Please recommend tips for capturing actions shots on a 5d mkii

[CJRodgers]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to capture a photo of my dog (maltese) hopping about which he likes do. I think it would make a really cute photo that my fiance would love.

I recently got a 5d mkii. I only bought a 50mm 1.8 whilst i decided what other lens would suit my needs. I have read countless times on here that the 5d mkii AF sucks, and th 50mm 1.8 probably isnt the fastest af lens either. I was trying to do this last night but it was about 10pm and my house lights are quite dull, so my shutter speed was too slow to freeze action. Any quicker and the ISO would have been unusable.

HOWEVER rather than being negative can people please give advice on how to improve my chances at capturing this. I am going to buy a flash soon. Could I use this too trigger the shutter as the dog jumps past it? Ive seen that technique used in high speed photography.

In general what other tips do people use for actions shots to get around the 5d mkiis AF.

Thanks

 

[UngerPhotography]

If you want to catch action with the 5D II, you need to use the center focus point and AI Servo. You'll crop in post so the subject isn't in the center of the image. Use the best aperture/ISO combo to get a shutter speed of at least 1/500 (though you may be able to get away with 1/250).

 

[neuroanatomist]

In general what other tips do people use for actions shots to get around the 5d mkiis AF.

Personally, I put it back in the Peli case, take out the 7D, and shoot with that instead...

Seriously, agree with the above - center point, AI Servo (make sure you have the supplemental AF points enabled in the C.Fn's - default is off).

 

[Tcapp]

In general what other tips do people use for actions shots to get around the 5d mkiis AF.

Personally, I put it back in the Peli case, take out the 7D, and shoot with that instead...

Seriously, agree with the above - center point, AI Servo (make sure you have the supplemental AF points enabled in the C.Fn's - default is off).

Yes! Or, use flash as well. A speedlight flash can freeze action better than the fastest shutter speed on our camera can (under most conditions).

 

[awinphoto]

In general what other tips do people use for actions shots to get around the 5d mkiis AF.

Personally, I put it back in the Peli case, take out the 7D, and shoot with that instead...

Seriously, agree with the above - center point, AI Servo (make sure you have the supplemental AF points enabled in the C.Fn's - default is off).

Yep.. either that, or try your best and pray...

 

[eeek]

The AF is great if it is well lit. You can get great action stopping pictures with the mark II. It doesn't do well is poor low light, but in good light, it does awesome.

 

[briansquibb]

The AF is great if it is well lit. You can get great action stopping pictures with the mark II. It doesn't do well is poor low light, but in good light, it does awesome.

Low light AF is amongst the best for the 5DII on the centre AF point

 

[wickidwombat]

The AF is great if it is well lit. You can get great action stopping pictures with the mark II. It doesn't do well is poor low light, but in good light, it does awesome.

Low light AF is amongst the best for the 5DII on the centre AF point

yep I shot an awesome performance in yangshuo in china with the 70-200 on a tripod with the 5Dmk2 and i would say focus is dead on in about 99% of the shots very very low light
super super happy with the results (still havent processed them yet but even the raws are great)

thing is i feel the 5Dmk3 can acquire foucs in even less light than the mk2 (very slowly though but it will lock where the mk2 wont

 

[CJRodgers]

Thanks guys.

I started to have a bit of luck the other day without a flash. It was daylight in my garden which helped alot! So ill get a flash for indoors. I used shutter speed of 500 and get for some good photos at f 1.8 nad f2!

Thanks