I have gone to shooting continuous with my 7100

tea2085

Senior Member
I have been using my 16-85 lens. I don't think I'm getting good focus when I shoot stationary subjects. I was hoping I could leave the setting on continuous but maybe I have to go to auto when I shoot still pictures. What do you people think! Paul
 

tea2085

Senior Member
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Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Well it's hard to be certain from that tiny .jpg but it appears to me that shot is a blurry mess. The EXIF data looks good: 85mm, f/5.6 @ 1/1250 and yet nothing appears to me to be in focus. Are a lot of your shots looking like the one you posted? Where was the focus-point when you took the shot? Did you confirm the camera had obtained a focus-lock?
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
For wildlife i use AFC all the time, mainly because i want to be ready for the next subject,I use single point but my back button is set to bring in a small cluster of center points just with a press,again for speed.
 

tea2085

Senior Member
Fish; What do you mean by this? Did you confirm the camera had obtained a focus lock? When I shoot ( always use back focus) the round dot goes off and on-so when I activate the shutter, I don't know the position of the focus dot. The focus point was right below the chin. Thanks for the reply! Paul
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Fish; What do you mean by this? Did you confirm the camera had obtained a focus lock? When I shoot ( always use back focus) the round dot goes off and on-so when I activate the shutter, I don't know the position of the focus dot. The focus point was right below the chin. Thanks for the reply! Paul
Well that round dot is the Focus Lock Indicator; if it's not illuminated when you take the shot then the camera is not at focus-lock and the shot may not be in focus.

In short, I'm just trying to figure out how your shot is SO out of focus based on the settings I see in the EXIF data. It looks like motion blur to me but you were shooting plenty fast enough for the focal length you were using so I'm thinking something else must be at fault. I'm wondering if the lens was actively hunting for a focus-lock when you pressed the shutter button.
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
By shooting continuous, I assume you mean AF-C mode. If so, one has to ask, why are you shooting stationary or near stationary subjects in AF-C mode. That is exactly what AF-S mode is meant for. I would select that mode over the Auto mode all day long.

For a description of these modes, see below (from Thom Hogan's complete guide:

• AF C Continuous Servo autofocus—when you press or partially press the shutter release the camera focuses the lens. On a full shutter release press, the shutter normally opens for the picture even if focus has not yet been achieved (with Custom Setting #A1 set to its default). If the = Focus Confirmation indicator shows in the viewfinder with the shutter release held partway down, focus follows the subject until you fully press or let go of the shutter release.
• AF S Single Servo autofocus—when you press or partially press the shutter release the camera focuses the lens. On a full shutter release press, the shutter normally does not operate until focus has been achieved (if Custom Setting #A2 is set to the default).
• AF A Auto Servo autofocus—when you press or partially press the shutter release the camera initially works as if AF S is active. However, if after a moment the camera detects that the subject is moving, it switches to AF C! While it at first sounds as if this is the best of all worlds—the camera is doing the decision making here—in practice it tends to just make you more and more frustrated the longer you hold onto using it. I suggest that you consider starting with this as your choice (it’s the default), but the pause before detecting motion is a killer for precise timing of shots. Eventually you want to be in AF S for static subjects, AF C for moving subjects. Since you can switch between those choices without taking your eye from the viewfinder, learn how to do it and work at mastering the camera rather than letting it make choices for you.
 
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tea2085

Senior Member
Fish; how can I assure focus lock when it blinks between lock and not locked quite rapidly as the subject moves. I have to read Brent's reply again as maybe he answered that question. Paul
 

tea2085

Senior Member
Brent; I really like shooting Back Button Focus, I don't think with this that I can press the shutter half way down, Paul
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Brent; I really like shooting Back Button Focus, I don't think with this that I can press the shutter half way down, Paul
I don't use back button focus, so I don't know. All I know is I would NOT use AF-C focus for stationary or slow moving subjects. Maybe this is why I never bothered with back button focus, I would rather have sharp photos. Perhaps someone else can explain how to use AF-S focus with back button focus.
 

tea2085

Senior Member
Rocket; thanks for the concise answer. It should have been obvious to me but I didn't figure it out. Thank you very much-I'll try it!!! Paul
 
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