Auto focus tracking in ai servo???

Dakota

Senior Member
In AI servo tracking fast moving birds, cars, airplanes etc will the auto focus keep up with moving object?? Feedback appreciated.

Thanks Bill
 
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pforsell

Senior Member
In AI servo tracking fast moving birds, cars, airplanes etc will the auto focus keep up with moving object?? Feedback appreciated.

Thanks Bill

AI Servo is Canon lingo. Nikon calls it AF-C aka Auto Focus - Continuous.

The short answer to your question is a resounding yes. The long answer is more complicated:

* lighting level (darkness makes AF hard)
* your skill (more skill, better results)
* contrast (strong contrast on the subject makes it easier for the AF sensor)
* maximum aperture of your lens (wider aperture = more light to AF sensor = better AF)
* camera body (more advanced body = more advanced AF sensor)
* lens (better lens, faster AF)
* movement angle (sideways = easy even with manual focusing, toward or away = more demanding)

If you take the baseline to be 300mm f/2.8 which is the staple lens for every action shooter in the world irrespective of brand, then yes, it focuses and tracks action with ease provided it is attached to an action body, like a D5 or D850 or D4S or D3S or D500 or many others. With a lower tier body the success rate will fall quickly, like the Nikon's D5000 or D3000 series or various Canon Rebels.

Your skills need to be up to the task too. You cannot expect the camera and lens do it all for you. Anticipation, planning, pre-focusing, smooth tracking and panning, correct AF-sensor mode and configuration, timing and whatnot need practice and practice.

Good luck.
 

pforsell

Senior Member
Lateral movement is easy (distance from camera stays about the same). Here's a takeoff I just shot yesterday. Unfortunately I missed the wing tip. :(

D3S + AF-S 400mm f/2.8G VR + TC-20E III @ 800mm f/8



20180523-_D3S0019b by foppa2011, on Flickr
 
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hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
There are different settings available for shooting moving subjects. Back button focus offers a few options. Or there is 3D tracking; however, this doesn't always work the best. In the video, 3D tracking looks great, but the problem is the focus point can lock onto trees instead. I tried out 3D tracking but quickly abandoned it as it didn't work nearly so well for me.

 
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