Custom setting-Fn20

[Jonathan]

Alright guys I am curious here:D What are you guys using for cutoms setting Fn20(in reference to the 1dmrkII). I have heard(i believe arthur morris) state that he prefers this on slow or standard so the focus does not have a a more likely chance of getting the background instead of say the bird. I am hoping to test this all out this weekend but wondered what you guys had already discovered??

[mdephoto]

I have played with it both ways and not really noticed any difference in the situtations that I was in. Try it and let us know if you see a big difference. If you notice a big difference, let us know the circumstances where it seems to make a difference. If it is all times, then I'll have to try it again and see what I was doing wrong before.

[Jonathan]

I have played with it both ways and not really noticed any difference in the situtations that I was in. Try it and let us know if you see a big difference. If you notice a big difference, let us know the circumstances where it seems to make a difference. If it is all times, then I'll have to try it again and see what I was doing wrong before.

Thanks, I am planning on doing just that.

[mdephoto]

I should correct what I said earlier -- there is a difference when something moves through the line of view with the subject with the various settings -- what I should have said was that I could not figure out what my advantage was in my specific situations. I saw a difference I just could not figure out what I should do with it. In my defense, I was using difference as in how I would shoot with the setting and not the way the lens worked -- just so you don't think that I am totally out of it -- I am only mostly out of it as most of my friends will tell you :D

[Kevin]

Jonathan, I'll offer you something I wouldn't offer just anybody.....

Send me your camera for a few weeks, I'll use it and report back to you what settings you should use. Also, to be safe, so the testing environment is the same, please also forward your 500/f4 to me.

m'kay? :cool: :rolleyes:

[Jonathan]

I should correct what I said earlier -- there is a difference when something moves through the line of view with the subject with the various settings -- what I should have said was that I could not figure out what my advantage was in my specific situations. I saw a difference I just could not figure out what I should do with it. In my defense, I was using difference as in how I would shoot with the setting and not the way the lens worked -- just so you don't think that I am totally out of it -- I am only mostly out of it as most of my friends will tell you :D

Hmm, glad you rephrased. I am planning to test this on some birds and auto-x/drifting this weekend

[Jonathan]

Jonathan, I'll offer you something I wouldn't offer just anybody.....

Send me your camera for a few weeks, I'll use it and report back to you what settings you should use. Also, to be safe, so the testing environment is the same, please also forward your 500/f4 to me.

m'kay? :cool: :rolleyes:

:D Maybe we can work something out. Might involve you flying me out to florida for some of these "tests" that way I can grin at your satisfaction and hopefully borrow your setup:p

As an aside the 500 still hasent arrived. It is a graduation gift and I am hoping to get my hands on one next month...depending on the rents(hopefully sooner rather than later). I am picking up a 200 2.8(this week) and probably a 1.4tc for a local autox/drifting gig I landed and then I can finally post some pics!! yeah

[Keith]

You bought 8 fps for a reason, who the heck wants to shoot it SLOW! :D

here is some good reading for you to get a handle on your initial set up , then you can tweak from there. Took me forever to find this, it was driving me nutz though!

http://www.naturescapes.net/082004/ej0804.htm#20

[Jonathan]

You bought 8 fps for a reason, who the heck wants to shoot it SLOW! :D

here is some good reading for you to get a handle on your initial set up , then you can tweak from there. Took me forever to find this, it was driving me nutz though!

http://www.naturescapes.net/082004/ej0804.htm#20


Thanks keith! i found this artice after you lead me to there forum awhile back. The link you provided is for the personal settings. I am referring to the custom settings. Part 1 of that article.

Here is what he says on article one

AI Servo Tracking Sensitivity
C.Fn-20 is only active in AI Servo autofocus mode. It controls how fast the lens will jump from a subject that it is focused on to another subject if it enters the AF point zone.

Option 0 is the default and is a medium sensitivity while options 1 and 2 cause the AF to jump slower and options 3 and 4 cause it to jump faster. Note that this has nothing to do with focus acquisition speed. It only affects how quickly the AF system will jump to another focus plane. I did extensive tests on this with the EOS 1Ds and found that the standard setting is best in most cases. However, if you are shooting moving objects that occasionally pass behind other objects and then emerge on the other side, setting this to a slower setting could be beneficial as the lens will be less likely to grab the area that the subject momentarily moves behind.

I am hoping to test this out on wednesday.

[Kevin]

Based on what you're saying, it sounds like that would be a setting you'd change frequently depending on shooting conditions. If you're tracking birds in a wide open area you could leave it set at a one setting then change the setting if you were in a more wooded area where a bird could fly behind.

Sounds like an interesting thing to be customizable. Maybe that's why so many birders like that camera. Now, where is mine..... hmmmm....

[Jonathan]

Based on what you're saying, it sounds like that would be a setting you'd change frequently depending on shooting conditions. If you're tracking birds in a wide open area you could leave it set at a one setting then change the setting if you were in a more wooded area where a bird could fly behind.

Sounds like an interesting thing to be customizable. Maybe that's why so many birders like that camera. Now, where is mine..... hmmmm....

I don't think your missing(too much:p ) kevin. Your bird pictures are quite nice!

[Jonathan]

I will give a further update once I get used to the camera as I am finding some user errors as of now. I have been keeping Fn20 in standard and not had anyproblems yet. I will try fast soon with some birds and let you guys know. I am not finding a need for slow thus far.

[Kevin]

Keep working at it, Jonathan and don't get frustrated. It's not always easy switching gear and you switched from film to digital. You'll get there. Just takes time and practise.

[Jeff JTPhoto]

If you use the center point only for AF and you can keep on your subject, fast is awesome. If you have trouble keeping up with your subject medium or even slow is a little more forgiving . I prefer mine on Fast for Motorsports.....

[Jonathan]

If you use the center point only for AF and you can keep on your subject, fast is awesome. If you have trouble keeping up with your subject medium or even slow is a little more forgiving . I prefer mine on Fast for Motorsports.....

Thanks Jeff. I have been keeping it on slow for BIF but I will surely try Fast for the next motorsport event! Good to have you here:D Watch out for a pm;)