Safe bet set up...........

[BigBazza]

Hi am currently shooting in M and RAW with this set up
Canon 7D - 70 x 200 2.8f
1000/1 sec for hand held shots
f4 to give best sharpness wide open
ISO "auto"
Spot Metering
Zone AF
A1 Servo

Now am going to Kenya soon and wondered if this set up would help me ..... a safe set up that works

This set up works fine from the boundary edge @ cricket matches for action shots and have been pleasantly surprised how my images have improved since changing over to this from TV & AV ....... for the safari however am concious that A1 Focus may be better but would really like bit of confidence from you more experienced people that I am on the right lines. I can't pretend I fully understand all the technicalities....sorry but any help would be appreciated
Many Thanks Baz

 

[tirediron]

It is virtually impossible to recommend 'safe' settings for something like this; exposure could change as much as 3-4 stops between noon on a bright, sunny day and 4.00pm on a dull, cloudy and overcast day. Head over here and read through the tutorials on exposure and settings, as well as the Sunny 16 "rule" over here. FWIW, I would probably shoot in Tv/Shutter priority mode since I'm going to want to ensure that I stop action and avoid camera shake. I would NOT shoot in Auto ISO ever, unless there was a shot that I just had to get in very poor, or constantly changing lighting conditions. I would generally only use spot-metering when dealing with a backlit or similar situation, and would stay in matrix (or the Canon equiv.) normally. If I was just walking around, and not setting up for a specific shot, I would leave the camera in Program/Auto mode so that if all of a sudden, I see that National Geographic cover shot, all I have to do is aim and shoot.

 

[Big Mike]

1000/1 sec for hand held shots

That sounds good in theory...but will only work in really bright light or with a high ISO setting. Shoot as fast as you can, given the situation at hand.

f4 to give best sharpness wide open

The term 'wide open' refer to shooting with the lens at it's maximum aperture. So F4 is not 'wide open' on that lens.
I know what you mean...shooting one stop smaller than wide open, to help improve sharpness. I'd suggest doing some testing, because I believe that your lens is actually pretty good at F2.8. There might be a slight improvement from F2.8 to F4.0....when you consider that it may double your shutter speed as well...it may not be worth it.

ISO "auto"

I wouldn't recommend it.

Spot Metering

I wouldn't recommend it.

Zone AF

Whatever works for you.

A1 Servo

Again, whatever works for you.

If you haven't tried it yet, I'd suggest the technique of 'back button focusing'. You take AF off of the shutter release button and use a button on the back (with your thumb).