7D Autofocus settings for weddings (need help!)

[kms223584]

I just purchased a 7D (replacing my 40D) for my assistant to use at weddings. I shoot with 5D mark IIs and am completely new to the 7D Autofocus. The autofocus is completely different than anything I have ever seen. What settings do you guys use for weddings? Is there a way to use just one AF point and then focus and recompose? I know it isn't the best technique to use but it is easy to teach with a bran new camera. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Julio]

Teaching center point and recompose is by far the simplest and anyone who has ever shot with any AF SLR, film or digital, already knows how to do it so your idea is sound.

I don't need to tell you that this isn't using the best of what the 7D offers. Many other cameras including the cheapest Canon SLRs produce captures nearly (if not exactly) the same as the 7D in easy settings. What realy sets the 7D apart is the vast array of usability options--especially the multitude of focus modes and tweaks. But most of that is not really needed for landscapes, portraits or slow-moving events like weddings.

Heck, even shooting sports when I first got mine, I just used my habitual center-point-only AI Servo tracking and it worked like a charm. It took me a week or two to get the hang of all the other options (expansion, zones, spot AF) and focus custom tweaks.

It's a great camera but there definitely is a bit of a learning curve going from an XXD body.

--
http://fotoman99.smugmug.com/

 

[Brand New]

Consider moving your AF from your shutter to the back button and going AI Servo. I changed to that method about a year ago, and love it so much that I even use it for static subjects, landscapes, etc. It takes a few months to get used to, but it makes it easy to focus/recompose, switch from action shots to static quickly, etc.

 

[BlueX5guy]

I agree that Single Point AF is the easiest to get the camera to focus where you want it to focus. Focus and recompose is usually pretty quick and reliable.

Another great feature on the 7D is that the Multi-Controller button (joystick type) is programmable for direct AF point selection. You can set it to allow point selection using custom function C.Fn-IV-1. This will allow you to move the point used from the center point by pushing the joystick in the desired direction using your thumb while looking through the viewfinder. Pressing the button straight in resets to the center point.

Good luck
Dennis

 

[kms223584]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I'm going to play around with the camera tomorrow and get familiar with it.

 

[elfroggio]

I just purchased a 7D (replacing my 40D) for my assistant to use at weddings. I shoot with 5D mark IIs and am completely new to the 7D Autofocus. The autofocus is completely different than anything I have ever seen. What settings do you guys use for weddings? Is there a way to use just one AF point and then focus and recompose? I know it isn't the best technique to use but it is easy to teach with a bran new camera. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

My current preferred setting is:

1. Zone focus
2. Orientation Linked AF Points, CF III-12 http://www.foto-biz.com/Canon/Orientation-linked-af-point and I set the top zone when using at 90°, so the focus is on the faces and no need to recompose (which doesn't work if you are close and a shallow dof.)

--
Thanks
http://foto-biz.com
The Business of Being a Photographer -- Lightroom Q&A

 

[Zeee]

I agree that Single Point AF is the easiest to get the camera to focus where you want it to focus. Focus and recompose is usually pretty quick and reliable.

Another great feature on the 7D is that the Multi-Controller button (joystick type) is programmable for direct AF point selection. You can set it to allow point selection using custom function C.Fn-IV-1. This will allow you to move the point used from the center point by pushing the joystick in the desired direction using your thumb while looking through the viewfinder. Pressing the button straight in resets to the center point.

Good luck
Dennis

+1

 

[raymklee]

I use the 7D + a telephoto lens to do some candid shoots for an event for my employer. You can definitely try focus then recompose, but it might not work well if you're using a wide aperture lens. For me, I use just single-point, and use the joy-stick to move the focus point to a desired position, aim, focus, and shoot. Sounds slow, but if you have practice enough, it's fairly quick.

 

[EJHAM]

If you use Evaluative metering and use the back focus button, which I do all of the time, the active focus point becomes the point the metering system uses for its main reading and then uses the remaining frame to evaluate the remaining scene. The camera figures that the focus point is your main subject and tries to give you the correct exposure at that point. If you focus on the bride's white dress then recompose and the focus point is now on the grooms black tux you will have an over-exposed shot.

If you are using flash, the flash metering will do the same and try to give you a well exposed focus point. The default setting for the Canon 580Ex Flash is Evaluative Metering as well. The other flash metering mode is Center-weighted average. The camera's metering mode and the flash's metering mode is set independently from one another.

Now if you set the metering to anything other than Evaluative Metering the metering is taken based on the area that is being metered.

Try this as a test, you may need to refer to your manual if you don't know how to setup a single focus point, setup the back focus button, or to manually move the focus point.

1. Set up the camera to use the back focus button, Evaluative Metering, use Av mode @f8.0 or so, ISO 400, and a single focus point. You may need to adjust the f stop or ISO for more pleasing test shots but don't change anything during the test.

2. Set in your living room with a bright window with the shade open.

3. Frame the shot so that half of the frame is the darker room the other half the bright window. Don't change the framing during the test. Use of a tripod would help here.

4. Set metering to Evaluative Metering.

5. Use a single focus point.

6. Move the active focus point to the outer focus point that is over-looking the bright window.

7. Focus and take the shot.

8. Now move that single focus point to the other side of the frame pointing to the darker room.

9. Focus and take the shot.

What you will see is the metering system tried to give you the correct exposure based on the active focus point.

Now try the same thing using your Canon 580EX or similar flash metering set to Evaluative Metering.

You might also take a look at "Flash Photography with Canon EOS Cameras - Part I, II, III. The starting URL is http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/index.html
Its a long read but covers most Canon EOS cameras including the 7D.

B&H also has three excellent videos on the Canon called "A Look at the Canon Autofocus System". The URL is http://www.video.bhphotovideo.com/?fr_story=a2b001b4009876d9c3ede34353cb6af0c193bc8f&rf=sitemap

 

[BAK]

Re> Is there a way to use just one AF point and then focus and recompose? I know it isn't the best technique to use but it is easy to teach with a bran new camera.

You are right. It is not the best, so why even try?

As for your original question, you probably should use several different autofocus methods at a wedding.

Servo when the bride and groom are walking toward you, up the aisle.

One shot, for groups standing still.

Some far side focus point when the bride is at the edge of the frame and the wedding cake is five feet behind her, intentionally out of focus.

And so on.

BAK

 

[tonyjr]

Play with camera . I tried the focus hold and recompose .
Did not work to well .
Now I use the groups of 4 focus points and just switch to different group .
I kept playing with at parties [ this is a good time of year ] till it was easy
--
1st it's a hobby
7D gripped XTI gripped
Canon - efs 10-22 , 17-55 , ef 18-55 IS
EF 28-90 , 28 @ 2.8 , 50 @1.8 , 28-135 IS
L's 35-350 , 70-200 MK II IS
Quantaray lens 70-300 macro
Sigma 135 - 400
2X III , Life Size converter
KSM filters for all
kenko auto tubes , EF 25

 

[Zeee]

Servo when the bride and groom are walking toward you, up the aisle.

One shot, for groups standing still.

BAK

+1. You gotta be quick. The Q button is great for that and it will out you back to the last thing you were changing in the info screen.

 

[Corey Kessler]

+1 Teach someone to fish and they can eat for life. Very nicely done.

1. Set up the camera to use the back focus button, Evaluative Metering, use Av mode @f8.0 or so, ISO 400, and a single focus point. You may need to adjust the f stop or ISO for more pleasing test shots but don't change anything during the test.

2. Set in your living room with a bright window with the shade open.

3. Frame the shot so that half of the frame is the darker room the other half the bright window. Don't change the framing during the test. Use of a tripod would help here.

4. Set metering to Evaluative Metering.

5. Use a single focus point.

6. Move the active focus point to the outer focus point that is over-looking the bright window.

7. Focus and take the shot.

8. Now move that single focus point to the other side of the frame pointing to the darker room.

9. Focus and take the shot.

What you will see is the metering system tried to give you the correct exposure based on the active focus point.

Now try the same thing using your Canon 580EX or similar flash metering set to Evaluative Metering.

You might also take a look at "Flash Photography with Canon EOS Cameras - Part I, II, III. The starting URL is http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/index.html
Its a long read but covers most Canon EOS cameras including the 7D.

B&H also has three excellent videos on the Canon called "A Look at the Canon Autofocus System". The URL is http://www.video.bhphotovideo.com/?fr_story=a2b001b4009876d9c3ede34353cb6af0c193bc8f&rf=sitemap