Best (Fastest) Nikon FX DSLR auto focus system? I was following a post this morning about FX or DX preference for wildlife and landscape photography. A few of the posts made...

jerrypoller Loc: Huntington, NY

I was following a post this morning about FX or DX preference for wildlife and landscape photography. A few of the posts made recommendations, in part, based on model X or model Y having "better" autofocus" capability. It got me thinking about my kit, a D610 with Nikon f/2.8 lenses in 20-35; 35-70; and 80-200mm's. I shoot lots of family events with grandchildren on the move (not sports, per se, but active play). When I miss the shot/facial expression I'm hoping to get, it's usually because my camera hasn't focused fast enough. So, is there a better Nikon DSLR which will inherently acquire faster/sharper auto focus?

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

jerrypoller wrote:

I was following a post this morning about FX or DX... (show quote)

if money is no object, the d810 or the new d5. that being said, you would probably be better off by using a faster glass, f1.8 or f1.4 in a 35mm range. the lenses in this range are more expensive, but they focus much quicker than f2.8 or greater.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

jerrypoller wrote:

I was following a post this morning about FX or DX... (show quote)

Jerry, the best focuser in the Nikon line-up(on paper as of now) will be, hands down, the new 5.
BUT, I personally would not shoot landscape with it.
When you're talking people, that's usually at close range, so a crop camera can get dicey because of the extra reach at close range, making wide angles more challenging to do.
So you may want to look at a 750 or similar FF offerings that focus well but are not crop.
Also for very close work, big mp's is not always neccessary since there is usually very good detail up close. Just my two cents! ;-)
SS

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

orrie smith wrote:

if money is no object, the d810 or the new d5. that being said, you would probably be better off by using a faster glass, f1.8 or f1.4 in a 35mm range. the lenses in this range are more expensive, but they focus much quicker than f2.8 or greater.

With fast glass and at close quarters, he can only get one person in focus at a time!
His money is better spent on a good flash and shooting at f8!! Again, it's just what I would do!! ;-)
SS

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

jerrypoller wrote:

I was following a post this morning about FX or DX... (show quote)

At least part of the problem is that your lenses don't have focusing motors in them.

AF-S lenses focus much quicker. Also the D610 does not have the quickest AF system.

The newly announced D500/D5 are the best Nikons so far if they live up to expectations.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

This is one aspect of focusing that might help get those shots you're trying to get.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NwP3wes4M8

JPL

jerrypoller wrote:

I was following a post this morning about FX or DX... (show quote)

The Nikon cameras that have the fastest focus system now are the FX D5 and DX D500. In your case the D500 would be the best choice. Other choices with very fast focusing systems would be the D800, D800E, D810 and the D750, all FX cameras.

BebuLamar

Among the FX models all of them have faster AF than the D610 except the Df which is about the same. The fastest is the D5. You can upgrade to the D750 for faster AF.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

I agree with Joer. Your camera is fine. You just need to get some AF-S Nikon lenses. AF-S lenses have the focusing motor in the lens instead of relying on the screw drive in the camera.
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0SO8yz0naZWMqAAmjJXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEza3NiY3RnBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNwYWdpbmF0aW9u?p=focusing+speed%2C+AF-S+lenses+vs+D+lenses&pz=10&ei=utf-8&fr=aaplw&bct=0&b=1&pz=10&bct=0

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

orrie smith wrote:

if money is no object, the d810 or the new d5. that being said, you would probably be better off by using a faster glass, f1.8 or f1.4 in a 35mm range. the lenses in this range are more expensive, but they focus much quicker than f2.8 or greater.

Faster glass (f1.8, f1.4, or even f0.9) has nothing to do with focusing speed. The camera AF system has to do with acquiring focus but only that. The focusing motor has the most to do with actually getting the subject in focus. Screw drive motors in the camera vary, as do SWM in the lens. But it doesn't matter what camera you are using if you are using D lenses without a SWM - your 'system' is going to focus slowly.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

BebuLamar wrote:

Among the FX models all of them have faster AF than the D610 except the Df which is about the same. The fastest is the D5. You can upgrade to the D750 for faster AF.

Won't matter a hoot as long as he continues to rely on camera screw drive to focus his lens.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

mcveed wrote:

Faster glass (f1.8, f1.4, or even f0.9) has nothing to do with focusing speed. The camera AF system has to do with acquiring focus but only that. The focusing motor has the most to do with actually getting the subject in focus. Screw drive motors in the camera vary, as do SWM in the lens. But it doesn't matter what camera you are using if you are using D lenses without a SWM - your 'system' is going to focus slowly.

Actually, this could be a bit misleading because a faster lens lets in more light when it's wide open helping the computer recognize the high contrast areas of focus quicker, thus being able to dicern and lock focus quicker.
An example of this is with lenses that are slower than f8 and don't allow enough light to dicern contrast and thus will not AF at all but just hunt. Even MF at this darkness is almost impossible as it's to dim in the viewfinder to easily see enough to focus manually unless in the best of light.
When conditions are ideal, it may not make much difference, but as conditions get more compromising, it can be critical to AF.
True, the speed of the lens is not mechanically connected directly to the AF process but can surely slow down the AF speed. A camera will tend to hunt more as the lens gets slower and slower! My 2 cents. ;-)
SS

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

mcveed wrote:

I agree with Joer. Your camera is fine. You just need to get some AF-S Nikon lenses. AF-S lenses have the focusing motor in the lens instead of relying on the screw drive in the camera.
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0SO8yz0naZWMqAAmjJXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEza3NiY3RnBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNwYWdpbmF0aW9u?p=focusing+speed%2C+AF-S+lenses+vs+D+lenses&pz=10&ei=utf-8&fr=aaplw&bct=0&b=1&pz=10&bct=0

Also, shouldn't he be on AF-C rather than AF-S for moving objects? Seems I remember that helping me when shooting football recently. I kept missing shots and found that setting (along with BBFocus) helped me keep up with the running back as he broke thru the line.

BebuLamar

mcveed wrote:

Won't matter a hoot as long as he continues to rely on camera screw drive to focus his lens.

May be he needs the D5 with the big battery and perhaps big AF motor as well.

Nikon_DonB Loc: Chicago

Yea, Lets all mortgage our houses and run out and buy a D5. Then in 3 years we can refi and get the new D6. This is Ridiculous. The d610 is more than capable with the right glass and settings.