Function of the flower

TonyCooper

Using my Nikon D40, I can set the mode dial to the "flower" for close-ups.

I've tried shooting various objects with the camera set to aperture, and then changed the setting to the flower. I see little or no difference between the results.

What changes are made in the camera when the mode is set to the close-up flower?

ziggy53

According to this page:

http://www.megapixel.net/reviews/nikon-d40/d40-gen.php

"Close Up mode is intended to capture subjects such as insects, flowers, etc. The camera focuses on the subject in the centre focus area, but other focus points can be selected using the Multi selector."

TonyCooper

ziggy53 wrote:

According to this page:

http://www.megapixel.net/reviews/nikon-d40/d40-gen.php

"Close Up mode is intended to capture subjects such as insects, flowers, etc. The camera focuses on the subject in the centre focus area, but other focus points can be selected using the Multi selector."

\

Yes, I know that. However, what I don't know is how it differs from the other modes. Unless, that is, that the focus is more centered within the brackets when in close-up mode.

SoCalAl

I believe it's like a macro mode. Close up shots of bugs, flowers & whatever.

kdog

The camera will focus at a much closer distance to the subject in macro mode.

photokandy

I'm not sure you would see a lot of difference if you normally focus using your center point in the P/S/A/M modes. I'd imagine that it is there more for those coming from point-and-shoots who are used to having various shooting modes (like portrait, landscape, night, etc.), where a macro mode is usually fairly prominent and affects how the camera controls the lens for focusing.

Regardless of your setting, you can't get any more "macro" than your lens will allow; if your minimum focus distance is 6 inches with a 1:3 ratio, it doesn't matter if you're on Av or "Macro"; if the camera can lock focus on that coin, there's no difference. However, if you were to shoot the same shot under "Landscape" vs. "Macro", you might see a little more difference, since the camera may not only select any one of the three focus points, but it is free to assume focus is somewhere out there in the distance (if not at infinity). That kind of behavior differs with camera models and brands, so I can't verify the camera actually uses any logic with regard to focusing aside from picking various focus points. (I have a Canon, so can't verify with your camera.) Your manual should indicate how your creative modes affect focusing.

If you're like me, though, and shoot only on A/S/M with center focus point selected, then yeah - you shouldn't see one lick of difference in the results.

ziggy53

TonyCooper wrote:

\

Yes, I know that. However, what I don't know is how it differs from the other modes. Unless, that is, that the focus is more centered within the brackets when in close-up mode.

I think the mode only offers the convenience of selecting the center focus dot while in the mode, and then when you leave the mode it reverts to the settings of the other modes. It does not sound like it does more than that.

In other words, it doesn't do very much at all.

What it says in your Nikon D40 User Manual, page 18 (or page 31 of the Nikon PDF at: http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/noprint/D40_noprint.pdf)

"Use for close-up shots of flowers, insects, and other small objects. The camera automatically focuses on the subject in the center focus area; other focus areas can be selected using the multi selector. Use of a tripod is recommended to prevent blur."

If you discover that it does more than this, please share what that is.

ziggy53

SoCalAl wrote:

I believe it's like a macro mode. Close up shots of bugs, flowers & whatever.

kdog wrote:

The camera will focus at a much closer distance to the subject in macro mode.

The Nikon D40 is a dSLR and the close focus distance is related to, and dependent upon, which lens is mounted.

TonyCooper

photokandy wrote:

I'm not sure you would see a lot of difference if you normally focus using your center point in the P/S/A/M modes. I'd imagine that it is there more for those coming from point-and-shoots who are used to having various shooting modes (like portrait, landscape, night, etc.), where a macro mode is usually fairly prominent and affects how the camera controls the lens for focusing.

Regardless of your setting, you can't get any more "macro" than your lens will allow; if your minimum focus distance is 6 inches with a 1:3 ratio, it doesn't matter if you're on Av or "Macro"; if the camera can lock focus on that coin, there's no difference. However, if you were to shoot the same shot under "Landscape" vs. "Macro", you might see a little more difference, since the camera may not only select any one of the three focus points, but it is free to assume focus is somewhere out there in the distance (if not at infinity). That kind of behavior differs with camera models and brands, so I can't verify the camera actually uses any logic with regard to focusing aside from picking various focus points. (I have a Canon, so can't verify with your camera.) Your manual should indicate how your creative modes affect focusing.

If you're like me, though, and shoot only on A/S/M with center focus point selected, then yeah - you shouldn't see one lick of difference in the results.

Based on some very low tech experiments, I think that the above describes the function: nothing much, if anything at all.

My camera is normally set to "single area focus" and the center set of brackets, so I'm probably already doing what the setting does.

The manual (I do read them!) does not provide any useful information.

Just thought I'd check in case I was underestimating the power of the flower.

Robinivich

All I can think of is it might be automatically selecting a narrower aperture to get you more depth of field. Check the EXIF for the images, and compare to say, fully automatic operation, see if there's a difference in the exposures it's picking.