Professional Setting Guide —Sports AF Edition— Revision 2.
Table of Contents Sports AF: Autofocus Basics............................................................................................................ 4 Autofocus Mode: AF‑C.................................................................................................................................. 4 AF-Area Mode: 9-Point Dynamic-Area AF................................................................................................ 4 Focus Tracking with Lock-On........................................
Table of Contents, Continued Recommended AF Settings by Event............................................................................................ 26 Overview: Settings by Event..................................................................................................................... 26 Soccer............................................................................................................................................................ 27 Gymnastics...............................
Sports AF: Autofocus Basics The following settings are suitable for most sports: Autofoccus mode AF-area mode Custom Settings a1 AF‑C priority selection AF‑C 9-point dynamic-area AF Blocked shot AF response a3 Focus tracking with lock-on Subject motion a15 Autofocus mode restrictions c2 Standby timer [Release] [2] [Steady] [AF‑C] [1 min] Autofocus Mode: AF‑C The camera adjusts focus continuously while the AF‑ON button is pressed or the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.
Sports AF: Autofocus Basics, Continued The Standby Timer Choose long standby times to keep the timer active and avoid the delay in focusing that occurs when the timer is reactivated (note that this increases the drain on the battery). If you’re at a soccer match and the default six-second timer expires while you’re waiting for a player to line up a corner kick, you may miss the golden moment following the kick.
AF-Area Mode Choose an AF-area mode according to your subject. AF-area mode Top control panel Viewfinder Selection Focus-point display Shooting Single-point AF 9-point dynamic-area AF 25-point dynamic-area AF 49-point dynamic-area AF 105-point dynamic-area AF 3D-tracking Group-area AF Group-area AF (C1) Group-area AF (C2) Auto-area AF ■ Single-Point AF In single-point AF, the focus point is selected manually and the camera focuses on the subject in the selected focus point only.
AF-Area Mode, Continued ■ 3D-Tracking In 3D-tracking, the initial focus point is selected manually. While the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, the camera uses color information to track subjects that leave the selected focus point and selects new focus points as required. Face detection can be enabled by selecting [On] for Custom Setting a8 [3D-tracking face-detection].
AF-Area Mode, Continued Custom Focus Groups The vertical and horizontal dimensions of the custom focus groups for group-area AF (C1) and group-area AF (C2) can be selected using the AFmode button and multi selector or via the Custom Settings menu. ■ The AF-Mode Button and Multi Selector If a custom group-area AF option is currently selected for AF-area mode, you can choose the dimensions of the focus group by holding the AF-mode button and pressing the multi selector.
Sports AF: Custom Settings Focus-related settings are found in Custom Settings Group “a” [Autofocus]. The D6 Versus the D5 Users of the D5 should note the differences between it and the D6 with respect to Custom Settings Group “a” [Autofocus].
Sports AF: Custom Settings, Continued a1: AF‑C Priority Selection Custom Setting a1 [AF-C priority selection] controls whether the camera gives priority to focus or shutter release. Shutter-release button pressed all the way down G Release: Pictures can be taken whether or not the camera is in focus. Frame rates do not slow during burst photography.
Sports AF: Custom Settings, Continued a3: Focus Tracking with Lock-On This menu contains two options: [Blocked Shot AF Response] and [Subject motion]. ■ Blocked Shot AF Response If AF‑C is selected for AF mode, focus tracking with lock-on will prevent the camera refocusing when your subject is briefly obscured by another object, ensuring that it will continue to track the main subject once the obstacle has moved away.
Sports AF: Custom Settings, Continued a5: Store Points by Orientation This option lets you concentrate on shooting without having to worry about focus-point selection. Choose whether the camera uses the same focus point and AF-area mode in all orientations, or stores separate focus points and/or AF-area modes for use in “wide” (landscape) orientation, “tall” (portrait) orientation with the camera rotated 90° clockwise, or “tall” orientation with the camera rotated 90° counterclockwise.
Sports AF: Custom Settings, Continued The same focus point and AF-area mode will be used regardless of camera orientation. ● [Off]: a6: AF Activation Choose [AF‑ON only] to split the functions of the AF‑ON button (or the control to which [AF-ON] has been assigned using Custom Setting f3 [Custom Controls]) and the shutter-release button so that the former is used for focus while the latter is used only to release the shutter.
Sports AF: Custom Settings, Continued a7: Single-Point AF Watch Area If [Wide] is selected in single-point or dynamic-area AF AF-area mode, the camera will use data from surrounding areas to locate subjects slightly outside the selected focus point. Use for fast-moving, hard-toframe subjects. a12: Auto-Area AF Starting Point Selecting [Enable] lets you use the multi selector to choose the starting focus point when AF-C and auto-area AF are selected respectively for AF mode and AF-area mode.
Sports AF: Custom Settings, Continued a13: Focus Point Persistence If you have assigned [AF-area mode] or [AF-area mode + AF‑ON] to a control using Custom Setting f3 [Custom controls], you can hold the control to switch temporarily from the current AF-area mode to a second, pre-selected mode. Selecting [Auto] for Custom Setting a13 [Focus point persistence] lets you do so without changing focus points.
Sports AF: Custom Settings, Continued 4 Focus using the default AF-area mode. Press the shutter-release button halfway or press the AF‑ON button to focus using the default AF-area mode. In the case of auto-area AF, the camera will automatically detect the subject and choose the focus area. At the settings selected in this example, focus will track subject motion while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway or the AF‑ON button is pressed. 5 Switch AF-area modes.
Sports AF: Custom Settings, Continued a14: Limit AF-Area Mode Selection Limiting the choice of AF-area modes available during viewfinder photography speeds AF-area mode selection and prevents your accidentally selecting an undesired option. For example, you can limit the choice of AF-area modes to single-point and 25-point dynamic-area AF by selecting only these options in the AF-area mode list. Note that [Single-point AF] cannot be deselected.
Sports AF: Custom Controls Custom Setting f3 [Custom controls] can be used to assign different roles, including focus-related functions, to camera controls such as the Fn buttons and the Pv button.
Sports AF: Custom Controls, Continued ● x Focus point selection: The control can be used to choose the focus point. If this role is assigned to the multi selector for vertical shooting, the center of the control will perform the role currently chosen for [Sub-selector center]. Lens Focus Function Buttons You can use [S Lens focus function buttons] to choose the role played by the focus function buttons when the focus function selector on the lens is set to AF‑L.
AF Fine-Tuning When a CPU lens is mounted on the camera, autofocus can be manually or (in live view) automatically fine-tuned to suit your preferences. In the case of zoom lenses, the camera can store two fine-tuning values for each lens: one for use when the lens is zoomed all the way out (WIDE) and another for when it is zoomed all the way in (TELE). AF Fine-Tuning Use only as required.
AF Fine-Tuning, Continued Auto AF Fine-Tuning To fine-tune autofocus automatically while previewing the results in live view: 1 Ready the camera. Mount the camera on a tripod and aim it at a flat, high-contrast subject parallel to the camera focal plane. Note that auto AF fine-tuning works best at maximum aperture and may not function in dark surroundings. 2 Start live view. Rotate the live view selector to C and press the a button. 3 Start auto AF fine-tuning.
AF Fine-Tuning, Continued 4 Focus. Press the shutter-release button halfway to focus, then zoom in on the view through the lens to confirm that focus is accurate. Focus can be adjusted manually if necessary. 5 Press J. If fine-tuning is successful, the new AF fine-tuning value for the current lens will be added to the [List save values] list and [On] will automatically be selected for [AF fine-tune on/off], enabling AF fine-tuning.
Focus Points While normally a total of 105 focus points are available during viewfinder photography, the number of cross sensors and the focus points available for autofocus and electronic rangefinding may vary according to the lens or teleconverter attached. Cross Sensors The availability of cross-sensor focus points varies with the lens used. Cross sensors are used for the focus points shown in green, while the remainder use line sensors.
Focus Points, Continued Teleconverters The focus points available for autofocus and electronic rangefinding when an AF‑S or AF‑P teleconverter is attached are shown below. Cross sensors are used for the focus points shown in green, while the remainder use line sensors. Note that at maximum combined apertures slower than f/5.6, the camera may not be able to focus on dark or low-contrast subjects. Autofocus is not available when teleconverters are used with AF‑S VR Micro‑Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF‑ED lenses.
Focus Points, Continued ● AF‑S NIKKOR 500mm f/4E FL ED VR and AF‑S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR: Used Available focus points Used Available focus points With a TC‑17E II Alone • 105 focus points • 91 cross sensors • 23 focus points • 9 cross sensors • 15 focus points • 1 cross sensor With a TC‑20E, TC‑20E II, or TC‑20E III With a TC‑14E, TC‑14E II, or TC‑14E III • 105 focus points • 35 cross sensors ● AF‑S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR, AF‑S NIKKOR 80–400mm f/4.5–5.
Recommended AF Settings by Event This section offers some advice on adjusting autofocus-related settings for different sporting events. Overview: Settings by Event The settings for different events are summarized in the table below.
Recommended AF Settings by Event, Continued Soccer Photographing soccer matches involves quick changes of focus and subjects that may be briefly obscured by foreground objects.
Recommended AF Settings by Event, Continued ■ Balance Beam To automatically switch focus points and AF-area modes as you rotate the camera from “wide” to “tall” orientation, select [Focus point and AF-area mode] for Custom Setting a5 [Store points by orientation] (page 12). Choosing group-area AF (C1) with a 15 × 3 focus-point group for wide-orientation shots and group-area AF (C2) with a 7 × 7 group for tall-orientation shots will help deliver accurate focus in all orientations.
Recommended AF Settings by Event, Continued Athletics You may find these settings useful when photographing road-running or track-and-field events. ■ Sprints (Hand-Held, Single Runner, from the Front) Choose 9-point dynamic-area AF when photographing approaching sprinters to help prevent the camera focusing on their hands, or custom group-area AF (C1 or C2) with a wide custom focus group (for example, 15 × 3) to focus on the closest subject when runners are lined up across the frame.
Recommended AF Settings by Event, Continued ■ Hurdles The settings below let you refocus as needed if the camera focuses on the hurdles in the foreground while the race is being run. When photographing hurdlers who have crossed the finish line, select [Focus point and AF-area mode] for Custom Setting a5 [Store points by orientation] to automatically switch focus points and AF-area modes as you rotate the camera between “tall” (portrait) orientations and “wide” (landscape) orientation (page 12).
Recommended AF Settings by Event, Continued ■ Shot Put, Discus, and Hammer Throw (from the Front, at a Distance) Choose group-area AF for more reliable focus when photographing these events from the front at long ranges.
Recommended AF Settings by Event, Continued ■ High Jump To help the camera focus on faces of subjects that are undergoing rapid changes of posture and position, choose custom group-area AF (C1 or C2) and select a focus group just big enough to cover the athlete’s upper body.
Recommended AF Settings by Event, Continued Aquatics Here are some settings you may find helpful when photographing aquatic events. ■ Swimming Choosing 9-point dynamic-area AF helps prevent the camera focusing on splashes while letting you instantly refocus on the main subject as needed. To quickly switch focus from one swimmer to another, choose lower values for Custom Setting a3 [Focus tracking with lock-on] > [Blocked shot AF response].
Recommended AF Settings by Event, Continued ■ Diving When photographing divers against low-contrast, undifferentiated backgrounds, choose 3D-tracking, position the focus area over your subject (for best results, choose the uniform or another area of the subject that is a different color from the background), and press and hold the AF‑ON button or keep the shutter-release button pressed halfway. The camera will automatically track the diver, letting you concentrate on composition.
Recommended AF Settings by Event, Continued Table Tennis Using custom group-area AF (C1 or C2) helps you frame shots with the net in the foreground.
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