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Nikon Z Autofocus Modes
Jan 11, 2023 11:41:15   #
azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA
 
This isn't really about analyzing one photo but I don't know where else to put this so here goes...

I have been experimenting with my Nikon Z 5's different autofocus modes, trying to figure out which works best for portraits. This morning I compared the eye-tracking and Wide-S and Single Point and found, to my surprise, that the eye-tracking is the least reliable. I'm wondering if other folks are having the same experience.

Here is what I did:

* back button focus in AF-C mode (that's continuous focus for you non-Nikon folks)
* for each of the three modes; eye-tracking, Wide-S, and Single Point; I shot 9 pictures in quick succession, 3 in each of three distances from the subject
* examined the subject's left eye in each photo at 100% to graded the photos on a three-point scale: green = in focus, red = not in focus, yellow = I could sort of persuade myself that it is in focus

Attached is a screen snapshot to illustrate my methodology.

Here are my results:

* eye-tracking on the subject's left eye
..... 3 in-focus, 4 out-of-focus
* Wide-S set on the bridge of the subject's nose (so that the whole Wide-S square was on the face)
..... 7 in-focus, 2 out-of-focus
* Single-Point on the subject's left eye
..... 6 in-focus, 1 out-of-focus


(Download)

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Jan 11, 2023 12:24:30   #
chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA
 
If it were me, I wouldn't use AF-C at all for portraits. I'd be in AF-S using pinpoint on the feature I wanted in focus. <shrug> YMMV. But I'm not one to do alot of empirical tests, either, most of my activity is outdoors so I just go out and shoot and check the results after.

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Jan 11, 2023 20:51:41   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
My experience with digital cameras and AutoFocus is a selectively-placed single AF point using the camera's continuous tracking is the consistently best overall approach, for nearly all (A - L - L) shooting situations, static subjects and moving. If a moving subject is too erratic to maintain a single AF point on the subject, a selectively placed 9- or 12-point 'zone' is the next most consistently effective AF configuration. Mirrorless cameras add improved tracking, but they still benefit from the human 'telling' the camera where the camera should expect to be focusing.

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Jan 11, 2023 23:03:25   #
azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA
 
I ran another test this afternoon with Single Point on the subject's eye but using AF-S instead of AF-C. That seemed to work more reliably. I got 6 in-focus and only 1 out-of-focus.

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Jan 12, 2023 01:54:17   #
Grahame Loc: Fiji
 
azemon wrote:
I ran another test this afternoon with Single Point on the subject's eye but using AF-S instead of AF-C. That seemed to work more reliably. I got 6 in-focus and only 1 out-of-focus.

An advantage with using AF-S mode is that in lower light the 'AF Assist light' will help in achieving focus. In AF-C this does not work.

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Jan 12, 2023 08:40:25   #
azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA
 
Grahame wrote:
An advantage with using AF-S mode is that in lower light the 'AF Assist light' will help in achieving focus. In AF-C this does not work.


Thanks for the reminder, though I won't need it for portraits

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Jan 18, 2023 20:18:32   #
bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.
 
I think you'll find AF S works better with portraits while AF C is great shooting moving people birds etc.

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