UKBillyBoy Loc: Central Texas

Since joining the Hog I have made comments, but this is my first topic created. When taking a group photo in which the operator will also appear, using the delay setting and face-priority, what are the Nikon camera settings and what does the operator have to do at the camera before getting into position for the photo shoot. Last Christmas I had no problems, but this year about half my family photos were out of focus. If you have to auto focus before the shoot what good is the face-priority feature? The manual does not go into enough detail on the subject for me!! By the way the Hog has become one of my favorite reads and I have learn a lot from all of the knowledgeable photographers who comment here.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Just turn AF to >OFF<, set the focus where you want it to be, walk into the image and release the camera remotely! It couldn't be easier!

Kozan Loc: Trenton Tennessee

Turn the mode dial to the self-timer position, focus, press the shutter release after manual focus, then walk into the scene. Shutter tripos automatically after the countdown to zero.

repleo Loc: Boston

My Sony A6000 has an app to shoot remotely from my smartphone. This allows you to preview, focus and make sure everybody is in position / smiling etc before taking the shot and to review the shot afterwards without having to go back to the camera. Just make sure to look at the camera before you press the button.
I'm sure Nikon must have something similar.

UKBillyBoy Loc: Central Texas

I guess I phrased the question poorly. I'm really interested in how the Nikon face-detection or face-priority feature works and and how to use it. I have a D750, and last Christmas when I used the feature I thought it automatically focused on the nearest face before the shot. Guess I must have been dreaming!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Billy, you'll probably get a myriad of replies, as usual. It seems that it worked last Christmas but not this one. If you are taking a group photo, your best bet is determine where everyone, including you, will be standing before addressing the camera. Once posed, compose the photo in the camera. Turn off the Auto Focus, AF, hopefully, there is a delay setting that will wait about 10 seconds before tripping the shutter. At this point the camera has focused, determined the exposure, and is ready to be tripped. That should do it.

A good bit of advice is to practice prior to doing anything for real. Have a family member or friend help by standing and letting you set up the camera. Once you work all of the bugs out of the preparation and determine the best method that will work, keep notes. You'll probably want to refer to them the next time the situation arises.
--Bob

repleo Loc: Boston

I hate to mention my Sony again, but on my Sony you can 'register' up to 8 faces and establish a priority for them. For instance you can set the Bride as number 1 and it will pick her face out of a crowd and the focus will follow her around the room. If the Bride isin't in the shot it will look for the Groom or whoever you have as number 2 etc. I assume 'face priority' on your Nikon does the same, but you have to 'register' the face first.

Hope this helps.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Don't forget "everyone eyes open." That is one of the great failures among my tribe. 10 shots and every one will have one person eyes closed or pointed somewhere else. It might have something to do with my crowd not being able to turn off the chatter - everyone seems to want to pull laughs. Sigh.