Using Manual Focus for Fast Action Shots to get Amazing Results using the Sony A7Rii and Canon 200mm f/1.8

San Francisco- so my team and I drove up from So Cal up to the Bay area to do some shooting. We found ourselves at the ruins of the Sutro Baths where the waves crash into the rocks and ruins with some pretty dramatic results.

I had my Sony A7Rii and Canon 200mm f/1.8 lens with me and wanted to see just what we could capture with our model Kyli and the waves coming in.  While I'm used to great auto focus from this combo of camera and lens, I'm also aware of the fact that shooting a solitary object like a model can be difficult to get consistent sharp focus on when things like waves and mist fly in front of her as it did in the shooting scenario we did here.

So using Focus Peaking (which I love by the way), I focused in on the model to get tack sharp focus.  Since my camera and lens were on a tripod, and the model was in a set position, I was able to set the focus and make sure it was on her so no matter what flew in front of her, the focus wouldn't change.

Well the waves didn't disappoint.  They rolled on in crashing on the rocks beneath her giving off some amazing spray as well as background.  One particular set was so strong the splash of the wave completely filled the frame behind the model giving it a truly beautiful effect.

So if this kind of work is of interest to you, you might just want to try this technique so you can create some really cool shots of your own.  I hope it helps!  Below are the pics from the shoot.  I truly hope it helps.  Don't forget to subscribe to my blog by clicking below!

Thanks,

Jason

Shots taken at 1/6400 sec, f/1.8, ISO 50 at 200mm

Photo Advice- Shooting a Fast Moving Target indoors

• Question- Hi Jason I have a photog question for you if you don't mind. My girls play travel volleyball all indoor gym lighting, and I get good pix but I really want to try to get better ones and more clarity and crisp for my Sr this year. Is AV mode the best for sports? I have a Canon 7d and the lens I have are 70-200 1:4, a 50 1:1.4, and 18-135. Do you have any advise or suggestions for me?? Thank you so much!
• ANSWER- Thanks for your question. The real key to clarity as it relates to sports photography or for anything that is moving is NOT shooting in any priority mode AT ALL. The priority modes will FAIL you in these scenarios because they will drop the F stop so low in low lighting conditions that it will give you a very narrow depth of field especially if your lens goes down to f/1.4. Which means if it goes down lower than f/3.5 it will be very difficult for you to get proper focus on moving targets, especially something like volleyball. I'd also advise you that the 70-200 lens will become very heavy for you as you shoot unless you have the ability to use a monopod with a clear shot to the action. I don't know the exact lighting conditions in the gym, but I'd recommend shooting in manual mode at f/3.5 with a minimum shutter speed of 1/200. If you aren't getting enough light start increasing your ISO until you get the desired result. With a Canon you will start getting considerable grain at around 1600 ISO whereas with a Nikon you won't start to get considerable grain until around 6400. I hope this helps!