D500 BIF settings tips please

[mikew_RIP]

I like single point so ime on that,at the moment ime trying for Swallows in flight so i have AF-ON set to 153 points so i can bring it in or out while ime tracking,i will change that depending what ime after.

At the moment ime trying for small birds in flight Swallows ect I am getting them but as i only have 300mm at the moment they are too small to use,this is a Linnet @ 300mm,by the time its cropped its fallen to bits,this is a case where getting closer will not work

 

[Fortkentdad]

I'm like the option of three focus types - back button, centre of joystick or the shutter.
But (there is always a but eh), but by putting the shutter button to also focus, it means that you must continue to press either the joy stick or the back button to keep the focus the way you want, meaning you cannot re-position the frame after selection the single point with back button. Joystick helps but not as easy as re-positioning. Could make shutter button to release only and not focus. And then only have two options, single point and AF-C (or ??) but I like three. It is a trade off I guess.

The other but is managing to nail the centre button on the joystick without moving it all over the screen. I am getting better at pressing straight down but I do end of up with the focus point on the edge of the screen a lot.

 

[mikew_RIP]

I need to read up to see if any of the buttons i dont use can be set to focus lock,i hate the centre point being able to move i must be clumsy as its never in the centre when i want it so i lock it in place and like to recompose.

In my old DSLR days i never did much customizing of buttons but after a year shooting mirrorless i have learnt the benefits when you get it right for you.

 

[Chris@sabor]

I am using D25, D72, or D153 with the AF/ON button for BIF. I have set the Pv button to Single Point for precise focusing like a bird perched in the branches or other stationary targets. This does require you to hold the Pv button down with your middle finger, while pushing AF/ON at the same time to focus. It takes a little getting used to but my camera is generally prepared for whatever may come. Me, not so much!

 

[BackdoorArts]

I need to read up to see if any of the buttons i dont use can be set to focus lock,i hate the centre point being able to move i must be clumsy as its never in the centre when i want it so i lock it in place and like to recompose.

In my old DSLR days i never did much customizing of buttons but after a year shooting mirrorless i have learnt the benefits when you get it right for you.

If you want to lock and recompose then you need to either use AF-S or use AF-C and focus, release, and recompose (which only words with BBF and the AF turned off for the shutter button). I'm assuming this only happens when the bird in flight stops flying. You need to get used to the latter if you don't want to be switching modes all the time.

 

[mikew_RIP]

If you want to lock and recompose then you need to either use AF-S or use AF-C and focus, release, and recompose (which only words with BBF and the AF turned off for the shutter button). I'm assuming this only happens when the bird in flight stops flying. You need to get used to the latter if you don't want to be switching modes all the time.

Thanks BIF is one thing i cant recompose with i will never be that good.

Need to look at it again and see if i can put my focus point numbers on a different button and still get to it in the middle of a pan,one problem i have is i only have smallish hands,as i said somewhere else the only problem i have with BBF is losing focus priority on the release but ime sure i saw something in the d500 menu that looked like i can keep it.

 

[mikew_RIP]

As i would only want to recompose stationery subjects i think a better way for those shots may be to flick the focus point lock off and just move the focus point, recenter it when finnished and flick the lock back on.

 

[BackdoorArts]

Thanks BIF is one thing i cant recompose with i will never be that good.

Need to look at it again and see if i can put my focus point numbers on a different button and still get to it in the middle of a pan,one problem i have is i only have smallish hands,as i said somewhere else the only problem i have with BBF is losing focus priority on the release but ime sure i saw something in the d500 menu that looked like i can keep it.

Dude, if you're panning then set it on AF-C single point with the full 153-available points. Find the bird, focus lock, and start spraying. Once you lock the AF automatically swaps to other points as you sweep (based on your focus lock settings) so you don't have to. Go to YouTube and dig up Steve Perry's video on the Nikon AF system and shooting for wildlife.