UNDERSTANDING
SINGLE, DYNAMIC, AND GROUP AUTOFOCUS SETTINGS (c)
Now,
let’s look at figure 12 and
Pattern 2 of Group Dynamic Custom Setting a3:
In
figure 12, Pattern 2, you will see a smaller pattern than
the cross-arrangement in Pattern 1. Instead of a cross shape,
the camera provides either a vertical or horizontal line pattern.
I have only included the horizontal view in my illustration
above. (See page 184 of your D2x manual for a view of both
horizontal and vertical patterns.)
Pattern
2 works exactly like Pattern 1 except there are fewer sensors
involved. (see + signs). This pattern allows you very fine
control of the tracking of moving subjects in a horizontal
or vertical direction. Remember, you can move these patterns
around with the multi-selector thumb rocker switch.
DYNAMIC AREA AUTOFOCUS WITH CLOSEST FOCUS PRIORITY
| Remember how the Dynamic Area Focus worked?
If a bird landed BEHIND your squirrel, the D2x may decide
it likes the bird better? Well, this version of Dynamic
Area AF uses Close Focus Priority to completely ignore
any objects or people behind your primary subjects. |
|
You have NO control of what sensor is in use, and no indication
in the focus screen. The camera focuses on whatever is closest
and/or brightest in the viewfinder.
| Figure
14 is a simplified D2x screen that represents the focus
sensors in use in this mode. Notice that no one particular
sensor has the initial focus: |
|
This
mode is great for snapshooting, or for group shots, or any
time you don’t want to make any focusing decisions,
yet still want great pictures. One of my favorite reasons
for using it is the old two person background gap problem
we discussed before. How many of us have beautiful pictures
of the background, while the two people we wanted to take
a picture of are completely out of focus? When you focused
your camera, YOU were looking at the people, but the camera
sees the gap between them, and a nice bright something in
the background. Voila, ruined picture!
Close
Focus Priority pretty much eliminates that problem, since
the subjects are closer than the background. But, what happens
when someone walks between you and your subjects? Do you want
the camera to focus on the new closer subject? Not usually!
So, it is also important that custom setting a4 is left ON
with this AF mode. Focus Tracking with Lock-On prevents anything
that might move in front of our “locked on” subject
from interfering with our focus.
One
important note, the Nikon D2x manual on page 77 states the
following: “Camera may be unable to select focus area
containing closest subject when telephoto lens is used or
subject is poorly lit. Single-area AF is recommended in these
cases.”
So,
all you birders, wildlife shooters, and sports photographers
out there take heed. It may not be a good idea to use Closest
Focus Priority with your big telephoto lenses, unless the
subject has very high contrast. Be forewarned! Why not try
regular Dynamic Area AF instead.
