SportsShooter.com 7D Settings

Picture Style - Standard (but sharpness upped to 4)

C.Fn III: Autofocus Drive

1 - AI Servo tracking Sensitivity: Set to -1

2 - AI Servo 1st/2nd img priority - Set to 0 - AF priority/Tracking Priority

3 - AI Servo Tracking Method - Set to 0 - Main Focus point priority (that way the camera focuses on what you want, not what it wants)

4 - Lens Drive when AF impossible - Set to 0

5 - AF Microadjustment - Set to 0 (Most people have said this is ineffective. Even the manual says it needs to be done on location where you are shooting to do any good.)

6 - AF area select mode - I have single point w/expansion selected and single point. Been shooting mostly on single point w/expansion for sports.

7 - AF Manual pt. selection pattern - Set to 1 (Continuous)

8 - VF display illumination - set to 1 (Enable)

9 - Display all AF points - Set to 0

10 - Focus Display in AI Servo/MF - Set to 0

11 - AF-assist beam firing - set to 2 (Enable to external flash only)

12 - Orientation linked AF point - Set to 0

13 - Mirror lockup - Set to 0 (Disable)

C.FN IV: Operations/Others

Shutter button is set to Meter only

AF-ON button is turned OFF (too easy to hit accidentally)

AE lock button (*) is set for metering and AF Start

Q: Diana, what led you to lower the AF tracking and increase the Sharpness that much?

A: Lowering the AF tracking keeps the focus from jumping around so much. Lowering it by 1 keeps it much more stable. I have not seen any more noise or rough edges by increasing the sharpness. The effect is very subtle and just makes the pics pop a little more. It's really personal preference, though.