- I want to photograph ALL the runners from my child's weekly ParkRun event, as they are running past me, usually 1 child every few seconds!
- Ive only really got experience photographing still subjects
- I think it's fair to say that auto focus continuous is the best idea rather than single press auto focus
- On my camera, I'm unsure whether i should use Single point auto focus or Multi area (segment) auto focus which focuses on the nearest thing. Ive tried subject tracking but the camera can get confused with so many runners in the shots. I have tried single point auto focus but find it quite hard to keep recomposing to keep the moving subject in that point.
- I want to try practicing again and would appreciate any advice others would like to give, ie what you would do (modes, settings, positioning etc).
- I have a Nikon D3100 and also a Samsung NX300M
- Many thanks.
Which focus mode for photographing runners (moving subjects)?
- Thread starter paul_b
- Start date
Which focus mode is that? On my Nikon D3100 i have a choice of Single Point AF, Dynamic Area AF, Auto Area AF, 3D tracking.
Which focus mode is that? On my Nikon D3100 i have a choice of Single Point AF, Dynamic Area AF, Auto Area AF, 3D tracking.
I virtually never use AF-C. But I don't do sports and flying birds, I do scenics and travel and people and tabletops and such, regular pictures, so motion is not much issue for me.
I'm always at Single Point focus because I specifically want to control where it is focusing. And always AF-S so it won't change on me if I move the camera a little.
My only point is that we dearly do need to understand what the camera is doing in these modes. This from the D7200 manual:
Note the manuals always say AF-S is for Stationary subjects, and AF-C is for Continuous motion. This is because focus locks (at half press) on the subject in AF-S, bt it keeps focusing to follow the subject in AF-C.
The D3x00 and D5x00 models are exceptions, and have a very different last sentence, they also say AF-C focuses first, before the shutter activates. Different than most, because the alternative might be beyond the skill of beginners.
However this one (D7200) and most other models, say the AF-C shutter will activate immediately, REGARDLESS if it has found focus yet. That pretty much means the first shot may not be focused yet. AF-S requires focus first, and then the shutter, which seems a pretty good thing. There are options to change it (and D3x00 and D5x00 do change it), because that result of a quick shutter jab probably is never in focus yet. Then we complain our pictures are not sharp.
So other than D3x00 and D5x00, if using AF-C, we have to know to hold half press a second to let it find focus first. Which we use really should depend on what we are doing. And if it is not Single Point, you don't know where it is focusing, it just finds something out there.
So do you want it to focus first, before the shutter activates? Or do you want it to keep focusing to follow fast action? It is a choice, and pretty much requires that we make the choice. If there is any feature that requires a thought first, it is this one. The D3x00 and D5x00 protect the user against it however.
About the least we can do is to read this section in the manual for our model.
I'm always at Single Point focus because I specifically want to control where it is focusing. And always AF-S so it won't change on me if I move the camera a little.
My only point is that we dearly do need to understand what the camera is doing in these modes. This from the D7200 manual:
Note the manuals always say AF-S is for Stationary subjects, and AF-C is for Continuous motion. This is because focus locks (at half press) on the subject in AF-S, bt it keeps focusing to follow the subject in AF-C.
The D3x00 and D5x00 models are exceptions, and have a very different last sentence, they also say AF-C focuses first, before the shutter activates. Different than most, because the alternative might be beyond the skill of beginners.
However this one (D7200) and most other models, say the AF-C shutter will activate immediately, REGARDLESS if it has found focus yet. That pretty much means the first shot may not be focused yet. AF-S requires focus first, and then the shutter, which seems a pretty good thing. There are options to change it (and D3x00 and D5x00 do change it), because that result of a quick shutter jab probably is never in focus yet. Then we complain our pictures are not sharp.
So other than D3x00 and D5x00, if using AF-C, we have to know to hold half press a second to let it find focus first. Which we use really should depend on what we are doing. And if it is not Single Point, you don't know where it is focusing, it just finds something out there.
So do you want it to focus first, before the shutter activates? Or do you want it to keep focusing to follow fast action? It is a choice, and pretty much requires that we make the choice. If there is any feature that requires a thought first, it is this one. The D3x00 and D5x00 protect the user against it however.
About the least we can do is to read this section in the manual for our model.
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I virtually never use AF-C. But I don't do sports and flyinjg birds, I do scenics and people and tabletops and such, regular pictures, so motion is not much issue for me.
I'm always at Single Point focus because I specifically want to control where it is focusing. And always AF-S so it won't change on me.
My only point is that we dearly do need to understand what the camera is doing in these modes. This from the D7200 manual:
Note the manuals always say AF-S is for Stationary subjects, and AF-C is for Continuous motion. This is because focus locks (at half press) on the subject in AF-S, bt it keeps focusing to follow the subject in AF-C.
The D3x00 and D5x00 models are exceptions, and have a very different last sentence, they also say AF-C focuses first, before the shutter activates. Different than most, because the alternative might be beyond the skill of beginners.
However this one (D7200) and most other models, say the AF-C shutter will activate immediately, REGARDLESS if it has found focus yet. That pretty much means the first shot may not be focused yet. AF-S requires focus first, and then the shutter, which seems a pretty good thing. There are options to change it (and D3x00 and D5x00 do change it), because that result of a quick shutter jab probably is never in focus yet. Then we complain our pictures are not sharp.
So other than D3x00 and D5x00, if using AF-C, we have to know to hold half press a second to let it find focus first. Which we use really should depend on what we are doing. And if it is not Single Point, you don't know where it is focusing. So do you want it to focus first, before the shutter activates? Or do you want it to keep focusing to follow fast action? It is a choice, and pretty much requires that we make the choice. If there is any feature that requires a thought first, it is this one. The D3x00 and D5x00 protect the user against it however.
Wayne, on my d3100, am I correct in saying that with AF-C and single point AF I still have to keep the subject on the focus point whilst pressing the shutter half way down whilst focusing? I'm not sure it tracks for me. Mind you it is an entry level DSLR. I think (although I haven't tried yet) after reading some of the posts here, that I could try dynamic area AF with C-AF for the equivalent of what you described?
I don't have a D3100, so am unsure of it, however, I really doubt Singe Point can ever follow subject motion in any case or model. The idea is user selects the single point, not the camera as in other cases. It focuses on whatever is under the place where we position that one point.
The D3100 manual says of Single Point :
"Camera focuses on subject in selected focus point only. Use with stationary subjects."
And then AF-S focus is locked at half press, it does not follow anything then. I am unsure what AF-C does in that case? Keeps focusing on that one spot, but it is single point.
Also says there: "User selects focus point using multi-selector." So iIt can use any of the multiple focus points (different positions not in center), but only the one selected. Then holding AF-S half press locks focus there, and then we can move the camera a little to reframe the subject (while holding half press). IMO, this is big stuff.
If intending to follow motion, then you have to use a lot of points, to give it other places to look for the motion to move to.
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The dynamic area setting will track the subject after the initial focus by using the surrounding AF points. So, if the subject moves, the camera tracks the movement and keeps the subject in focus. You also will want to set to AF-C, which is a separate setting, for continuos focus. With a half press, the camera will keep refocusing until the shutter is released.
Sounds like the best option for photographing runners then. I therefore assume after the initial half press, i no longer have to keep the subject on the chosen focus point, and can therefore keep the camera still?
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Same here for my BIF shots. I tried the multi points, but AF_C with single point works best for me. It takes practice to track a subject this way, but once you get used to it ,the focus is spot on.
I found that with multi points , sometimes the focus will jump over to the sky or other backgrounds while tracking.