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Best way to Nail Focus for Skiing?

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Realist
Posts: 90 - Karma: 91
Hey M&A, so I tried shooting skiing for the first time the other day, and I had some trouble with getting people in focus. I was shooting a 60D and a 50mm 1.8, and was shooting at f3.2 I believe. I just couldn't figure out the most foolproof way to get the focus dialed in. I tried zone focusing a few times, but that didn't work out too well, and AF wasn't the best either. So what do you guys usually do?
Dec 19 2013 7:40PM
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juicedrummer11
Posts: 1960 - Karma: 1,331
first off f3.2 on a 50mm on a ski mountain will yield some fairly shallow depth of field. if thats what you are going for than you either have to be a master rack focuser or a master followcammer if thats what you're doing. also just curious what were your ISO and shutter speed and frame rate at to be that wide open or did you use an ND filter?

anyway, if you want everything to be in focus you are going to want to be shooting toward the f8 area to get a much deeper depth of field and then once you focus on the area the skier will be riding through, it should keep it all in focus. also use the zoom button in live view mode to help nail the focus a bit more because sometimes its hard to see out in the sun on those screens
Dec 19 2013 7:46PM
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Realist
Posts: 90 - Karma: 91
Thanks for the reply! It was about twilight in the shade, so I was shooting at 1/1000, ISO 400. I was trying to go for a shallow DOF, but I am by no means a master rack focuser/follow focuser so I'll stay at a deeper one. Thanks so much for the advice!
Dec 19 2013 7:58PM
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bo0b
Posts: 2964 - Karma: 996
If you're using a 50mm I would use at least f/8
Dec 19 2013 8:34PM
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Lou.
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 3,876
that low of an aperture will get you some really shallow DOF so if you want better focus simply shoot at f8 or so and then everything in the general area will be in focus and you don't have to touch that focus ring.
Dec 19 2013 10:14PM
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
typically, I use a super wide or fisheye lens for video, usually f8, and then everything is in focus. I would say use a follow focus, or at least a lens with accurate focus markings, and simply practice. I believe there are also some monitors that have a feature to see if something is in focus, might be available in ML also, but I can't remember what it is called
Dec 20 2013 2:21AM
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openmindportrait
Posts: 1157 - Karma: 818
Af is pretty much a write off when shooting any follows and such. i pick a focal length in the general range i believe to be following the subject and make sure the dof isnt too shallow... its really difficult to get a shallow look doing follows unless the shot is relatively simple or really well thoughtout... you can of course kind of get a fake shallow look if you use davinci resolve for grading but that doesnt have quite the same effect.
Dec 20 2013 2:52AM
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Tikayt
Posts: 1031 - Karma: 1,543
On larger sensor, f/8 is still pretty shallow. Basically the larger the sensor the more DoP you have.
On my 5DmkII I shoot at f/16-18 during day. If I want shallow I use ND400.
Dec 21 2013 1:40PM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
Use a higher F stop and a lot of trial and error. Personally I like shooting on a lower stop but it takes practice and you need to keep your distance consistent. Starting off I'd definitely shooting at f/8 or higher like most have already said. Stop before a feature if you're not shooting a line, check focus then try to maintain that distance between you and the rider.
Dec 21 2013 2:33PM
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gravel
Posts: 5518 - Karma: 42,200
Also remember that on a 60D you can click the little "zoom" button to dial focus when in video mode. Saves me all the time on my T3i, it literally digitally zooms in on the frame and you can focus exactly to something at a certain distance.
Dec 21 2013 4:10PM
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