Nikon autofocus tips for small fast critters

HelvegrHelvegr Registered Users Posts: 246 Major grins
edited August 31, 2012 in Wildlife
I broke away from work for a few minutes to walk to a nearby field littered with little furry critters. Not the most fantastic wildlife, but its all I've got right now. Wanted to try out my new 70-200 on the Nikon D4.

My question is if any of you wildlife shooters have any tips for autofocus setting. I've got a large golden dry grass background, with little dark brown critters. Now granted, 200mm isn't that much reach, so they are fairly small in the frame. I typically would shoot in continuous AF, with the center AF point.

But I'm starting to explore some of the other options, like the 9 point, 21 point etc. Looking at my last shots it seems like when those critters started to run, the AF was having some trouble tracking them.

Is that because they are just too small? Too fast?

Tips welcome!

Thanks
Camera: Nikon D4
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

Comments

  • ZanottiZanotti Registered Users Posts: 1,411 Major grins
    edited August 28, 2012
    If these are squirrels, it is well known that HarryB has demanded from Nikon that no squirrels come into focus with Nikon cameras.

    You need Canon for squirrels.
    It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially. We should be obsessed with stretching towards that goal through the world we inhabit.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited August 28, 2012
    I would set the camera to Cl shooting speed, I would go with 9 points for the conditions you describe, AF-C set to release, focus tracking with lock on to 4 or 5.
    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!"
  • HelvegrHelvegr Registered Users Posts: 246 Major grins
    edited August 28, 2012
    Zanotti wrote: »
    If these are squirrels, it is well known that HarryB has demanded from Nikon that no squirrels come into focus with Nikon cameras.

    You need Canon for squirrels.

    Knowing that HarryB has a D4 as well, I was hoping he'd respond, thus I specifically stayed away from the exact mention of critter type. :)
    Harryb wrote: »
    I would set the camera to Cl shooting speed, I would go with 9 points for the conditions you describe, AF-C set to release, focus tracking with lock on to 4 or 5.

    Thanks Harry. Forgive my ignorance, but I'm not quite sure I follow that last part. "focus tracking with lock on to 4 or 5". Can you elaborate on that? I mean I understand the setting ( or so I think), in that it is the delay between the camera switching targets of focus. So like if you were focused on one thing, and something walked though your frame, a longer setting would help prevent the camera from switching to the new object in the fame.

    I'm just trying to wrap my head around that for the purpose of the critters. My camera is on the default "3" setting now. So if I go 4 or 5, would that help the AF system not jump around quite so much? Thanks for the additional clarity.
    Camera: Nikon D4
    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
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited August 28, 2012
    Helvegr wrote: »
    Knowing that HarryB has a D4 as well, I was hoping he'd respond, thus I specifically stayed away from the exact mention of critter type. :)



    Thanks Harry. Forgive my ignorance, but I'm not quite sure I follow that last part. "focus tracking with lock on to 4 or 5". Can you elaborate on that? I mean I understand the setting ( or so I think), in that it is the delay between the camera switching targets of focus. So like if you were focused on one thing, and something walked though your frame, a longer setting would help prevent the camera from switching to the new object in the fame.

    I'm just trying to wrap my head around that for the purpose of the critters. My camera is on the default "3" setting now. So if I go 4 or 5, would that help the AF system not jump around quite so much? Thanks for the additional clarity.

    I use the longer setting for the focus tracking because I don't want to lose the focus on the subject I initially chose. If there are other critters around you could lose AF on your subect if they run into the scene.
    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!"
  • SciurusNigerSciurusNiger Registered Users Posts: 256 Major grins
    edited August 28, 2012
    Harryb wrote: »
    I use the longer setting for the focus tracking because I don't want to lose the focus on the subject I initially chose. If there are other critters around you could lose AF on your subect if they run into the scene.


    You mean like when I was taking a photo of the wooden fence in the backyard and this happened?

    CROPPED-Img3632-M.jpg


    Or when I was aiming for the brick wall and got this instead?

    CROPPED-Img1668-M.jpg



    :hide
    PJ.
    Garnered Images Photography

    "Where beauty moves and wit delights and signs of kindness bind me; there, oh there, whe'er I go I leave my heart behind me." (Thomas Ford, 1607)
  • jasonstonejasonstone Registered Users Posts: 735 Major grins
    edited August 29, 2012
    Harryb wrote: »
    I would set the camera to Cl shooting speed, I would go with 9 points for the conditions you describe, AF-C set to release, focus tracking with lock on to 4 or 5.

    ok i don't have a D4 - but the 9 points - does this mean it will automatically focus on something in one of those 9 points? or does it mean that you can manually put your focus box on one of those 9 points and it will then focus follow (AF-C) when the focussed object moves?

    Or is it just so different on a D4 compared to a D7000 that I should shut up and get out of the room mwink.gif
    Jase // www.stonesque.com
  • lifeinfocuslifeinfocus Registered Users Posts: 1,461 Major grins
    edited August 30, 2012
    jasonstone wrote: »
    ok i don't have a D4 - but the 9 points - does this mean it will automatically focus on something in one of those 9 points? or does it mean that you can manually put your focus box on one of those 9 points and it will then focus follow (AF-C) when the focussed object moves?

    Or is it just so different on a D4 compared to a D7000 that I should shut up and get out of the room mwink.gif

    I found a very good explanation of NIKON auto focus settings at: http://mansurovs.com/dslr-autofocus-modes-explained

    I think this may answer your question "SciurusNiger" question too.. Check out the table at the bottom of the article.

    Phil
    http://www.PhilsImaging.com
    "You don't take a photograph, you make it." ~Ansel Adams
    Phil
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited August 30, 2012
    Another "trick" when there's grass or branches between you and your moving subject is to use the AF button for focus and disable the half-press focus function on the shutter button. That way the system won't refocus 'till you want it to.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • jasonstonejasonstone Registered Users Posts: 735 Major grins
    edited August 31, 2012
    EXACTLY what I needed to read Thanks! thumb.gif
    Now the Dynamic AF and 3D tracking is clear!
    lifeinfocus wrote: »
    I found a very good explanation of auto focus settings at: http://mansurovs.com/dslr-autofocus-modes-explained

    I think this may answer your question "SciurusNiger" question too.. Check out the table at the bottom of the article.

    Phil
    Jase // www.stonesque.com
  • lifeinfocuslifeinfocus Registered Users Posts: 1,461 Major grins
    edited August 31, 2012
    Icebear wrote: »
    Another "trick" when there's grass or branches between you and your moving subject is to use the AF button for focus and disable the half-press focus function on the shutter button. That way the system won't refocus 'till you want it to.

    Good point.

    The same website that I pointed about NIKON autofocus explanation also has a very good one on AE/AF-L button. http://mansurovs.com/nikon-ae-l-af-l-button

    I have been working on developing a one on one training course for Nikon users and the above article and the one on Nikon Autofocus http://mansurovs.com/dslr-autofocus-modes-explained by the online author are really very good.

    I used to do IT training and often said that when I had to teach it I would learn as much or more than my students. Well, for two these topics it was true.

    Phil
    http://www.PhilsImaging.com
    "You don't take a photograph, you make it." ~Ansel Adams
    Phil
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