Back a couple of days now and one rugby match later ... better, sure, particularly the social stuff ~ this seems pretty nailed down now ~ but for the Rugby, may need more attention.
I did not try the AF minus 1 trick yet ~ but my samples, limited to just one match, is showing a lack of AF acquisition, and a loss of track, it has shown it CAN reacquire AF though ~ this is a step in the right direction. Very bright full winter sunshine conditions.
Satisfied gbee? That's a word I never thought I would hear from you with Canon 1D Mark 3 in the same sentence!
Yesterday was my 2nd D1 rugby with my blue dotter, it is a far cry from the previous iterations I have owned and used. This one actually does focus, it does acquire and does track.
I shot the entire game yesterday with the 1D3 as my primary body on the 400/2.8 IS and have good results, ie results that will get published and results that will sell.
While I am happy, I have 1 concern. I find myself having to use AF Surround (circle) much more on the 1D3, I never used it on my 1D2N for rugby, there simply was no need. This also has the knock on effect that sometimes I miss the focal point I was aiming at, as you know the players are all tightly packed. I shot this game with Servo sensitivity set to 0 though I want to have a go with it at +1 next time out.
Overall very pleased but the jury has gone on holiday while I figure out whether the the 1D3 is better than the 1D2N. Also the flood lights were not turned on until very late so I was up at ISO 6400 quite quickly, very pleasing results.
My other point of note is that I think the 1D3 meters darker more than the 1D2N. I remember reading something about Canon setting the metering on the 1D3 back to industry standards, which makes me think the 1D2N and previous were not? Just a thought. Will update with a few pics shortly.
Yep, they are not small chaps! One of them spun into me pitchside at a game before Christmas, lucky I didn't get my leg broken and I still have the scar! Who says photography is not dangerous? At some venues, I am thinking the extra 100mm a 500/4 IS offers might be useful!
eddyboy wrote:
I think these shots are from the "Cousins shouldn't Marry Cousins Cup" finals
This is American football without the padding!
Yep Wicked fun, I primarily shoot sports using centre point but I find myself using circle surround much more with the 1D3 than I ever used it on the 1D2N. Perhaps this is indeed the price we pay for lower light focussing ability.
Great shots there, Alistair! Are you using the expansion AF points since you feel they would track focus better then? That has been my prefered setting, too. What lens are you using, BTW?
my only concern with E-AF is that it will grab something just in front of the subject and at 2.8 you don't have much room for error. Have you found that to be a problem?
Alistair Watson wrote:
My other point of note is that I think the 1D3 meters darker more than the 1D2N. I remember reading something about Canon setting the metering on the 1D3 back to industry standards, which makes me think the 1D2N and previous were not? Just a thought.
Alistair,
I noticed this almost immediately with my new BD when shooting my first basketball match with it. I had my 200 f1.8 on the markIII (BD) and my 85 f1.8 on my mkII. The BD seems to be about a half stop darker in the meter setting. Both lenses were at f1.8, and I used ISO 1600 with a SS of 1/400 on the BD and ISO 1250 with a shutter speed of 1/400 on my mkII. I ended up changing the mark II to match the BD as the histogram looked better after reviewing.
thanks guys, great comments!