Nikon D700 - Sports Settings

MDalby

Do any of you have a strong alternate opinion on any of the recommended settings that Mike Hagen has at his site for Nikon D700?

http://www.outthereimages.com/images/D700_Setup_Guide.pdf

Thanks,

MD

torags

I differ considerably

If shooting something fast with a lot of moving parts within the subject (racing Greyhounds ) shutter priority. Other than that - manual.

I use aperture priority most when shooting dimly lit subjects until SS fails to get it sharp, then manual.

51 focus points will allow the camera to decide who to focus on in a group, if that's OK with you; use it.

I use auto iso, auto wb. If you're shooting from a 50 yd line, you're probably turning into and out of the sun; leaving no time for manual adjustments

that's just me, btw I shot raw

donek

Almost always manual. I prefer the cloudy WB even in direct sunlight. AF-C to focus, 21 points, never auto iso, sometime auto WB. I think you're going to find things all over the board here Mark. It will depend on style and experience, and likely other factors.

Zerodog

The important thing is to do what works for you, not some other dude. You need to come up with methods that are relevant to what you shoot and how you shoot.

I shoot in 2 modes. Manual, and aperture priority. That is it. No auto ISO ever. I do not want my camera moving such an important setting around for me. If light is consistant, I use auto WB, If it is mixed weird light, or a staged shot, I use custom WB with an expodisc or gray card.

A lot must be considered for post processing time when shooting a sporting event. If you shoot full manual, 1 ISO setting, and custom WB. You will have a more consistant set of images. You can then easily apply settings to all of the images in a set. Pick one image, tune it up then apply these settings to all of them with 1 click. If you shoot in any of the auto modes your exposures will swing back and forth and you will have to individually tune images. This takes way more time.

MDalby

Guys, I am not talking so much about shooting manual or shutter priority.

I was talking about the rest of the menu settings that Mike has in that link.

torags

Didn't you ask for strong alternative opinions? For example 51 pt is awful wrong for motion sports; I'm sure it's good for shooting chess

I set my cam up like that when I first got my cam. Then I had to unlearn the settings

The responders gave you good advice

What types of sports do you shoot? you may get better advice.

If you don't shot yet, use P - you'll learn fast enough not to trust the cam.

Zerodog

3d tracking is not so good for most things. 21 point is what I like. I find it very reliable.