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[OM] Re: E-3 focus problems?

Subject: [OM] Re: E-3 focus problems?
From: Chuck Norcutt <chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 01 Jan 2008 15:36:31 -0500
I just downloaded a D3 users's manual and see that the D3 has only two 
autofocusing modes, "single servo" for still subjects and "continuous 
servo" for moving subjects or those that might move.  See, they've 
simplified the operation over Canyon.

Anyhow you gotta use "continuous servo" which will then engage 
"predictive autofocus" to predict where the subject will be by the time 
the shutter opens.  Then you gotta set one of the custom settings to 
tell the camera whether you want focus priority or shutter release 
priority.  In other words do you want the camera to prevent firing the 
shutter until the subject is in focus or do you want to take the shot 
regardless.  See, just more "stuff" you gotta know just to take a picture.

Chuck Norcutt

Chuck Norcutt wrote:
> Are you in the right autofocusing mode?  I don't know how the D3 works 
> but the 5D has three autofocus modes.  "One shot" for still subjects, 
> "AI Servo" for tracking moving subjects and  "AI Focus" which is for 
> still subjects that might start moving and need tracking.  I don't know 
> exactly why you need 3 modes but I presume it makes it easier on the 
> camera to decide what to do if the user provides a little external 
> intelligence about the shooting situation.
> 
> Also, certain Canyon lenses (but only long ones I think) can also be set 
> to instruct the camera not to focus closer than X or further than Y to 
> keep them from hunting outside the bounds of where the subject is 
> expected to be.  Could also be such a thing on those fancy Nykon lenses 
> but I wouldn't think you'd find such a thing on a 24-70... too short to 
> have a really long focus travel.
> 
> There are too many options these days not to have thoroughly read the 
> manual about 6 times or, perhaps for those of us who suffer from senior 
> moments maybe a dozen times... maybe even a baker's dozen.
> 
> Chuck Norcutt
> 
> Bob Whitmire wrote:
>> Or dogs.
>>
>> I'm still struggling with the AF on the D3. It seems not to like my  
>> dog, a yellow lab, running directly towards me in the snow. At first  
>> I thought it was shutter speed, which I think was part of the  
>> problem. Fast moving dog (for a lab <g>) needs more than 1/160. Then  
>> I started moving that little selector switch around and that didn't  
>> seem to make any difference. Finally, on manual mode, with a high  
>> shutter speed and enough f/stop, the images started to sharpen up.  
>> But at ISO 2500 and 3200. Not that you can tell on the D3. <g>
>>
>> So, I'm wondering if it was light colored dog running directly at me  
>> in snow that was the problem. Or am I a bit off on how much shutter  
>> speed and DOF I need for that kind of tracking. Or if it was the  
>> 24-70 lens. The dog was starting about 40 meters out and coming right  
>> at me. Last frame fired about about three meters. That kind of  
>> closing has to be different than, say, a telephoto lens aimed at  
>> stock cars closing from half a mile at an angle and never getting  
>> closer than a couple hundred meters. Or birds flying overhead so the  
>> panning is side to side, rather than up to down, as I was doing.
>>
>> I was keeping her in the center focus point the whole way, just  
>> trying to get a series of sharp images. (And I'm not complaining  
>> about the camera, 'cause I know it's up to the job. This is strictly  
>> operator error.)
>>
>> That said, all list AF wisdom greatly appreciated to see if I can  
>> dampen that learning curve.
>>
>> --Bob Whitmire
>> www.bwp33.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Dec 31, 2007, at 5:01 PM, Andrew Fildes wrote:
>>
>>> That's what the predictive thingy is for mate!
>>> Small, fast moving objects, like children
>>
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