G2 + action?

[jano]

I shoulda asked this earlier.. last minute request for ideas here 😛

When I do action photography (sports, children, pets), I like to use the dSLR thanks to the AF. I'm very, very slow with manual focus. Tomorrow I'll be shooting some similar action (sports, children, pets), but I wanted to try a bit of film as well. The only AF film camera I have is the G2.

I'm very comfortable using the camera for day-to-day slow stuf, like landscapes and family. Is it possible to use it for faster action, and if so, any tips for me? I know I once nearly blew an entire roll of film in just a few seconds by accidentally holding down the shutter, hahahaha, that thing advances so fast!

Thanks,
Jano

 

[jano]

Oh, just fyi, I plan to use color slide film (e100vs, I have a few rolls left, thought I'd burn through them for laughs). It's slower, yes, however, I'll be outside with no overcast and occasional shade.

 

[Socke]

It is possible, but you better now what to expect so you can anticipate the action.

I work for the local 6 days bicycle race and thus have the chance to go to places where no PJ is alowed. This way I shot some, let's say interesting, pictures from the racers at the start/end of the track. It's fun but compared what the PJs do with their 300 and 400 f2.8 lenses on Canon 1D MkII digital SLRs it's crap.
On the other hand, I have very 50ish looking B/W pictures nobody else has 🙂

 

[jano]

Thanks, I will be in the midst of the action, so a 300/400mm lens will not work very well. Have you ever tried the continual AF on the G2? I think I tried it.. once.. while goofing off.

 

[Socke]

The 90 is nice for action and the continous mode works as long as you have your subject in the focus bracket.

I have to dig out a couple of shots and then I haven't developed a roll with some brasilian kids playing soccer in the street yet.

 

[jano]

Awesome, thanks Volker. This should be fun 🙂

 

[jlw]

The G2 is great as an action camera. Here's the trick I used to use:

-- Set the AF mode selector for continuous.

-- Keep the shutter button depressed halfway as you track your subjects, so the camera will follow-focus on them.

-- When you're ready to take a picture, depress the AF button on the back of the camera. This will temporarily lock the focus so you can recompose. Then take the shot, relax pressure on the AF button, and the camera will go back to "tracking" mode.

This will shorten your battery life because the AF motor is running so much, but it will keep the camera in focus and almost completely eliminate shutter lag.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[jano]

-- Keep the shutter button depressed halfway as you track your subjects, so the camera will follow-focus on them.

-- When you're ready to take a picture, depress the AF button on the back of the camera. This will temporarily lock the focus so you can recompose. Then take the shot, relax pressure on the AF button, and the camera will go back to "tracking" mode.

I've become very accustomed to using the af button on the back of the camera with my thumb to focus/recompose (best feature ever!). So to get this right.. you use both that button AND the half-way depressed shutter button? Wow.. that'll take a bit of coordinating, like rubbing the belly and patting the head at the same time 😎 but shouldn't be too difficult.

Jano

 

[Socke]

I dug out two examples at last.

Shot prefocused in SAF with the 90 stopped down to f8 or f11 on Elitechrome100, very bright light in Madrid in April.

 

[Socke]

Part two, again SAF and I just knew what will happen 🙂

 

[jano]

Thanks, good examples.

Well, I got three shots off before the timid pup ran off. Who knew the AF noise would frighten the poor thing? So cute, though, it hid under a tree, I crawled in behind it to try to get the photo, but she just turned and bolted. Sheesh. So much for that!

Have to take the P&S digicam next time instead, it makes no noise 😡

 

[Socke]

Thanks, good examples.

Well, I got three shots off before the timid pup ran off. Who knew the AF noise would frighten the poor thing? So cute, though, it hid under a tree, I crawled in behind it to try to get the photo, but she just turned and bolted. Sheesh. So much for that!

Have to take the P&S digicam next time instead, it makes no noise 😡

Just like shooting geese, the first shot is it 🙂

Cats and dogs hear the AF and the film advance, they always look at me in the second shot. But frightened?

 

[jano]

Yeah, that's been my experience, too.. usually gets their attention, especially the 90mm (mine makes a lovely grinding noise when it goes from infinity to close).

Apparently the dog ran and hid the night before when her owners turned on the VCR... a rescued pup, what on earth the previous owners did to the poor thing. Otherwise, she's totally normal, happy, super energetic. *shrug*

 

[jlw]

One of the advantages of using continuous AF is that the animal gets a chance to get used to the sound of the motor before you start taking pictures -- but if the pup was skittish enough to be frightened by a VCR, probably nothing would help!

Incidentally, for those of you who photograph cats, I've always thought that a great feature would be an AF motor that sounds like a can opener. Then the subject would run TOWARD the camera!

(Technical explanation: As everyone whose cats eat canned food knows, the sound of a can opener is like a universal cat pager -- one touch and, no matter where they are in the house, they come streaking into the kitchen...)