Focusing question

Golfcart · Jun 6, 2012

What focus settings do you guys use while photographing moving subjects? I shot a graduation ceremony and on some of them my focus is off just a hair. It wasn't a slow shutter issue. I was on continuous focus and 3d tracking and sometimes it would focus off my target. Is there a way to get it 100% in focus every time?

Thanks.

KmH · Jun 6, 2012

In continuous focus mode, no, there is no way to get 100% in focus all the time.

DSLR cameras Nikon currently offer use 3 auto focus modules.

Two are entry-level AF modules and the 3rd is their prosumer and pro grade camera AF module.

The 2 entry-level AF modules have 1 and 9 cross-type AF points, while the top grade AF module has 15 cross-type points.

Consequently, there are some differences in capabilities.

You may want to explore the benefits of using 'back button' focusing, whereby the half-press of the shutter release to activate the auto focus function is deleted from the shutter release, and moved to a button on the back of the camera.

Golfcart · Jun 6, 2012

I've moved my focus button to back before. But how would this help me? Sorry a little confused.

I'm using the D7000 so not sure about the focus modules you were talking about. Il do some research.

Thanks!

scorpion_tyr · Jun 7, 2012

I know nothing of Nikons, but I do know on my Canons that if I use continuous AF it's never quite as sharp as one shot. Unless the subject is moving really fast (aircraft or closeup people sprinting) I leave it in one shot and just make sure I snap the shot as quickly as possible after it's in focus.

o hey tyler · Jun 8, 2012

scorpion_tyr said:
I know nothing of Nikons, but I do know on my Canons that if I use continuous AF it's never quite as sharp as one shot. Unless the subject is moving really fast (aircraft or closeup people sprinting) I leave it in one shot and just make sure I snap the shot as quickly as possible after it's in focus.

I use AI Servo on my old canon 5D 100% of the time and still get sharp photos. Doesn't matter if the subject is moving or not. I also use back button focus as well.

Golfcart · Jun 9, 2012

What does the back button focus button benefit you? I know it moves the focus from the shutter button to the back of camera, but why is that imortant?

KmH · Jun 9, 2012

It isolates the focus function, and it makes actuating the AF function somewhat more positive than a half-press of the shutter release button.

1hawaii50 · Jun 25, 2012

How fast were the people moving at the ceremony? I use AF-C, 9pt. on my D7000 to shoot basketball, and it works great! If you are set to AF-A, then you are allowing the camera to pick your focus point.

xjoewhitex · Jun 25, 2012

I've always used AF-S with pretty consistant results while shooting bands running back and forth across stage. You've just got to be quick, focus, shutter. If you delay at all you've missed it.

MTVision · Jun 26, 2012

1hawaii50 said:
How fast were the people moving at the ceremony? I use AF-C, 9pt. on my D7000 to shoot basketball, and it works great! If you are set to AF-A, then you are allowing the camera to pick your focus point.

Af-a doesn't actually choose your focus point. Af-a choose between af-s and af-c. Auto area mode chooses the focus points.

Terenas1986 · Jun 26, 2012

Personally I use single-shot mode all the time and try to get the shutter released asap after the beep-beep. AND I shoot more than 1 image of a subject. This way I get my wanted images and have no oof issues... the bad ones, I just throw them away. That's my way... just have a big memory card.

Continuous autofocus isn't really accurate at all for me... it really just ****s the autofocus up and if you're not on single-point AF... you're screwed already the moment you switched to continous mode... and that's the bloody truth.

1hawaii50 · Jun 28, 2012

MTVision said:
1hawaii50 said:

How fast were the people moving at the ceremony? I use AF-C, 9pt. on my D7000 to shoot basketball, and it works great! If you are set to AF-A, then you are allowing the camera to pick your focus point.

Click to expand...

Af-a doesn't actually choose your focus point. Af-a choose between af-s and af-c. Auto area mode chooses the focus points.

My apologies Megan...I meant to say that AF-A lets the camera choose the focus mode that it thinks is the best. I shoot everything in AF-C, and I have no issues with focus tracking. Also, make sure that your custom menu "A3" setting is set to "off".