tkphelps

Thom Hogan, in his Z 8 guide recommended lots of practice with focus modes and all the focus controls on the camera. I might have gotten the same result without his prodding, but this shot seems to make the effort worthwhile. This is a crop from the center of a 200 mm shot hand held at about 10 feet.

User ID

Dont tell me. Let me guess. Butterfly ? But, I still need sone help with this.

I think I guessed well, but guessing why its posted is a lot tougher. Ive seen the like of it at least 10,000 times but if this one is really somehow a bit special Id sure like to know about how that is, cuz from just a thumbnail image nothing is evident :-(

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

Grahame Loc: Fiji

Can you tell us which specific 'focus' mode/settings you used with the Z8 to capture this and why it was especially advantageous compared to other focus modes available in the Z8?

tkphelps

I used AF-C Single point mode. The lens was the 24-200/f4-6.3 at 200 mm. I did not try to compare other modes with this subject. What I was prompted to do was to use all the modes and try to find subjects that photograph well with those modes. The point, if there is one at all, is that I got results that amazed me with the first effort at "practice". I very much respect the capability of the autofocus.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

Thank you for the explanation.

I've had the Z8 for some months now and could not be happier with the camera. The Z6 and D800 had been what I was using. The primary reason I got it was for the hope that its AF would make it 'easier' to focus and maintain focus on fast moving subjects, which were race competitors running towards, or, obliquely towards me. I have been amazed at its capabilities with respect to accuracy and consistency in achieving this.

I highly recommend having a play with the AF '3D Tracking' mode. For both moving and static subjects it can almost completely alleviate the need to ever move the 'focus point' from the centre position, allowing easier quicker framing for composition on just about anything.

tkphelps

Thanks. I had been putting that one off since it seems to be the hardest to understand. I will check the results.

Bill_de Loc: US

Should UHH do away with the "Photo Gallery" and all the other sections? Maybe just one big free for all???

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yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

tcthome Loc: NJ

Nice photo. Glad your happy with the Z8. Happy shooting.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Good morning Grahame. Do you aquire focus before kicking in the 3D at all? I have seen some vids on you tube that suggest this works better for them & was just wondering. Thanks for any replies.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Winter is coming, this thing should be dead and buried in the gallery.

BurghByrd Loc: Pittsburgh

I emphasize with the point of this topic. What began as a feature to assist with manually focusing, much appreciated in the 1970s to one with near sightedness, has evolved into a blizzard options such as auto area with or without object detection (face, fish, fowl etc.). I too have begun using AF-C with 3D tracking most of the time; grab the subject, recompost, take the shot - works for me!

Grahame Loc: Fiji

Quick answer is no, because I have it already 'kicked in'.

I'll refer to my scenario where I am photographing people running towards me (or just as applicable to candids of people stood around talking). My camera is set up for AF-C and BBF using the AF ON button or alternatively you could use half shutter button press.

The camera is set to AF- area mode - '3D Tracking', with AF subject detection options set to either Auto, People, Animal, Car, Plane. I'll use the People option for this example.

In the viewfinder a white box is shown where the focus point has been selected, mine always remains on centre. As you move the camera and bring the white box towards the subjects face an additional smaller box will/may show if the camera has detected an eye. With the white box over the subjects face you press AF ON (or shutter half press) to activate auto focus.

At this point the camera locks focus on, in priority, the eye (if detected), the face (if no eye detected), treats it as an 'object' if neither eye or face recognized. In the rare worst case scenario if it recognizes neither an eye, face or object it reverts to Auto Area mode. With the focus locked on and AF ON kept pressed the camera can be repositioned or the subject move position (e.g. closer to you) correct focus will be maintained.

This will also work the majority of time if your subject is something such as a static telephone keypad or flower allowing quick easy composition reframing. It recognises objects within its focus box by color and contrast.

The Nikon Studio software indicates by the size of the red focus boxes whether it achieved AF using eye, face or object recognition.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

Nice Gulf Fritillary.