Comments on: Focusing | Center and Recompose the shot or Use available focus points http://davidburkeblog.com/equipment/focusing-center-and-recompose-the-shot-or-use-available-focus-points/ Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:34:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: David Burke http://davidburkeblog.com/equipment/focusing-center-and-recompose-the-shot-or-use-available-focus-points/comment-page-1/#comment-1433 David Burke Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:16:46 +0000 http://davidburkeblog.com/?p=1694#comment-1433 Hi Andy, Thanks for the comment. The D700 is a killer machine! Congrats on the upgrade. For your focusing.. In my opinion, I would try using f/3.2-4.0 while chasing my 16 month old around. When they are moving a lot and quickly, it will be very difficult to get both eyes tack sharp using such a shallow depth of field (if they are slightly off the focal plane). Also I use all 51 points on my D3, but that very well may be overkill for you. I would try it and then try a reduced set to see which is more efficient for you. Good Luck! Hi Andy,
Thanks for the comment. The D700 is a killer machine! Congrats on the upgrade. For your focusing.. In my opinion, I would try using f/3.2-4.0 while chasing my 16 month old around. When they are moving a lot and quickly, it will be very difficult to get both eyes tack sharp using such a shallow depth of field (if they are slightly off the focal plane). Also I use all 51 points on my D3, but that very well may be overkill for you. I would try it and then try a reduced set to see which is more efficient for you. Good Luck!

]]> By: Andy Quadra http://davidburkeblog.com/equipment/focusing-center-and-recompose-the-shot-or-use-available-focus-points/comment-page-1/#comment-1426 Andy Quadra Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:37:47 +0000 http://davidburkeblog.com/?p=1694#comment-1426 David- I am just now learning my away around the D700 which I just got, I big upgrade from my D40x. Loving the camera but have struggled a bit on focusing so this article comes in at a great time. Here is my question: When I am following my 16 month old around, I keep the AF on continuous mode (C) and try to focus on one of her eyes. What I have found is that, when shooting in the range of f1.6-f/2.0 with my 50mm; the second eye goes a bit of out focus. Do you still suggest using the 51 points on the D700? David-

I am just now learning my away around the D700 which I just got, I big upgrade from my D40x. Loving the camera but have struggled a bit on focusing so this article comes in at a great time. Here is my question: When I am following my 16 month old around, I keep the AF on continuous mode (C) and try to focus on one of her eyes. What I have found is that, when shooting in the range of f1.6-f/2.0 with my 50mm; the second eye goes a bit of out focus. Do you still suggest using the 51 points on the D700?

]]> By: David Burke http://davidburkeblog.com/equipment/focusing-center-and-recompose-the-shot-or-use-available-focus-points/comment-page-1/#comment-1416 David Burke Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:58:50 +0000 http://davidburkeblog.com/?p=1694#comment-1416 I want to clarify that the D700 is an AMAZING machine! If I never touched a D3 I would never know the difference. I am just spoiled. I guess that is what the extra $2500 is for. LOL! Heather - You kick butt at the focus recompose method. You should contribute a post here! Leeann - To help yourself and workflow, you should pick a direction to turn for verticals and stick to it. Consistency will only make you better and think less while shooting. Missi - Forgot about the big white rectangle. I will post about this too. In short I use it when Tracking a subject that is coming towards me. This enables be to compose and shoot without having to worry about setting the focus point. Beth - Frogger = excellent analogy! You warned me of this phenomenon after you shot my D3. I only confirmed your discovery. You rock! Everyone else - Any more comments/Suggestions/Opinions? Chime in please... Thanks all! I want to clarify that the D700 is an AMAZING machine! If I never touched a D3 I would never know the difference. I am just spoiled. I guess that is what the extra $2500 is for. LOL!

Heather – You kick butt at the focus recompose method. You should contribute a post here!

Leeann – To help yourself and workflow, you should pick a direction to turn for verticals and stick to it. Consistency will only make you better and think less while shooting.

Missi – Forgot about the big white rectangle. I will post about this too. In short I use it when Tracking a subject that is coming towards me. This enables be to compose and shoot without having to worry about setting the focus point.

Beth – Frogger = excellent analogy! You warned me of this phenomenon after you shot my D3. I only confirmed your discovery. You rock!

Everyone else – Any more comments/Suggestions/Opinions? Chime in please…

Thanks all!

]]> By: beth http://davidburkeblog.com/equipment/focusing-center-and-recompose-the-shot-or-use-available-focus-points/comment-page-1/#comment-1415 beth Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:34:21 +0000 http://davidburkeblog.com/?p=1694#comment-1415 DB, you've covered a really great topic. I wanted to chime in on the D700 and agree that the focus points are very sluggish to move around ( I compare it to playing "frogger"), but I still choose to move them rather than recompose. Having the focus buttons wrap around the frame when moving them does help with speed, but it takes some practice to get good at it. Very rarely have I recomposed a shot and really liked it, just based on the sharpness factor. DB, you’ve covered a really great topic. I wanted to chime in on the D700 and agree that the focus points are very sluggish to move around ( I compare it to playing “frogger”), but I still choose to move them rather than recompose. Having the focus buttons wrap around the frame when moving them does help with speed, but it takes some practice to get good at it. Very rarely have I recomposed a shot and really liked it, just based on the sharpness factor.

]]> By: Missi http://davidburkeblog.com/equipment/focusing-center-and-recompose-the-shot-or-use-available-focus-points/comment-page-1/#comment-1414 Missi Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:46:32 +0000 http://davidburkeblog.com/?p=1694#comment-1414 Oh my gosh, David, you are the man! Thanks for the great explanation (and the cute pic of your daughter. Her eyes are gorgeous!) I do have times when my images are not as sharp as I'd like and I bet this is to blame since I'm almost always shooting at larger apertures. I've never used a D3, so I wonder how my D300s compares as far as moving the focus point around. It seems to me that I'd miss shots fooling around with that, especially when things are moving quickly. Have you used the D300 or D300s? If so, do you consider it's ability to move focus points sluggish as well? (My husband will say, "Don't answer that, or she'll want a new camera! It's not an option now anyway, but good info to know.) Did you have any thoughts on the Auto-Area AF (big white rectangle) mode? Am I right to not use that? Thank you!!! Oh my gosh, David, you are the man! Thanks for the great explanation (and the cute pic of your daughter. Her eyes are gorgeous!) I do have times when my images are not as sharp as I’d like and I bet this is to blame since I’m almost always shooting at larger apertures. I’ve never used a D3, so I wonder how my D300s compares as far as moving the focus point around. It seems to me that I’d miss shots fooling around with that, especially when things are moving quickly. Have you used the D300 or D300s? If so, do you consider it’s ability to move focus points sluggish as well? (My husband will say, “Don’t answer that, or she’ll want a new camera! It’s not an option now anyway, but good info to know.)
Did you have any thoughts on the Auto-Area AF (big white rectangle) mode? Am I right to not use that?
Thank you!!!

]]> By: Leeann http://davidburkeblog.com/equipment/focusing-center-and-recompose-the-shot-or-use-available-focus-points/comment-page-1/#comment-1413 Leeann Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:07:14 +0000 http://davidburkeblog.com/?p=1694#comment-1413 Good point on the D700, although I love it for other reasons. This may sound silly, but I tend to not have a "muscle reflex" preference (yet) on which way I turn my camera for verticals, so often times I have to switch around my focal point a lot! The focus and recomposing method can really help me there. Good point on the D700, although I love it for other reasons. This may sound silly, but I tend to not have a “muscle reflex” preference (yet) on which way I turn my camera for verticals, so often times I have to switch around my focal point a lot! The focus and recomposing method can really help me there.

]]> By: Heather http://davidburkeblog.com/equipment/focusing-center-and-recompose-the-shot-or-use-available-focus-points/comment-page-1/#comment-1410 Heather Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:29:59 +0000 http://davidburkeblog.com/?p=1694#comment-1410 I also shoot wide open (f/1.4, f/1.2) so I have to be extremely careful if I focus and then recompose, although it is my preferred method. I find that my center focus point tends to be the most accurate, which is why I prefer that method. Good stuff! I also shoot wide open (f/1.4, f/1.2) so I have to be extremely careful if I focus and then recompose, although it is my preferred method. I find that my center focus point tends to be the most accurate, which is why I prefer that method. Good stuff!

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