Preferred AF mode/settings for capturing alpine skiing?

[jduqhoff]

I just got an X-H1, and the AF system is definitely a learning opportunity for me, coming from Sony. Have any of you shot skiers with the X-H1? For those who have, what was your preferred setup? I’ll likely use wide tracking, but have been looking at some of the additional refinement modes (yes, thanks, I did see the mode with the picture of the skier, but my upcoming shooting will have the skier in the frame most of the time, not appearing suddenly in the frame). Thanks for any insights!

[jduqhoff]

Well, I ended up using wide tracking in continuous, setting 5. While shooting, I thought for sure I must be missing a lot of shots, as the green squares always seemed a little behind the subject. 
 

As it turns out, this was entirely wrong. It seems the display of the AF points is just not quick enough to keep up with what the camera is actually doing. I was shooting with the 50-230, not known to be an especially fast focusing lens, and my keeper rate turned out to be quite good. I had very few frames where the AF didn’t grab the subject and stay with. I’m actually pretty impressed. 

 

[YOUTA]

7 hours ago, jduqhoff said:

Well, I ended up using wide tracking in continuous, setting 5. While shooting, I thought for sure I must be missing a lot of shots, as the green squares always seemed a little behind the subject. 
 

As it turns out, this was entirely wrong. It seems the display of the AF points is just not quick enough to keep up with what the camera is actually doing. I was shooting with the 50-230, not known to be an especially fast focusing lens, and my keeper rate turned out to be quite good. I had very few frames where the AF didn’t grab the subject and stay with. I’m actually pretty impressed. 

 

i am glad you shared your experience ! thanks ,if the subject is in frame always , zone autofocus works better i guess, from my experience in shooting moving subjects, so test that mode too . i hope this helps ! . have a nice day ahead !