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Focus issues with Motocross photography

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Rich_L_90

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Here is an example of a photo I took yesterday where I had the focus point on the bike/rider and yet, it's the rear tire that ends up being in focus.

Camera is Canon 5ds with 70-200 f2.8 lens @ ISO 200, f/2.8, 1/2000s.

I'm using back button focus with AI servo on case 3.

Is it the limit of the camera or something else I'm missing ?

Keeper rate is around 75 %.

7c966c52a6cb4be3a9436dc5ea298753.jpg.png




View attachment 1c2a39d0ab054b73a5a5538cf551518e.jpg
 
I am not a Canon user but with Nikon are you using a auto area setting where the camera chooses the focus point, I would be using less focusing points not on auto area, and choose where they were placed on the subject you need to place the primary focus points towards the top of the frame so you can place them on the riders head.
 
Try case 2 with af point expansion. Either 4 or 9 point. As stated previously try to get focus on the head of rider.
 
I will try case 2. I know that in this exemple the focus point is in the middle but in 95% of the time, I will use a single point higher in the frame to aim for the biker's helmet and I get the same result where the back of the bike is in focus...

I know that I don't let my finger off the back button focus.
 
what lens are you using? Is the AF speed of the lens fast enough to keep up with the riders..
the lenses I use most for MX photography are the 400 2.8, 600 f4, 300 2.8 and 17-35
The telephoto primes I use focus extremely fast and can keep up even with the fastest Pro riders. It may be your lens, as I am not familiar with Canon

I just read that you are using the Canon 70-200 2.8, that lens is fast to focus so you can take the lens out of the equation as being the culprit.

--
http://www.michaelfullana.com
 
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Nice shots.

I do have my focus point on the helmet 95% of the time. Maybe not the best exemple here. I'm just wondering if I'm testing the limits of the camera.
 
How is the focus limiter set up on the lens? Full or 3m to infinity? If on full it may hunt just enough to throw off the focus point? That lens should be fine for this.
 
That’s a very challenging angle to shoot. Knowing what your camera is doing under that condition I would place the focus areas in front of the bike. Perhaps close the aperture a bit & bump the iso also?



One click filter edit. f/6.7 1/1000 ISO100 42mm

One click filter edit. f/6.7 1/1000 ISO100 42mm
 
Okay, I'm kinda curious. You are focusing on the helmet and getting the rear wheel. I'm kinda curious what would happen if you focused on the front wheel? If you get the front wheel, I'm leaning toward a contrast explanation in which it is drawn to the line of the dark tire against that uniform background.
 
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I will try. I have so many missed shot because of this. Wheter I focus on helmet or middle of rider, a fair amount of pictures get the rear wheel in focus. I'm pretty good at tracking objects and I have tried case 2 and 3 for IA servo without seeing a significant difference.

I am using a flash (godox AD600 pro) in HSS mode most of the time.

Back button focus, single focus point (or expanded).

I'm looking at a new camera in the near future, R6 or R5. I just hope those will give me a better hit rate. I love the 5ds resolution but I'm definetely ready for mirrorless.
 
5Dsr ad case recommends Case 4 per manual.

5d1e56bf945f4ed69de4058dc715568b.jpg.png
 
True, but, when the drivers take off on the jump they behave more like case 3 (in my opinion) because quite often, I can't track them before the jump.

I will try.
 
So you are not tracking the biker prior to the jump?

If you can't track before the jump. You might as well do it the old way - AF trap when they hit the top.
 
Rich_L_90 said:
Here is an example of a photo I took yesterday where I had the focus point on the bike/rider and yet, it's the rear tire that ends up being in focus.

Camera is Canon 5ds with 70-200 f2.8 lens @ ISO 200, f/2.8, 1/2000s.

I'm using back button focus with AI servo on case 3.

Is it the limit of the camera or something else I'm missing ?

Keeper rate is around 75 %.

7c966c52a6cb4be3a9436dc5ea298753.jpg.png


View attachment 1c2a39d0ab054b73a5a5538cf551518e.jpg
Click to expand...
As a fellow sports photographer, my recommendation is to set your camera to single autofocus point and to do your best to point it at the subjects head as 1st choice. 2nd choice is the body of the subject. This will help minimize the back (and front) focus during action photography.

Because the subject is wearing a helmet, camera systems with face/eye detection is worthless. The camera you are using does not have this 'feature' so it does not apply to you, but I bring it up for those mirrorless shooters.

I do like your composition. My only suggestion is to increase your ISO slightly as the image is slightly dark. Otherwise job well done.
 
creative edge said:
the lenses I use most for MX photography are the 400 2.8, 600 f4, 300 2.8 and 17-35
The telephoto primes I use focus extremely fast and can keep up even with the fastest Pro riders. It may be your lens, as I am not familiar with Canon
Click to expand...
I wish I had your budget.... :-) ;-)
 
SurfFish said:
So you are not tracking the biker prior to the jump?

If you can't track before the jump. You might as well do it the old way - AF trap when they hit the top.
Click to expand...
I am an ice hockey photographer and I wait for the action to approach me in order to obtain the best framing. I am going to assume motor cross is the same approach. Waiting for the action to come to you rather than you chasing the action.
 
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