It’s Not The Camera

Another day, another guy lost on FaceBook when it comes to his camera. This time the post reads like it comes from a long-time photographer who is new to Olympus OM-1 (and this post could have been about any new digital camera) and his complaint that he couldn’t get a decently sharp image of bike racers coming towards him.

The coming towards him part is important to notice because the autofocus on all digital cameras can have more issues focusing on fast-moving subjects coming at the camera as opposed to fast moving objects cross the frame. Ask any bird photographer.

So as typical of FaceBook our guy is getting a whole lot of opinions on what he should do to fix the issue by changing the way the automation works.

I don’t disagree but the primary issue isn’t with the camera….it’s with the photographer!

Here’s why: For over 60 years shooting with Nikon film cameras everything – focusing – exposure – ASA settings – were manual. If I was shooting in a dimly lit rural hockey arena I pre-focused the camera on the net’s steel post closest to me and every time the action was taking place in front of the net I shot as many frames as I could. Out of 10 shots at least one was printable in our newspaper.

So if an old guy like me can shoot a manual camera and capture the action in a dimly lit hockey arena how come this guy (who again sounds like he knows what he’s doing in general) can’t get a good sharp shot of the cyclists with a $2500 camera?

First of all he’s shooting small (in the frame) fast moving objects (bikes) coming directly at him. Anything small, fast moving directly at any camera will be hard for the camera to lock on. Again ask bird photographers who are shooting by far the hardest subject to get right in our cameras.

But wait a minute assuming sufficient light to get the right exposure to stop the action (1/1,000 or better) then why can I get this shot with a manual camera or a digital camera set on manual focus?

The answer comes down to (a) again read the manual with camera in hand and (b) take your camera out to a street corner and practice shooting cars and bikes while experimenting with the auto focus controls until you can set the camera up to get a high percentage of sharp, in-focus, well-exposed images. Then all the settings in one of the custom control buttons and you’re good forever.

Automation is hard to get right but with our modern digital cameras it can be set up right but you won’t get there without some thinking and some work on your part. YouTube BTW is your friend here as there are literally hundreds of videos shot by frustrated amateurs and pros who have done the work for you and me.

And yes I have shot bike races and yes it’s hard to do right.