RELEASE PRIORITY VS. FOCUS PRIORITY (continues ...)

From my own testing with the D2x I find that Focus Priority almost always gives me well-focused pictures. When shooting quickly it may skip a series of out-of-focus ones, but I don’t want those anyway. Focus Priority will impair your camera’s frame rate, so that it will not reach the maximum 5 fps or 8 fps. But, I have to ask, what is the point of 10 out-of-focus images and 5 in-focus images? Why waste the card space, and then have to weed through the slightly out-of-focus images?

VW Passat Detail by Nikonian Michael Slade - Nikon D2X

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In Figure 1 below are pictures of the series of menu screens used to set Release vs. Focus Priority.

For AF-C Mode using Custom Setting a1:

In AF-C mode and Custom Setting a1, “FPS rate” and “FPS rate + AF” are both forms of Release Priority, with “FPS rate + AF” giving “improved” autofocus while still allowing the image to be taken no matter what. For reliably sharp focus in AF-C mode, use Focus Priority. On this menu, it’s the bottom selection.

Now, let’s turn our attention to AF-S mode and Custom Setting a2. We need to verify whether Focus or Release Priority is set. Examine Figure 2 for the correct sequence of menu items.

For AF-S Mode using Custom Setting a2:

In figure 2, your choices are “Focus” and “Release.” Since the factory default is Focus Priority, it may already be set to “Focus.” If not, then select Focus.

Congratulations! Now your Nikon D2x is set up to take an image ONLY if it can focus on your subject.