Focusing with motorbikes help please.

[D-pearce92]

Hello there going to BSB on saturday and have a question about focussing. Ive shot bikes before but only road bikes on track days at lydden hill. I have my camera set up for back button foucussing and the central focus point selected, my question is what point of the bike do you focus on whilst panning.

Many thanks for your help Dex

 

[andrewc]

If its a horizontal pan around a constant radius photo it doesn't matter to much, but otherwise focus on the part of the bike you want to be sharpest in your photos.

 

[c.bowley2]

maybe im shipping in where not wanted but your using ai servo focus right?
Again its not too important where as long as the depth of field is not incorrect for the shot, unless you want that

 

[D-pearce92]

Yep i am using ai servo, was alright panning but really struggled on the straights to get a decent shot, dont think i was using a high enough shutter speed.

 

[c.bowley2]

panning shots usually start at shutter 320 and work your way down or practise down to what you can get too,

Im fairly new and i got some decent shots at 1/80th panning.
throw away is higher the lower you get

Its all about practice, the focus is pretty fast on the 70 200L so it not the lens, im not sure of the body i know its an older body but cant speak for the focus speed. I have a 50D and the focus is rapid with my 70-200 2.8 much faster than my 350d body.