D2x Owners: Excellent AF Article

[ballroom_boy]

Hi Gang,

I hope I am able to post this here as I found this on another site and found it quite helpful in understanding the AF modes and options on the D2x:

http://www.nikonians.org/dcforum/DCForumID71/4952.html

Just wish Nikon's technical writers could write as this ...

[robinp]

Good link! thanks for posting :righton:
(No I'm not a D2x owner but I shall still read it with interest next time I have a "quiet 5 minutes")
Cheers, Robin

[sandman]

Thanks for the link Roel , very interesting , and very detailed .
i will play with some of those settings but i find it interesting what he says about the A4 setting , needs investigating thats for sure .
More options , more time .

Brian

[robinp]

OK, now I've had time to read it properly, reminds me of all the focus problems I had when I first got the S2 - had to learn how to stop the damned autofocus thinking it knew better :)
This new autofocus system seems even more impenetrable, no wonder so many new D2x owners are having focus problems!
It may well be the way forward for users with the right kind of mindset who take photos of moving subjects but personally I'm glad most of my subjects stay still and that I now use manual focus lenses about 70% of the time.

IF IN DOUBT, TURN IT OFF! ;)

Cheers, Robin

[Melody]

Mine's off :)

Hogan is going into more detail regarding #4 in this thread http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=14521840


Melody

[fujifilmnut]

Melody,

How do you like your D2 by now? I recall you were having some moving image focus issues at first.

My Nikon acquisition itch is getting at the threshold of making a purchase but I want yours and Linda's views on this. You for focus and Linda for color before I get too excited.

Jim

[Melody]

My issues with the focusing were solved once Nikon replaced my camera :D

It's got a much steeper learning curve then anything else, the s2, 1dmII etc. are a piece of cake compared to the d2h to get it right, however the D2x is even more, but worth the effort. I'll grab it everytime now, the only time I use the 1dmII is if I need 800 or higher iso, or my range to be shorter in smaller arenas as I use the 70-200 on both typically for those events.

Melody

[Auminer]

Just wish Nikon's technical writers could write as this ...Well yes it is written so you can understand it....BUT don't bother following his settings for Dynamic Focus with A4 on!!! Well you can if you want to... :)

I ruined a set of shots that I've been waiting to get using his settings :mad: Read his settings for Dynamic Focus and changed to it last night. Went out to do a little shooting of birds, etc. Well here comes the river otters I've been wanting to get with this lens. :) Shot a bunch of them with different iso, speeds, apeture WB settings just to make sure of at least a couple of good ones. Oh ya an osprey came in while shooting as well as the otters stirring up the duck population and an GBH as well. They were putting on quite a show! :)

Now for my reason for telling this...DO NOT use his suggested Dynamic Focus settings with A4 on, I'll let you guess why not :eek: Zeroed in with the 300 f/2.8 VR and most are unusable, and none that I am proud of!!!

This guy might be a technical writer or someone that likes to look good on the net, but in my opinion he hasn't shot what he preaches.

I really hope I am way off base and am wrong, but I am just speaking about my personal experiences. Don't know the guy, have nothing against him, but it not impress me when I used his recommended settings.

Back to center focus with A4 "off"...don't know why I changed in the first place as I was getting excellent shots. Guess I'm one for trying to improve, well I'm done with that stuff!

Dave

[sandman]

Dave i did exactly the same for some of my airshow shots , tried a few different settings during a quite spell on planes i'd already got .
Put it on multi focus / C-shooting / A4 on . tried to pan and get a sharp , WAY OFF , i mean WAY off , allcame out blurred , deleted and went back to the same as yours .
I'm sure all those setting focus points and modes work in given situations , but for average shooting , A4 off , sincle focus works fine for me , untill i find out exactly how and when to use them , and thats down to practise , i'll play safe and use those settings .
Brian

[Auminer]

Thanks for confirming Brian, I didn't want it to sound like it was just me :eek: I haven't made a mistake yet today...although the day is only 1 minute old. :lol: I have used A4 off, center focus, with continuous focus shooting those fast swallows and it works quite well that way for me. :righton:

Dave