| Understanding
Nikon Multi-CAM 2000 Autofocus
by Digital Darrel
tell
a friend about this Nikon Multi-Cam 2000 AF article
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SUGGESTED
AF MODES FOR VARIOUS SUBJECT TYPES
FOR
STATIC SUBJECTS like nature shots, family
(adult section) and slow moving wildlife try these settings:
-
AF-S (Single Servo AF)
-
S (Single Frame Mode for the Motor Drive)
-
Custom Setting a1 set to Focus Priority (forces
ONLY in-focus shots)
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FOR MOVING SUBJECTS
like a flying bird, a race car or cycle, or even a bride
and groom walking up the aisle, I will use the following: |
- AF-C
(Continuous Servo AF)
-
CL (Continuous Low motor drive) or CH (Continuous
High
motor drive) according to the speed of the subject.
- Dynamic
Area AF
-
Custom Setting a4 set to ON (enabled Lock-On) TEST
FOR YOURSELF!
-
Custom Setting a2 set to Focus Priority (forces
ONLY in-focus shots)
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FOR SPORTS AND SOCIAL EVENTS SHOOTING where
my human subject is moving around in a group of other
humans:
-
AF-C (Continuous Servo AF)
-
CH (Continuous High motor drive)
- Group
Dynamic AF
- Custom
Setting a3 set to Pattern 1 Center Area
- Custom
Setting a4 set to ON (enabled Lock-On)
- Custom
Setting a1 set to Focus Priority (forces ONLY in-focus
shots)
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FOR MACRO SHOOTING OF STATIC SUBJECTS
like flowers, trees, rocks, and such try these settings:
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| FOR
FUN, CASUAL CANDID SHOOTING like
at a party where I don’t want to think
about my camera’s
settings, but want great pictures:
-
AF-C
(Continuous Servo AF)
-
S
(Single Frame Mode for the Motor Drive)
-
Dynamic
Area with Closest Subject Priority AF
-
Custom
Setting a4 set to ON (enabled Lock-On)
-
Custom
Setting a1 set to Focus Priority (forces ONLY in-focus
shots)
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These
cover my most often types of shooting, and will probably cover
most of yours.
CONCLUSION
The
Nikon D2x is a very flexible camera, with four fairly easy
to learn AF modes. Don’t stay stuck in Single Area AF
mode, when there is so much more intelligence available in
your Nikon D2x. Let it assist you by dynamically tracking
your subject, keeping the focus locked on a subject, or taking
over completely so you can have some fun.
Personally,
after researching for this article, I am going to make much
more use of the Dynamic Area AF mode of my camera, since it
lets me control the AF sensor in use, but also allows my camera
to react if my subject decides to start moving.
I
think there’s enough good information here to at least
start your experimentation with all the aspects of the Nikon
Multi-CAM 2000 autofocus system. While this is fresh on your
mind, go out and shoot a few hundred frames. Play with this
flexible AF system, and you’ll find yourself really
enjoying your mastery of it. At the very least, make your
OWN intelligent decision on how to set Custom Setting a4,
and other important custom settings.
Nikon
has given us a real powerhouse of an image maker. Use it to
the full by learning to use all the AF modes.
Keep
on capturing time…
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