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<blockquote data-quote="PapaST" data-source="post: 167879" data-attributes="member: 8330">I highly recommend getting a more descriptive book on your camera.&nbsp; The manual is great for reference but books like Mastering the Nikon (insert model here) really digs into the ins and outs.&nbsp; Plus it explains how and why you would use those particular functions.&nbsp; AF is actually complex on our cameras (I'm not familiar with the D3100 but assume it's basically similar to what I'm used to).&nbsp; Even the author of the books mentioned above admits he has to occasionally refresh his memory on the different modes and their functions.I really don't use AF-A mode that often but that doesn't mean it wouldn't suit your needs.&nbsp; When shooting static people I usually use AF-S with a single point and I move the point to a person's eye.&nbsp; When shooting a moving object (slow object) you can still use AF-S but you have to make sure you reacquire focus if you or the subject moves by redoing the half-press.If a subject is really moving I'll usually use AF-C to allow the camera to continously focus without having to repress the half-press.&nbsp; I use a smaller focus area like dynamic 9 point for something I can easily track and 21 or 39 point for something that is a little more erratic and therefore harder to track.&nbsp; 3D tracking focusing adds the element of color.&nbsp; So it can also attempt to focus on the color (assuming the subject color is different than the background).Your last question about the 35mm prime sounds more like you're referring to DoF rather than focus area.&nbsp; Keep asking, I'm sure you'll get better responses than mine.&nbsp; <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink&nbsp; &nbsp; ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></blockquote>

[QUOTE="PapaST, post: 167879, member: 8330"] I highly recommend getting a more descriptive book on your camera. The manual is great for reference but books like Mastering the Nikon (insert model here) really digs into the ins and outs. Plus it explains how and why you would use those particular functions. AF is actually complex on our cameras (I'm not familiar with the D3100 but assume it's basically similar to what I'm used to). Even the author of the books mentioned above admits he has to occasionally refresh his memory on the different modes and their functions. I really don't use AF-A mode that often but that doesn't mean it wouldn't suit your needs. When shooting static people I usually use AF-S with a single point and I move the point to a person's eye. When shooting a moving object (slow object) you can still use AF-S but you have to make sure you reacquire focus if you or the subject moves by redoing the half-press. If a subject is really moving I'll usually use AF-C to allow the camera to continously focus without having to repress the half-press. I use a smaller focus area like dynamic 9 point for something I can easily track and 21 or 39 point for something that is a little more erratic and therefore harder to track. 3D tracking focusing adds the element of color. So it can also attempt to focus on the color (assuming the subject color is different than the background). Your last question about the 35mm prime sounds more like you're referring to DoF rather than focus area. Keep asking, I'm sure you'll get better responses than mine. ;) [/QUOTE]

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