Testing Continuous AF - Nikon

[Flying Panda]

As some of you may already know, I lost my old wildlife shooting rig (Nikon D500 + Sigma 150-600mm contemporary) to an accident but replaced it with the same but new items. I had a chance today to test the continuous auto focus on my two Poms, which when out, run at break-neck speed almost always. I wasn't really concerned about settings, just how the lens kept up with the continuous movement. CC welcomed!

#1

#2

JT

 

[Derrel]

Your first photo is outstanding, with three of four of the dog's feet off of the ground, and what looks to be very good Focus right on the dog's face. The blowing fur and the Airborne nature of the animal create a really good shot. It looks as if the automatic focusing did a really good job on both of these shots.Good job!

 

[K9Kirk]

Nice set. It reminds me that my 150-600mm lens isn't the fastest at focusing on moving subjects. I should've spent the extra money and got the "sport" lens. Ho-hum.

 

[weepete]

Looks good to me! Cute dogs too.

 

[Braineack]

Nice set. It reminds me that my 150-600mm lens isn't the fastest at focusing on moving subjects. I should've spent the extra money and got the "sport" lens. Ho-hum.

once you've obtained focus, even some of the slowest focusing lenses should be quick enough to keep up.

 

[Flying Panda]

Your first photo is outstanding, with three of four of the dog's feet off of the ground, and what looks to be very good Focus right on the dog's face. The blowing fur and the Airborne nature of the animal create a really good shot. It looks as if the automatic focusing did a really good job on both of these shots.Good job!

Nice set.

Looks good to me! Cute dogs too.

once you've obtained focus, even some of the slowest focusing lenses should be quick enough to keep up.

Thanks to everyone for your input!

 

[K9Kirk]

Nice set. It reminds me that my 150-600mm lens isn't the fastest at focusing on moving subjects. I should've spent the extra money and got the "sport" lens. Ho-hum.

once you've obtained focus, even some of the slowest focusing lenses should be quick enough to keep up.

True enough, it's always the problem of obtaining the focus to begin with that sucks. It doesn't seem to pick up on movement or contrast very fast to identify the subject, if at all in some cases. Of course it gets a little better the shorter the focal length/more light. I should say, I'm not like totally disappointed with the lens, it's provided a lot of good pictures thus far, just way more of still subjects. If that's typical of better lenses then I should be totally happy with it.

 

[Photo Lady]

I love these action shots...especially the first one.. i think all the colors just made the contrast really special... is this a pom.. i love poms.. i had two for 16 years..

 

[K9Kirk]

I love these action shots...especially the first one.. i think all the colors just made the contrast really special... is this a pom.. i love poms.. i had two for 16 years..

They're Poms and very cute ones.

 

[Flying Panda]

is this a pom

These are our trash/rescue Poms. Both are male. We found an ad on the internet for them and their location was about a five hour drive from where we lived. The ad was misleading, to say the least. When we got there we could tell right away they were not purebred. The place was trash - West Virginia trailer trash (no offence to those living in a mobile home) The dogs/puppies were covered with fleas and kept outside in horrible makeshift kennels.. We felt sorry for the animals' predicament so bought the one we went there for and a second one just to rescue him from these "people". Their temperament is OK and they have made good pets. Thanks for inquiring.

 

[Photo Lady]

is this a pom

These are our trash/rescue Poms. Both are male. We found an ad on the internet for them and their location was about a five hour drive from where we lived. The ad was misleading, to say the least. When we got there we could tell right away they were not purebred. The place was trash - West Virginia trailer trash (no offence to those living in a mobile home) The dogs/puppies were covered with fleas and kept outside in horrible makeshift kennels.. We felt sorry for the animals' predicament so bought the one we went there for and a second one just to rescue him from these "people". Their temperament is OK and they have made good pets. Thanks for inquiring.

oh thank goodness you took them both.. too sad to understand why some one with no means would breed or let breed dogs or any animal they don't have the means to care for in any way... they look pure bred enough to me.. i sometimes have to ask though... because there are so many mixes now.. beautiful pups.. i had both of mine a total of 30 years because each lived to 16... they are awesome pets.. i really want another soon...but with these big guys i will wait ....

 

[Flying Panda]

True enough, it's always the problem of obtaining the focus to begin with that sucks. It doesn't seem to pick up on movement or contrast very fast to identify the subject, if at all in some cases. Of course it gets a little better the shorter the focal length/more light. I should say, I'm not like totally disappointed with the lens, it's provided a lot of good pictures thus far, just way more of still subjects. If that's typical of better lenses then I should be totally happy with it.

once you've obtained focus, even some of the slowest focusing lenses should be quick enough to keep up.

@Braineack is absolutely correct. The lens is not as important as the technique. The camera I was using (which is my favorite wildlife camera) is a Nikon D500. To keep from writing a book here involving the camera's setup and my technique, I have included a two part video series from a professional bird photographer that lives in Florida. His method and approach to capturing motion is very simular to mine - the only difference being, he is a lot better than me. I hope this helps!

[EDIT - Scroll down for links. Sorry]

 

[Flying Panda]

oh thank goodness you took them both.. too sad to understand why some one with no means would breed or let breed dogs or any animal they don't have the means to care for in any way... they look pure bred enough to me.. i sometimes have to ask though... because there are so many mixes now.. beautiful pups.. i had both of mine a total of 30 years because each lived to 16... they are awesome pets.. i really want another soon...but with these big guys i will wait ....

My wife has had a least one Pom our entire marriage - (46 years) Total number of dogs I can't remember. Back in the 80's she and a friend of hers tried to breed, raise, and show Poms. It takes a lot of time and money. Her friend showed the dogs and actually won a lot of ribbons with one particular female. If raising another Pom with your Dobermans, considering their size difference, makes you hesitant than it is your decision of coarse but we recently had two Dobermans that were "real good" with our Poms (3) and our Chihuahuas (2). As you know, Dobies are extremely smart - ranked 4th in the world (I think one of ours was smarter than me) and they "know" to be gentle with the smaller dogs - besides, most of our Poms, especially the females, were "bossy" when the Dobies got too invasive.

 

[Photo Lady]

is this a pom

These are our trash/rescue Poms. Both are male. We found an ad on the internet for them and their location was about a five hour drive from where we lived. The ad was misleading, to say the least. When we got there we could tell right away they were not purebred. The place was trash - West Virginia trailer trash (no offence to those living in a mobile home) The dogs/puppies were covered with fleas and kept outside in horrible makeshift kennels.. We felt sorry for the animals' predicament so bought the one we went there for and a second one just to rescue him from these "people". Their temperament is OK and they have made good pets. Thanks for inquiring.

oh thank goodness you took them both.. too sad to understand why some one with no means would breed or let breed dogs or any animal they don't have the means to care for in any way... they look pure bred enough to me.. i sometimes have to ask though... because their are so many mixes now.. beautiful pups.. i had both of mine a total of 30 years because each lived to 16... the are awesome pets.. i really want another soon...but with these big guys i will wait ....

oh thank goodness you took them both.. too sad to understand why some one with no means would breed or let breed dogs or any animal they don't have the means to care for in any way... they look pure bred enough to me.. i sometimes have to ask though... because there are so many mixes now.. beautiful pups.. i had both of mine a total of 30 years because each lived to 16... they are awesome pets.. i really want another soon...but with these big guys i will wait ....

My wife has had a least one Pom our entire marriage - (46 years) Total number of dogs I can't remember. Back in the 80's she and a friend of hers tried to breed, raise, and show Poms. It takes a lot of time and money. Her friend showed the dogs and actually won a lot of ribbons with one particular female. If raising another Pom with your Dobermans, considering their size difference, makes you hesitant than it is your decision of coarse but we recently had two Dobermans that were "real good" with our Poms (3) and our Chihuahuas (2). As you know, Dobies are extremely smart - ranked 4th in the world (I think one of ours was smarter than me) and they "know" to be gentle with the smaller dogs - besides, most of our Poms, especially the females, were "bossy" when the Dobies got too invasive.

Oh i should have explained more.. yes i had the pom with the last dobie... the pom was female and dobie was male.. the pom slept right on the dobies back ...they loved each other.. but i now have two males.. collie and dobie.. and one female dobie.. the female dobie is the boss.. not sure if i could bring another male into the group.. or if it would be worse with another bossy female.. so that is why i am hesitant.. if all the ones i have now were the same sex i think it would be easier and i would just get a pom the opposite sex.. .. i just would not want to make a problem and have any of them think the pom was a threat.. i know in reality dogs do not know size differences... just attitude differences.. congrats on your 46 years of marriage.. i am working on 34 ..and also lots of dogs ..great dogs.. and other pets.. ..

 

[K9Kirk]

True enough, it's always the problem of obtaining the focus to begin with that sucks. It doesn't seem to pick up on movement or contrast very fast to identify the subject, if at all in some cases. Of course it gets a little better the shorter the focal length/more light. I should say, I'm not like totally disappointed with the lens, it's provided a lot of good pictures thus far, just way more of still subjects. If that's typical of better lenses then I should be totally happy with it.

once you've obtained focus, even some of the slowest focusing lenses should be quick enough to keep up.

@Braineack is absolutely correct. The lens is not as important as the technique. The camera I was using (which is my favorite wildlife camera) is a Nikon D500. To keep from writing a book here involving the camera's setup and my technique, I have included a two part video series from a professional bird photographer that lives in Florida. His method and approach to capturing motion is very simular to mine - the only difference being, he is a lot better than me. I hope this helps!

I don't see a link for those videos.