Fortunately, soccer matches are long and there is opportunity for taking many photos. I've been having this weird thing happen where for more images than I can be happy about, every part of my subject appears to be in sharp focus except for the face. It's like there's a face anti-detection system built into the AF. Driving me crazy. I could go on. But here are a few I am mostly happy with. (RSL won 3-0.) C&C welcome.
While I like them all, 3 stands out to me because I know you just shot end to end through 22 players on the field and were able to capture that shot at impact with the ball. Good going. I'm assuming you shot with a 400mm 2.8.
Are you problems all happening with the same body/lens combination? Guessing it is the 1X and 400 2.8.
#1 & #2 look fine. I do like how the defensive player is holding the head of the player from RSL.
#3 Agree on the "Close but no cigar." Certainly back-focused on the player in red by the goal-post.
#4 Don't know if you were shooting crowd or players. If I know you, it was the players -- in which case it looks like another back-focus.
#5 Is hard to explain. Certainly back-focused if you were going for the header. What I can't understand is what is going on with the focal plane. Looking at the defender's face, it's perfect Russ Isabella detail and texture, but his shorts and socks and feet are OOF. Very odd. Also odd that the upper body of the offensive player is more in focus than his feet. Motion blur perhaps, but I don't think that's what is going on.
#6 Looks pretty solid, but there is still a disparity between upper body focus and lower body focus. Faces, and even hands look pretty good, but the feet and ball (which are in a similar focal plane) are not. Really strange.
#7 Really like this one. Nailed the face of the GK. A keeper of the keeper for sure.
#8 Something fishy going on here -- oh wait, fisheye lens
Don't know that I have any answers for you other than confirming what you are seeing. Is it always with the 400? The 1Dx looks like it is fine with the other lenses -- at least with no action or motion. Keep us posted.
Russ -- Love #3, really does it for me; being an ex-goal keeper and now photog, I know what it took to get that shot. Whenever I try these I always get the net in sharp focus!
Once you figure out what is going on, let me know. Been having the same issues with the 400 and 1DX...seems like out of a series a couple are tack sharp and a couple are typically back-focused. Been playing around with AF cases and all those other things. So if you find the anti-face detection setting, please let me know. I was blaming a number of mine on shooting low and heat waves off of the turf. Tried standing and it helped a bit, just seems to me like I am getting more ball and feet in focus then face at times.
Have you adjusted the mount on your 400? I'll bet you a beer that if you tighten those four screws with a jeweler's phillips head, your focusing issues will go away.
Issues being that the lens is not mounting flush to the body, and that is why (probably) you are getting the bottom part of your frames soft. This has happened to me a couple of times, and both times the screws needed to be tightened. Good luck, I hope this is all it is.
I have had the same thing happening on many of my images, drives me insane not knowing if it's me or the camera or the lens.. BTW I just shot the Earthquakes when they played the Charleston Battery and lost 1-0. Still great images.
Hey Rick, thanks for your analysis, all of which I agree with. I think perhaps Eric has solved the mystery. With #4, it was far enough away from me that while I can say I was 'aiming' for the players, it's a shaky proposition at best. And this is one photo where I think the story is told regardless. I haven't really noticed the focal plane issues with shorter glass, but my brain tells me in a foggy way that there probably is a logical explanation for that. Hope you and yours are well. Hey, watched the first episode (first season) of The Newsroom last night. I guess you could tell me how realistic it is. I thought it was fantastic.
Thanks, Ted. I was having fun with the fisheye.
TSpyers: Thanks for the feedback, especially on #3. As for the problem, see Eric's posts.
Thanks, Damon!
Eric: If this works, it'll have to be a beer, because otherwise I'd have to kiss you! Sure enough, all four screws were loose, two of them virtually dangling from their holes. I've tightened them and now can't wait for Saturday night to see if things improve. Thank you many times over for sharing this information.
Shane, I hear you and feel the same way. Hey, check your screws!
Russ Isabella wrote:
Eric: If this works, it'll have to be a beer, because otherwise I'd have to kiss you! Sure enough, all four screws were loose, two of them virtually dangling from their holes. I've tightened them and now can't wait for Saturday night to see if things improve. Thank you many times over for sharing this information.
Eric's very specific product knowledge is yet another reason why the Fred Miranda community and the Sports Corner is such a valuable tool. Simple fix -- and best of all -- FREE!!!! Kudos to Eric.
Russ, we are doing well in Pittsburgh. Tons of baseball going on with all three boys knee deep in games, workouts, scouting showcases. Can't imagine having it any other way. My poor wife must do 100 loads of laundry every month -- and she really hates white baseball pants.
Hope Eric's fix cures what ails you. Knowing Eric, I'm sure he is right on the money.
Excellent series my friend, as usual. Yup, almost on #3. Even at 560mm keeping it on target can be challenging, at least for me.
Also hoping you find out Eric's screw analysis turns out to have been the issue.
Will anxiously wait for the next series post. BTW: the will be well worth it
Rick: Glad to hear you all are well. And busy, which as you say is just as it should be (though your wife would be forgiven for thinking there might be a better way). You're absolutely right about the Sports Corner--amazing how often I continue to be reminded of that. Thanks, my friend.
Hey Matt, Thank you! I'd say especially at 560mm it's challenging to keep it on target! (Of course that might have something to do with the fact that the longer my reach, the more ridiculous I'm willing to be trying to capture something that barely registers for the space it takes up in my viewfinder!) As for Eric's analysis, absolutely, I'm hoping he's on the mark. I figure he's got 2 of 3 so far (1. looking at the images made him think there was a problem and that the screws were the likely culprit; 2. the screws were loose), so the odds are in his (and my) favor. Considering that the hassle of sending the lens to CPS is almost to the point I wouldn't bother, and that I probably would have sent the camera instead, thinking the problem was there......yeah, the brew will be well worth it.
I notice in #3 your at 1/3200th F4. I like bumping to 5.6 with the extender to fatten the DOF a little even though it's pretty thick all ready that far down field. After further review the keepers face looks fine when I putt on the cheaters.
Have to check the lens mount when I get home tonight; thanks Eric. My wife has been telling me forever that I had a screw loose and no focus, maybe this will fix it!
Thanks, Bryan. Yes, I agree about stopping down and I was kicking myself after the match for (mostly) limiting myself to the maximum aperture. Next time out, between the tightened screws and this slightly modified strategy, I'm hoping for good things.
Hey Jerry, thanks. I am always wary of the nut behind my lens!
I was having fun with the fisheye.
will be well worth it 
