Testing the AF on the D4
Hi Y'all,
My D4 arrived last night. Now I could have been mature and sat down and read the manual and learned how to operate the new camera. :nah However since I haven't tried mature in the last 65 years why change now.
So this morning I went down to the Viera Wetlands and tested out the camera to see if the AF was as improved as alleged. For testing purposes I used the 200-400 f/4 VR I lens with the 1.7 TC. I used this set up because I had tried it on the D3s and quickly gave up on it because of the poor AF performance.
I took around 315 pictures over three and a half hours. The battery had been at 96% when I left the house and was at 73% when I returned. Not as good as the D3s but not too shabby either.
The following pics are never going to appear in National Geographic. I passed up quite a few photo ops because the subjects were stationary and didn't provide a test of the AF. I was looking for sudden or erratic movement that would test the AF.
This anhinga wasn't a real test but I like the capture ISO 640, handheld
This was a bit more of a challenge, a black bellied whistling duck who w/o warning left its perch
ISO 640 1/800 sec, handheld, If I had expected it to take off I would have gone for a higher shutter speed
Normally I would have culled these because of the softness due to the slow shutter speed but they were captures that I would have missed totally on the D3s.
I moved on to a spot favored by black crowned night herons
ISO 800 1/1000 sec f/8, tripod, Really Right Stuff Gimbel Head,
This heron came out of nowhere. I had been focused on a juvenile night heron when this adult flew in.
The juvenile night heron suddenly struck at the water and came up with a frog. ISO 500 f/8 1/1000 sec, tripod, RRS gimbel head
I took a series of 17 captures to try to capture "the flip". Water birds will flip a victim between their bills to position it correctly before swallowing it. It happens very, very quickly. I have captured it numerous times but I have never "seen" it with my eyes.
A great egret thoughtfully provided some sudden movements for the test
ISO 1250,tripod, RRS gimbel head
ISO 500, tripod, RRS gimbel head
To complete the test I went over to a spot where cattle egrets were gathering nesting material. I had tried these same subjects a few days earlier with the D3s and the 500mm f/4 with a 1.4 TC with no success. These egrets are flying out of shadows into bright light from fairly cluttered BG. They fly fast and don't use predictable flight patterns.
In conclusion, I would have to say that the D4's AF is a definite improvement over the D3s and the best I have ever shot with.
Now I'm off to go read a manual. :snore
My D4 arrived last night. Now I could have been mature and sat down and read the manual and learned how to operate the new camera. :nah However since I haven't tried mature in the last 65 years why change now.
So this morning I went down to the Viera Wetlands and tested out the camera to see if the AF was as improved as alleged. For testing purposes I used the 200-400 f/4 VR I lens with the 1.7 TC. I used this set up because I had tried it on the D3s and quickly gave up on it because of the poor AF performance.
I took around 315 pictures over three and a half hours. The battery had been at 96% when I left the house and was at 73% when I returned. Not as good as the D3s but not too shabby either.
The following pics are never going to appear in National Geographic. I passed up quite a few photo ops because the subjects were stationary and didn't provide a test of the AF. I was looking for sudden or erratic movement that would test the AF.
This anhinga wasn't a real test but I like the capture ISO 640, handheld
This was a bit more of a challenge, a black bellied whistling duck who w/o warning left its perch
ISO 640 1/800 sec, handheld, If I had expected it to take off I would have gone for a higher shutter speed
Normally I would have culled these because of the softness due to the slow shutter speed but they were captures that I would have missed totally on the D3s.
I moved on to a spot favored by black crowned night herons
ISO 800 1/1000 sec f/8, tripod, Really Right Stuff Gimbel Head,
This heron came out of nowhere. I had been focused on a juvenile night heron when this adult flew in.
The juvenile night heron suddenly struck at the water and came up with a frog. ISO 500 f/8 1/1000 sec, tripod, RRS gimbel head
I took a series of 17 captures to try to capture "the flip". Water birds will flip a victim between their bills to position it correctly before swallowing it. It happens very, very quickly. I have captured it numerous times but I have never "seen" it with my eyes.
A great egret thoughtfully provided some sudden movements for the test
ISO 1250,tripod, RRS gimbel head
ISO 500, tripod, RRS gimbel head
To complete the test I went over to a spot where cattle egrets were gathering nesting material. I had tried these same subjects a few days earlier with the D3s and the 500mm f/4 with a 1.4 TC with no success. These egrets are flying out of shadows into bright light from fairly cluttered BG. They fly fast and don't use predictable flight patterns.
In conclusion, I would have to say that the D4's AF is a definite improvement over the D3s and the best I have ever shot with.
Now I'm off to go read a manual. :snore
Harry
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
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Comments
Autofocus was something that I had given a good deal of thought to when moving to this new camera. My 5DII has some great features, although I never found autofocus to be one of them.
I have two 4lb chihuahua dogs that I enjoy shooting, but frequently have issues with focus. You can imagine how fast a 4lb dog is zig zagging across the yard chasing a ball. Looks like the D4 will give me the best equipment to make those captures. The rest will be up to me.
Lenses: Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR II | Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 | Nikon 50mm f/1.4
Lighting: SB-910 | SU-800
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
I'm sure that you will love the camera. It has a learning curve but then all new cameras have that. The AF on the D4 should make you a very happy camper
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Nikon D4, Nikon D3, Nikon D3
Nikon 14-24 f2.8, Nikon 24-70 f2.8, Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR II, Nikon 50 f1.8, Nikon 85 f1.4
Nikon 300 f2.8 VR, Nikon 200-400 f4.0 VR II, Nikon 600 f4.0 II, TC-1.4, TC 1.7, TC 2.0
(1) SB-800, (2) SB-900, (4) Multi Max Pocket Wizards
Congrats on the new camera. I'll be interested in hearing how it works out for you.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
http://www.youtube.com/user/NYCFilmmakersGroup
http://www.meetup.com/NYC-Filmmakers-and-Actors-Meetup-Group/
Actually most of these images would have ended up in my trash can. The bokeh was busy because the egrets like places with lots of vegetation hence the busy BG. As I indicated in the OP I used the 200-400 f4 VR 1 with the 1.7 TC. This outing was not for keepers but to test the AF on the D4. Most cameras can focus on a bird against a clear blue sky but that's not much a test of the AF.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
http://kadvantage.smugmug.com/
I will post photos when i get it.
Nikon D4, Nikon D3, Nikon D3
Nikon 14-24 f2.8, Nikon 24-70 f2.8, Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR II, Nikon 50 f1.8, Nikon 85 f1.4
Nikon 300 f2.8 VR, Nikon 200-400 f4.0 VR II, Nikon 600 f4.0 II, TC-1.4, TC 1.7, TC 2.0
(1) SB-800, (2) SB-900, (4) Multi Max Pocket Wizards
Thanks for the series.
I haven't had the chance to try out the 1.7 with the 200-400/II but will certainly give it a shot given your results.
As well as the great AF, the other game changer for me on this camera is the buffer depth. If there is a long flight sequence you've got 100 shots at 11fps to get it.
www.finesart.com
The buffer on the D$ is mind blowing. It handled the sequence of the night heron w/o a hiccup.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
The extra card and reader would be a nice plus considering the wait time.
Lenses: Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR II | Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 | Nikon 50mm f/1.4
Lighting: SB-910 | SU-800
Yep it came with a 16 GB XQD card and a XQD reader.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Got my D4 today. Hope to test it out on friday
Nikon D4, Nikon D3, Nikon D3
Nikon 14-24 f2.8, Nikon 24-70 f2.8, Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR II, Nikon 50 f1.8, Nikon 85 f1.4
Nikon 300 f2.8 VR, Nikon 200-400 f4.0 VR II, Nikon 600 f4.0 II, TC-1.4, TC 1.7, TC 2.0
(1) SB-800, (2) SB-900, (4) Multi Max Pocket Wizards
Congratulations, I think you will be smiling by Friday's end.
I tested out the AF with the 2.0 TC on the 300mm f/4 on Tuesday with excellent results. Its nice being able to get up to 600mm with a handheld lens.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Nikon D4, Nikon D3, Nikon D3
Nikon 14-24 f2.8, Nikon 24-70 f2.8, Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR II, Nikon 50 f1.8, Nikon 85 f1.4
Nikon 300 f2.8 VR, Nikon 200-400 f4.0 VR II, Nikon 600 f4.0 II, TC-1.4, TC 1.7, TC 2.0
(1) SB-800, (2) SB-900, (4) Multi Max Pocket Wizards
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums