is a huge leap in flexibility in the field.
 
Saturoldan said:
Canon says that the new AF-ON button in the 1DIV is now bigger because they listen to an increasing number of action photographers who separate those functions.
Click to expand...
Really? Judging from the way it appears in the MkIV manual, it looks pretty much the same as the MkIII.

Nikon has the really big button for AF-ON on the D3 but they have it placed too far to the left to be really useful.
 
Years ago I made the switch. At first it was a bit awkward but I very quickly learned to use. I'll never go back. Focus is independent of metering. I can focus on an object, recompose and shoot.
 
I've been using the AE Lock (*) control for AF since, IIRC, the EOS A2 of 1992, and I won't buy a new camera that doesn't allow independent AF operation. After so many years of working this way it's as natural for me as it is unnatural for you, having done things the other way around for a while.
Saturoldan said:
Hi all!

Yesterday I came to the presentation of the new 1DIV here in Spain. A well-known sports photogapher here was who talk about the camera and it was quite interesting. I could feel the experience in his words, so it was very exciting.

I felt curious about a question regarding action photographers (sports, pj, wild...). He said that he separate the release/exposure functions (in main button) and AF (in AF-ON or * in older models) and that this was very advantage for him.

Canon says that the new AF-ON button in the 1DIV is now bigger because they listen to an increasing number of action photographers who separate those functions.

I have tried to separate AF from exposure/release but when I focus with AF-ON it is a little confusing for me, and don´t feel comfortable, so I just do all with the main release button. Why should a person like me adapt to this working way?

Wich is your opinion? is it really favourable to do so when you are tracking a fast car or motorbike, tacking a football player or when doing BIFs? even when your incomings depends on this?

Thanks!

--
...With the birds I'll Share This Lonely View...
Click to expand...
--
- -
Kabe Luna

http://www.garlandcary.com
 
According to this photographer, the AF-ON button is now nore protuberant so it is now more easy to use. Sorry, bigger may be not the word...

--
...With the birds I'll Share This Lonely View...
 
I have been using it for about 6 months and I have found few observations:

Sometimes it slower - while using shutter button for AF, you half-depress the button and then you need just a tiny move to take a picture. When using rear button, you have to press shutter fully at once and this move is longer and takes more time. Sometimes it matters.

You don't need to use AF/MF switch on the lens anymore. Without pressing AF-ON button, the lens acts like beeing switched to MF.

Third example. When using continuous AF, with AF-ON pressed, camera is still focusing, still remembers the focused subject and I just press the shutter at the right moments (imagine dancing couple, you focus on the girl and keep the AF-ON pressed. Camera keeps focusing on the girl. Then I just press the shutter in that moment, in that figure, in other figure and camera stil keeps focusing on the girl).

--
http://www.martinkozak.com
 
... why not try it? I won't ask anyone if that cheesecake is good, 'cuz what's good for them ain't necessarily good for me. I'll just eat the thing and make up my own mind.

In a world where our "film and processing" costs only time, you can't afford not to experiment.
KP
--
Use the new site features to hide my homely face and banjo!!



http://www.ahomls.com/photo.htm
http://www.phillipsphotographer.com

'The urge to save humanity is always a false front for the urge to rule it.', H. L. Mencken
 
Saturoldan said:
I have tried to separate AF from exposure/release but when I focus with AF-ON it is a little confusing for me, and don´t feel comfortable, so I just do all with the main release button. Why should a person like me adapt to this working way?
Click to expand...
If you're going to do it, set the option, and don't change it back. (Make sure you take the focus off the shutter button, otherwise there's not much point, and it won't force you to use the back button).

After a short while, it becomes instinctive. When I grab a camera, my thumb naturally falls on the button (even though I'm still using an old 5D with a remapped * button).

After you've been doing it a while, there's pretty much no way you'll forget to focus. That might happen the first few times, but you'll get the hang of it, especially if you're using a telephoto where it's more immediately obvious if it's focusing or not.

The advantage of the technique is not that you're focusing with the button, but that you can immediately stop focusing very easily (and start focusing again when you want).
 
Kabe Luna said:
I've been using the AE Lock (*) control for AF since, IIRC, the EOS A2 of 1992, and I won't buy a new camera that doesn't allow independent AF operation. After so many years of working this way it's as natural for me as it is unnatural for you, having done things the other way around for a while.
Click to expand...
Ditto. It's like holding a water hose that won't shut off!
 
Martinka said:
I have been using it for about 6 months and I have found few observations:

Sometimes it slower - while using shutter button for AF, you half-depress the button and then you need just a tiny move to take a picture. When using rear button, you have to press shutter fully at once and this move is longer and takes more time. Sometimes it matters.
Click to expand...
When I'm waiting for the right moment, I usually half-press the shutter anyway, just to be ready.
 
This has been one of the most informative threads I've seen for ages here. I fiddled with the settings last night and the AF On button really is the way to focus. I can't see any reason to change it back unless I let someone borrow the camera.
--
Blake in Vancouver
http://flickr.com/photos/28305360@N00/
Panasonic Stuff, Canon Stuff. Mac Stuff & annoying PC & Windows stuff.
 
Really, THANK YOU ALL!

I´ll give it a try, a serious try, and I´ll comment with you the feelings.

--
...With the birds I'll Share This Lonely View...
 
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