Preferred Nikon Focus Method for small fast moving objects

[Singletracklovr]

I am trying to learn how to shoot small fast moving objects like birds in flight.

What would be the preferred autofocus scheme to get the camera to focus the fastest? I've tried reading through the nikon manual and it's pretty vague in this area. I've also watched the focusing videos in the nikon digitutor. They use moving bikes in both examples and I guess I'm just not smart enough to see the difference.

An example of my issue:
camera settings:
dynamic area
continuous servo
Focus lock lever- unlocked position
EXIF data is attached to the photo


Thank you in advance for any suggestion you could offer.

[armando_m]

Have you changed any settings in the Autofocus menu ?

I changed :
Custom setting Menu a3 to 51 points 3d tracking

the front switch set to AF-c
and rear switch set to the middle position "cross hair"

To have the camera follow your subject, you need to initially place the focusing on the subject , press the shutter half way and keep it there , the focus point will follow your subject.

I read about this in the use guide published by Ken Rockwell, I also found the nikon manual not clear enough.

This is the theory, in practice I have seen to focus point close to the subject , not exactly where I initially placed it.
I tried with my dog

and have not tried with flying birds ( I forgot! )

[Singletracklovr]

To have the camera follow your subject, you need to initially place the focusing on the subject , press the shutter half way and keep it there , the focus point will follow your subject.

HaHa! That is the tricky part isn't it...

Thank you for the tips, I've not tried the 3-D tracking.

Current settings:
Custom setting Menu focus a3- 51 points
back of camera- dynamic area "cross hair"
front switch- C (continuous servo)
Focus lock lever- unlocked position

Do you think this group of camera setting provides the fastest focus response for the subject I'm trying to shoot?
Would the Focus a3- 51 points 3-D tracking be faster?

[armando_m]

HaHa! That is the tricky part isn't it...

Thank you for the tips, I've not tried the 3-D tracking.

Current settings:
Custom setting Menu focus a3- 51 points
back of camera- dynamic area "cross hair"
front switch- C (continuous servo)
Focus lock lever- unlocked position

Do you think this group of camera setting provides the fastest focus response for the subject I'm trying to shoot?
Would the Focus a3- 51 points 3-D tracking be faster?

Faster I don't know , simpler maybe

I went to try both options

1. With 51 point you have to keep the focus area on the subject by precise panning

2. With 51 point 3D tracking the focus area moves with the subject, or close by, the trick is to obtain the initial focus,
after that the camera will try to follow the subject switching to a different focus area as the subject moves,
I have to try it with a bird and see what actually happens, my experiment was vs a light on the ceiling

[Singletracklovr]

Hi Armando,
Thank you for giving it a try and reporting your results.

1. With 51 point you have to keep the focus area on the subject by precise panning

I don't quite understand this. What's the purpose of 51 points if you have to start with the center and stay on it during your pan. That sounds like single point focusing or did you mean stay within the entire focus area (all 51 points) during the pan?

[Frog]

I think there are a few of us following this thread for the info.

[n8]

Hi Armando,
Thank you for giving it a try and reporting your results.


I don't quite understand this. What's the purpose of 51 points if you have to start with the center and stay on it during your pan. That sounds like single point focusing or did you mean stay within the entire focus area (all 51 points) during the pan?

what you want those points to focus on, and what the camera want's to focus on may differ. Generally I think it goes for the closest object, and so if you've got 51 points available to catch that darn bird, you might have some luck, however I think if you can catch it in your middle point (or whatever you have selected), then the camera should follow it if on continuous.

[armando_m]

Sorry if I'm not being clear enough.

Regarding About Custom setting Menu a3:
- 51points 3d tracking will follow your subject, it is important to keep the shutter pressed half way.

- 51 points alone, does not track the subject, you can select any of the 51 , but the focus point will not change automatically.

For others reading this, the 3D tracking is available in the D300, D300s, and I guess all higher models. It is not available in the D40, I'm not sure about other Nikon models like the D90

Another variable is the focus vs. shutter priority "Custom setting Menu A1 (AF-C priority)" this allows you to take a photo in the following situations:
- FOCUS priority: Photo is taken until perfect focus is acquired (being it the bird or the background )
- RELEASE+FOCUS Photo is taken even if not in perfect focus, more useful during bursts of photos, speed of the burst maybe slowed down to allow the focus to keep up
- RELEASE: Photo is taken the moment the shutter is pressed . this is default setting.

Now we need to go find a flying bird and try it out. :thumbsup:

[Singletracklovr]

Hi Armando,
No problem on the being clear. This subject is not easy to explain so all can understand it.
I can't thank you enough for helping me through this focusing process.

I hope you can find a few birds in flight to give the 3_D tracking a try. We had a snow storm last night leaving 15 inches of snow on the ground so I am kinda stuck right now. If I can't find some birds to practice on I might try moving cars on the freeway, at a distance. They are at least some what predictable when panning.

[Singletracklovr]

I was able to get out and try the 3-D tracking. I had some success however the subject is so small the camera really had a hard time staying on subject.







And just to make sure the camera was focusing correctly

[Singletracklovr]

Wow 136 view but no additional comments...

OK, I have more to add since I have been playing with all the focus modes.

First off, if the subject is small like a small bird in flight I have found manual focus to be faster with less out of focus shots and the lens does not search (focus in and out looking for something to focus on)

If the moving subject fills ~1/4 of the viewfinder the 3-D tracking focus locks on quick and tracks well.
With one exception: If your background is dense woods and you are panning a brownish bird and you pan to quickly or slowly, the focus will grab (focus on) the trees. If your background is say blue sky you can't miss. Once you initially focus on the subject, focus will stay on the target no matter how sloppy your pan is. Just don't let your subject leave the viewfinder.

Hope you found this info useful?

[armando_m]

thanks for the feedback on your testing!
I have been taking photos of birds, but they have been stationary birds, not BIF

off topic but somewhat related:
I have started using manual exposure , instead of Aperture Priority, or Shutter Priority, and getting in general better results without so many dark or overexposed subjects as a result of high contrast backgrounds. This has allowed me to get decent result from the 70-300 zoom which before had produced inferior results in comparison with the 18-200 VR zoom.