Posted by David Schoen on April 29, 2010 at 7:31 PM
This is one of my first attempts at hand holding my 500mm f4 (no VR) with my D700 and MB10. This is not easy to do but it is easier to follow the birds than with a tripod and wimberly head.
Gull was about 100 feet away. This is 10% of full frame.
iso 800, f4.5, 8000th sec
What is the best setting to achieve auto focus lock.
predictive focus set at which number?
focusing points set at 51, 22, or 11?
Excellent image!
I agree that it is next to impossible to track a flying bird on a tripod. Hand-holding is the way to go, although it does take strength and practice.
I use the 21-point focus setting.
Sandy r
Posted by David Haynes on April 30, 2010 at 1:01 AM
I also use the 21 point focus setting. Can't capture an image to save my life on 51 point. 11 point may e to small an area for moving subjects and you may lose contact frequently. I did. 21 point seems perfect. You may want to disengage your VR as it will have no effect with a shutter speed in excess of about 500 and it will slow focus down. Hope this helps. Good luck
CL vs CH? I'll try that but I always thought that CH was the setting to use for fast moving subjects. I did not know that VR slowed down other operating systems and will turn that off the next time I'm shooting.
OK so I've been wondering about all of this so I contacted Mark Suban the NPS pro for the East Coast and here is what he said. Hope this helps.
VR does not effect AF. Both are independent of each other.
Are you a shutter release focus or AF ON (back button) AF guy?
In either case, Dynamic AF (11,21 or 51) is only available when the camera is
set to AF-C (front of body below lens release). The camera will lock-on with
the initial AF area then monitor the other AF areas; (11,21 or 51) when set
to the menu. If you have the camera set to AF-S and on either the middle AF
selector on the back (Dynamic AF) or lower AF selector (Single-area) then the
camera will only use one AF square to determine focus. Also if, the
Autofocus priority is set to AF-S and AF-S priority is set to Focus Priority
(in the Menu) then the camera will not fire until subject is in focus.
To achieve the fastest AF for AF-S or AF-C, then set the Autofocus Lock On to
OFF or LOW. Also note that not all of the 51 areas are CROSS type AF. Turn
the camera 45 degrees to achieve focus in low light with outer edges selected.
Otherwise the middle area is mostly cross type AF sensors.
Discussion
5 repliesGull was about 100 feet away. This is 10% of full frame.
iso 800, f4.5, 8000th sec
What is the best setting to achieve auto focus lock.
predictive focus set at which number?
focusing points set at 51, 22, or 11?
Thanks for your advice.
I agree that it is next to impossible to track a flying bird on a tripod. Hand-holding is the way to go, although it does take strength and practice.
I use the 21-point focus setting.
Sandy r
VR does not effect AF. Both are independent of each other.
Are you a shutter release focus or AF ON (back button) AF guy?
In either case, Dynamic AF (11,21 or 51) is only available when the camera is
set to AF-C (front of body below lens release). The camera will lock-on with
the initial AF area then monitor the other AF areas; (11,21 or 51) when set
to the menu. If you have the camera set to AF-S and on either the middle AF
selector on the back (Dynamic AF) or lower AF selector (Single-area) then the
camera will only use one AF square to determine focus. Also if, the
Autofocus priority is set to AF-S and AF-S priority is set to Focus Priority
(in the Menu) then the camera will not fire until subject is in focus.
To achieve the fastest AF for AF-S or AF-C, then set the Autofocus Lock On to
OFF or LOW. Also note that not all of the 51 areas are CROSS type AF. Turn
the camera 45 degrees to achieve focus in low light with outer edges selected.
Otherwise the middle area is mostly cross type AF sensors.