Canon 5DMk3 AI Servo AF Case 1-6

[Per Martinsson]

Anyone that has gained experience using the different AI Servo AF cases? Any recommendations for real world situations in nature photography like flying birds, feeding shorebirds, running hares, jumping coyotes, walking zebras etc.

[Richard Mc Donald]

Try this link Per ...http://www.garyluhm.net/bio/tips_0512.html

Richard

[Steve Uffman]

during 4 12 days shooting eagles in Alaska with Robert Otoole, I experiemented a great deal...In the end I used case 5 95% of the time as was very pleased with the results on BIF

[Richard Mc Donald]

Steve, did you leave the Case 5 settings at default?

[Diane Miller]

I've had trouble shooting Harriers flying against scrub brush terrain, 5D 3, 300mm f/2.8 + Canon 2x (neither the newest version), so AF is reasonably fast. I've tried various Case settings and have had trouble keeping focus from jumping to the BG and not acquiring the bird again, even in good light. I'm using back button focus, AI Servo, and have tried various settings for the Area Selection Modes. I have trouble even when the birds are not too fast to keep reasonably centered. I'm using a Wimberley II and the big Gitzo and can control the lens reasonably well. First and second image priority are as recommended in the link (the defaults, I think). Maybe that is just a very difficult situation?

I'd be interested in any advice about the focus jumping to the BG situation. Maybe the Cases don't really cover that and I just need to use a small group of focus points (which I have been) and hope I can keep them on the bird?