Definitive 10D AF test

[TangoMan]

Rest assured that every single time that the camera focused on the crowd, the central sensor was very well on the rider or horse and the central sensor was selected as the only focus point.

Sorry for the pun - couldn't resist!

I agree with what you're saying: the faster the better. But until
we have an AF system that can focus in 0.01 nanoseconds, the best
solution for situations like rodeo is to have a dense array of
focus points with no gaps between them, aka Canon's 1-series
45-point AF.

There's a massive difference between the typical 3, 5, 7, or
11-point AF and 45-point AF: with 45-point AF, there is no part of
the viewfinder that is not covered by a focus point. So as long
as the object you want to focus on is the object closest to the
camera, you will always get a lock.

See the difference? With the camera setup in 45-point AF mode to
automatically focus on the closest object, you will never get a
shot focussed on the crowd like you did with your 10D - it's
impossible. The only problem you might have is that the camera
could focus on the horse's nose when you wanted it to focus on the
rider's face, etc. But the focus will always at least be close to
what you wanted.

With the 10D, you have to make sure that the AF point you have
chosen is pointing at the subject from the time you ask it to focus
to the time the shutter opens. With rodeo, that's very difficult.

--
I loved curves, long before Photoshop appeared

 

[TangoMan]

Is there a problem with giving it a try?

I will do that again. Maybe I assumed too much...

Don't you wonder how people got rodeo pictures BEFORE the days of
autofocusing cameras?

I would think that they got what they could. Made compromises to get them sharp. Lost great shots that you can only get if your lens is focused at the right place at the right time.

As far as not being able to confirm focus in
the viewfinder, yes, it IS quite possible.

If you are goint to get a higher percentage of in focus shots, you might be better off with a better camera rather than focusing by hand in a small viewfinder. I do focus manually once in a while, but I have to average the "looks in focus" zone and set the focus in the middle. As Mishkin calculated, proving in figures what I experienced, it is not possible to confirm the exact focus in the view finder of the 10D. You have to guess it, and you don't have time to do that in some circumstances

Seems like every most people responding to this thread are experts
on reading the manual and have little experience...

I asked you in the beginning of this thread which other cameras you
used to shoot an assignment like this and your reply was "None". So
what qualifies you as an "expert"? Is this the first time you've
shot a rodeo and you're an "expert" already?

Read that again. Anybody said that they are experts? My sentence means that people offering advice appear to have little pertinent experience with the case being discussed. For example, they say that 2.8 is as wide as you can get and they don't know the DoF difference between a shot at f2 and f2.8. Most think that stopping the action is paramount and that you need a high speed shutter. Some suggest I get more DoF by closing the lens aperture a lot more.

So why am I not shooting at 1/500s, f11, ISO 512,000,000, I wonder... I should take every advice for cash and reverse my initial impression that there are better cameras than the 10D to shoot a rodeo.

I don't pretend to be an expert at rodeo - I have shot only four so far-, but I am an experienced low light shooter. Now, will you agree that, if you shoot a static person centered in the viewfinder, and the camera confirms the focus with a nice red square and a green dot, you would hope for that person to be in focus. Not the crowd far behind, not the sand in front of that person, THAT person should be in focus. Right?
Sad to say, be the focus was erratic and failed me far too often.

--
I loved curves, long before Photoshop appeared

 

[TangoMan]

Why did you feel the need to spend your time learning all about my posting history? Are you in love?

Anyway, thanks for my resume. I appreciate you doing this, since you think that I need to look for a steady job. LOL

Aha, this was yet another "it's 10D's fault" message. So why don't
you get you 10D fixed/checked then?

If your Ford doesn't have the performance of a Ferrari, why don't you get it fixed/checked then?

There is a finite number of directions in most likely will go

LOL. There is only one prefocus position I can set on my lens

And you can't visually confirm focus in the 10D viewfinder.

Yes you can. I've done it many times successfully.

I don't need many times, I need nearly all the time on moving subjects

Seems like every most people responding to this thread are experts
on reading the manual and have little experience...

Let me make an example of you, how your posts (see your profile)
characterizes you. This is your "net presence" according to a quick
peek into dpreview posting history:
------------

(a beautifully written resume)

----------

See now?

I can see that you missed the whole point of my post.

I would suggest that photographic skills and experience have no direct relationship with having a business. A lot of amateurs are way better photographers than so-called pros. And a lot of pros are way better than amateurs.

Deciding on earning a living with photography is a choice that probably should be based on your personality, given that you have the necessary photographic abilities. You don't become a pro because you feel that it's the next step in your skill building.

Personnaly, I became a pro because I tought that this lifestyle was desirable. I bought a G3 to reduce my processing fees, I bought a 10D when I felt the G3 wasn't fast enough, I will buy the 1d sucessor because the 10D, mind you, is not capable enough for some work I'd like to do. You know what, the stylus epic 35mm/2.8 is still my favourite camera

When I need an investigator, I might hire you. I didn't check your posting history nor your profile, but are you available. LOL

--
Pekka
http://photography-on-the.net

--
I loved curves, long before Photoshop appeared

 

[BernieM]

Last week I shot about 2000 shots on assignment.
Results: Half way through, I had to trow out 70% for misfocus. The
camera loved to focus way behing the subject. It occasionaly
focused in front of it, and sometimes dead on it.

You have got two options:

1.) Go get the 10D replaced
2.) Dump the 10D on eBay and get a Nikon

Alternatively, go get a Sony 828, Pentax ist D or whatever (no offense intended)

Posting in this forum is not going to make your picture any sharper or your life less miserable. In fact, let me assure you that I just spent a day wandering around Berlin shooting stock and my pictures are fine. Lenses used: Sigma 15-30, Tamron 100 Macro, Canon 100-300L, Canon 28-105

 

[TangoMan]

Some people need to be
brought to ground before they are so high the fall hurts too much.

Thank you for undestanding my needs. LOL

On this forum, I now know that you can't say that a lower priced camera is not good enough for some demanding tasks. The fall will not hurt too much now.

I'd like reserve definition "pro" for serious full time
professional photographers who earn their living taking photos -

Of course it is not me. LOL

not for part-time freelancers like me, or for one-gig-and-i'm-pro
wonderboys like some.

That must be me... LOL

Gear does not make you a pro.

Be consistent now! You blamed my lenses in a previous post.

I looked at some of your photos, and I agree that the D30 is all that you need. You shoot people in a static position, so that's all that you need. A G3 could even do the trick if you have enough skills to overcome it's weaknesses. Time is not of the essence in some photos.

Anyway, you seem to be on a mission to lose my time and so far I've let you play. Now I regret to inform you that it's over. I have a business to attend

P.S. Don't buy a 10D if you plan on shooting a lot of rodeos. You might lose some winners and that means sales lost.

--
Pekka
http://photography-on-the.net

--
I loved curves, long before Photoshop appeared

 

[TangoMan]

1.) Go get the 10D replaced

By a 1D successor, I will.

2.) Dump the 10D on eBay and get a Nikon

Are you crazy?

Alternatively, go get a Sony 828, Pentax ist D or whatever (no
offense intended)

I might get a disposable too.

Posting in this forum is not going to make your picture any sharper
or your life less miserable.

Posting here might help some who are trying to decide wether the 10D will be good enough for the taks that they are planning to accomplish with it.

In fact, let me assure you that I just

spent a day wandering around Berlin shooting stock and my pictures
are fine. Lenses used: Sigma 15-30, Tamron 100 Macro, Canon
100-300L, Canon 28-105

So? I sell hundreds of pictures coming from the 10D. No problem with it in some settings. I even sold many rodeo pictures. I was just frustrated that I could have sold more if not for them being out of focus.

The point of getting a better camera is to get more pictures in correct focus and increase sales.

I think that my point will get accross to those interested. I am not spending any more time here. Bye!