Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/04/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Rick Dykstra asked: >I was wondering what focussing techniques you use with the 280 setup, >given the speed of the action. Do you try and follow focus, or focus >ahead and wait, or ...? I don't try and shoot everything. I usually try to see if one team will have a territorial advantage and shoot in their zone for offense shots. Goals are not usually that exciting, just look at the AP stuff. When I decide what I'll shoot, I employ an "active zone" focus where I'll follow focus in a given area. My follow focus is more of a "focus ahead" as I try to always shoot with faces forward. So, as I see a shot/play develop, I try to keep my focus ahead of the player and then focus towards the player and shoot just as the letters on the helmet/facial detail look sharp. Also, I try to use as much of the frame as possible, but a 300 isn't always long enough. The college ice arena put the extra tall plexiglass in a few years ago so shooting with a long lens meant shooting from the concourse level, over the top of the glass. I often shoot from the center ice point so I can shoot either end. This is especially important when on deadline where I may have only the first period to shoot (and head up to the press box for pizza:,) The R8 with matte screen and Motor drive works quite well for hockey. The 80 Summilux works nicely behind the net as does the 180 f2, but for shots out to the blueline (from same location). Regards, Dave Strang dstrang@up.net