Motor Sports Focus Method

[barry]

For all you motor sport shooters what focus method do you use, AF-S, AF-C or manual.

I have found with my Nikon 70-300ED I am getting a high percenatge of less than sharp shots using maunal focus.

I also find my lens want to go hunting in AF-C particularly in panning shots.

How do I control this.

I have notice the pro's at the football (NRL) tend to tap the shutter button a lot.

Is this the answer

Barry

[PiroStitch]

When I photographed the mountain bike racing photo I used the following:

* AF-C
* Pan
* slower shutter speed to get the bkg to blur more

I just used AF-C to follow the rider then as he began the jump, locked the focus and click the shutter.

Mind you I use the AE-L button to lock the focus. Haven't tried manual focus yet but in theory should be fairly easy. Use AF to lock the focus on the corner, then switch to manual focus, as the car enters the corner or is at the apex of the corner, take the shot and pan and track.

Racing is fairly predictable as everyone tends to take the same line so that they are able to run as fast as possible.

[redline]

manual focus is fine for panning as long as you give a reasonable amount of depth of field to keep the car/bike sharp (f/11-f/22). unless a blurry motion shot is what your after you could use a low shutter speed (1/15 - 1sec).
i would recommend af-c in af mode +plus dynamic af


manual focusing



af

[yeocsa]

Superd panning shots, Thai.

regards,

Arthur

[Glen]

Redline, superb shots and like your new logo

[Catcha]

Nice shots i'm jealous

[waspo]

Thai, these are awesome shots and what I eventually want to pursue in photography. (Motorbikes mainly)
Do you think we could hook-up sometime at one of these race meet?
Cheers, Jase.

[Dargan]

Anyone use trap focusing for these kind of events?

[Alex]

Fantastic shots, Thai. From what Piro says, he actually uses Focus trap in AF-C by locking focus with AE-L button then using the shutter button he takes a shot. I'm yet to master this...
Alex

[redline]

Thanks Glen,
trap focusing works well for these situation, i.e remotes setups. however it doesn't work with manual lenses,so prefocuing did the job. although i do believe that trap it work fine on the f5 on focus prority.

[gstark]

Thai, these are awesome shots and what I eventually want to pursue in photography. (Motorbikes mainly)

How fast can you run?

Do you think we could hook-up sometime at one of these race meet?
Cheers, Jase.

Take note of our calendar; I'm trying to organise something for the A1GP meet at Eastern Creek in November.

[redline]

Thai, these are awesome shots and what I eventually want to pursue in photography. (Motorbikes mainly)
Do you think we could hook-up sometime at one of these race meet?
Cheers, Jase.

yeah sure i don't ususally shoot bike myself either. someone eles suggested to me that you follow the hartwell motorbike club for a good start. i went to the boardford meet. btw theres a state meet for car racing today at sandown.