EM1 continous AF and tracking

Paul Amyes wrote:

Fri13 wrote:

C-AF + Sequential H and use 10fps (it dropsautomatically to 9fps) for PDAF only continues autofocus. You need to keep subject inside PDAF focus group array on screen, or choose a AF point inside that.

Use 9-point AF grid if you have difficulties to keep small or normal AF point.

Don't use C-AF and Tracking (C-AF+Trk) as it drops camera back to CDAF+PDAF hybrid mode or you get only CDAF like with C-AF + Sequential L.

Oh and E-M1 can beat cameras like 7D Mk2 in C-AF accuracy and speed. And you don't get back/rear focus problems.

After consulting the collective brains trust on this very subject a few weeks ago I purchased an EM1 for shooting sports. To put it mildly the results were disappointing while the camera quickly acquired focus it quickly lost it with the net result that I was not getting anymore than around 50% of shots in focus. Slightly better than me using manual focus on my OM4. So I bit the bullet and bought a 5d mkiiii and I'm getting much better results in excess of 70% of the shots in focus with a Sigma 120-300 f2.8 and x2 converter.

Micro 4/3s has come a long way but this is one area in which it severely lacking, which is a shame as I would have preferred to use it rather than the dSLR.

I am somewhat surprised at your 50% rate, but it would differ based on target, lens and camera settings.  I am not really surprised that your Canon/Sigma gives a somewhat better success rate.

My success rate with the Olympus was very poor when I first switched from a DSLR, but with experience with the camera and firmware updates, it improved greatly.

However, for me the success rate for the Canon would be much worse, since I would probably rarely use it, given the size and weight.