Nikon D7000

Stealthy Ninja wrote in post #10991724
yeah the 5DII and kids don't mix well (the focus can't track well enough.

If you want a good kids body, go for the D700 IMHO. Much better subject tracking.

BUT that would mean a switch.

I rented a D700 the third time my gear was back to Canon. The subject tracking AFAICT only works when all 51 AF points are active, and for me it was lagging at least half a second behind motion. I guess since the 5D2 doesn't do any tracking at all this is technically better, but still not useful.

I have some priceless shots of my son thanks to my 5D2. Now that he's mobile I'm shooting often with my 85 f/1.8 for the AF speed, and indeed sold my 50 f/1.4. I miss the MFD though.

anthony11 wrote in post #10992711
I rented a D700 the third time my gear was back to Canon. The subject tracking AFAICT only works when all 51 AF points are active, and for me it was lagging at least half a second behind motion. I guess since the 5D2 doesn't do any tracking at all this is technically better, but still not useful.

I have some priceless shots of my son thanks to my 5D2. Now that he's mobile I'm shooting often with my 85 f/1.8 for the AF speed, and indeed sold my 50 f/1.4. I miss the MFD though.

No offense dude, but i owned thr 5Dii for a couple of years and I've had the D3s for a bunch-o months. I hear the D700 is essentially the same as the D3(s) with AF and if that's so it tracks really well in all modes. The D700/D3 AF is as good as or better than the 1DIV AF (which I have also owned).

There are many settings tweaks to get the best of it though (the 1D series is the same this way). Also lenses play a factor. I suspect your 1 second delay was due to settings or lenses, not the camera itself as I've never had such problems.

Stealthy Ninja wrote in post #10994466
No offense dude, but i owned thr 5Dii for a couple of years and I've had the D3s for a bunch-o months. I hear the D700 is essentially the same as the D3(s) with AF and if that's so it tracks really well in all modes.

Does "tracking" mean the same thing to both of us? I'm talking about a mode in which an acquired subject is followed around the frame in continuous AF mode, automagically handing off to adjacent points as the subject moves. I could find no way to make the D700 do this other than in 51 point mode. I've read of D700 owners deliberately limiting themselves to 19 (or whatever) AF points to gain usable AF speed.

Too bad these tweaks are closely-guarded secrets, with the only ready source of information being Ken Rockwell, who is less than ideally useful.

Also lenses play a factor. I suspect your 1 second delay was due to settings or lenses, not the camera itself as I've never had such problems.

I was using the 50mm f/1.4 G. I don't understand how a subject moving within a frame would have anything to do with the lens in use, though.

anthony11 wrote in post #10994593
Does "tracking" mean the same thing to both of us? I'm talking about a mode in which an acquired subject is followed around the frame in continuous AF mode, automagically handing off to adjacent points as the subject moves. I could find no way to make the D700 do this other than in 51 point mode. I've read of D700 owners deliberately limiting themselves to 19 (or whatever) AF points to gain usable AF speed.

Ok yeah, so we see tracking differently.

Basically you're right using your definition BUT your definition isn't the only use of "tracking". Tracking is ALSO the AF following the subject as it moves towards the camera in a set area. I usually use 21points around the AF point. Then if the subject moves slightly out of the AF point then they will be tracked. This method though means I have to keep the subject/focal point within' the AF area. I am pretty sure this is the way most people use the tracking. Oh BTW in this mode, the AF point will not move within' the viewfinder like it does in 51point/3Dmatrix mode.

The tracking you mean is 51point (3D matrix) tracking. This will make the AF point jump around the screen as it attempts to track the subject. This isn't always the best way to do it. In fact it's the most likely method to get the AF tricked IMHO... which is why most people don't use it if the don't have to It's more for very unpredictable movements (see the link I posted below for a more detailed description).

anthony11 wrote in post #10994593
Too bad these tweaks are closely-guarded secrets, with the only ready source of information being Ken Rockwell, who is less than ideally useful.

LOL Just gotta know where to look. This page shows more about the AF and how to get it to work properly. Very useful:
http://prakashphotogra​phy.blogspot.com …0-autofocus-settings.html

This link is useful for people going from Canon to Nikon too:
http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/70437​3

anthony11 wrote in post #10994593
I was using the 50mm f/1.4 G. I don't understand how a subject moving within a frame would have anything to do with the lens in use, though.

It's the speed of the AF. Some lenses are just not fast enough to keep up. The 85L for example is known to be a slow focusing lens.

1. Go to a5 and enable AF-ON
2. Next go to a1 AF-C priority selection, and select "release+focus"
3. Next go to a4 - Focus Tracking with Lock-on and select OFF
4. Then go to a3 and select "51 pts 3D tracking"
5. On the front/left-hand side of the D700 there is a lever that says C S M - Set it to C - Continuous.

Now when you press AF-On, the D700 will lock on to your moving target like crazy and won't let go. Try it.

Stealthy Ninja wrote in post #10997129
LOL Just gotta know where to look. This page shows more about the AF and how to get it to work properly. Very useful:
http://prakashphotogra​phy.blogspot.com …0-autofocus-settings.html

Thanks. With AF on the shutter release, does it really not continually refocus during bursts? My 5D2 seems to and I've never really understood the appeal of moving AF activation off the half-shutter to a separate button.

I picked up the 85 f/1.8 in part because of the AF speed.

That would be difficult since I sent the rental back almost a year ago. Would not having set release+focus and de-selecting lock-on really have impaired the 3D-tracking performance that much? Or not taking AF activation off the half-press?

Stealthy Ninja wrote in post #10997129
It's the speed of the AF. Some lenses are just not fast enough to keep up. The 85L for example is known to be a slow focusing lens.

isnt the 50mm f/1.4G not the fastest lens in the shed when it comes to AF?

My comments in bold.

anthony11 wrote in post #11000728
Thanks. With AF on the shutter release, does it really not continually refocus during bursts? My 5D2 seems to and I've never really understood the appeal of moving AF activation off the half-shutter to a separate button.

(No it tracks the subject. However it just keeps firing whether you're in focus or not (more on that below). People like to move the AF off the shutter button because they can hold the focus in one area. Take a shot, then move to another area and keep the focus in the same umm... distance... this is good (for example) if you only want to shoot (let's say) basballers sliding in to base. You pick your focal point, then when the baseballer slides in, you fire. Then (if you hold down the button) you can do it again without needing to refocus. There are other reasons too, but this is one I can think of. Personally I use both depending on the situation.)

I picked up the 85 f/1.8 in part because of the AF speed.

(Fair enough)

That would be difficult since I sent the rental back almost a year ago. Would not having set release+focus and de-selecting lock-on really have impaired the 3D-tracking performance that much? Or not taking AF activation off the half-press?

(I use AF on half press all the time, I don't think that makes a difference. As for the release+focus etc. I have focus priority on so it will lock before it releases the shutter. This does slow down burst (sometimes by quite a bit) so sometimes release+focus is good (sorta between the "Release" setting and the "Focus Only" setting). If you just had it on "release" then you'd be getting a nice burst rate, but a lot of shots would be OOF). The thing is... "Release" is the standard setting. It will just fire away at maximum burst, as the AF tries to keep up. Sometimes it fires when the focus is right, sometimes it doesn't.)

KenjiS wrote in post #11005126
isnt the 50mm f/1.4G not the fastest lens in the shed when it comes to AF?

Don't know. I'm just saying some lenses can slow down AF.

Stealthy Ninja wrote in post #11005215
My comments in bold.

Don't know. I'm just saying some lenses can slow down AF.

true story! Like the 80-400 nik lens that thing is a dog!

J_TULLAR wrote in post #11005716
true story! Like the 80-400 nik lens that thing is a dog!

Which begs the Q, why have a telephoto with slow AF?! Birds don't keep still.

Stealthy Ninja wrote in post #11006103
Which begs the Q, why have a telephoto with slow AF?! Birds don't keep still.

if i remember right, Nikon said they didnt have room for AF-S in the lens....

Which sounds like complete BS to me..

KenjiS wrote in post #11008411
if i remember right, Nikon said they didnt have room for AF-S in the lens....

Which sounds like complete BS to me..

Agreed. They did after all discontinue the AF-S 24-85 while continuing to sell the AF-D 24-85. Hard to fathom some of the things they (and Canon) do at times.

KenjiS wrote in post #11008411
if i remember right, Nikon said they didnt have room for AF-S in the lens....

Which sounds like complete BS to me..

Hah! Sounds just like Canon with their "we didn't have room to put all cross-type AF sensors in the 5DII" nonsense. Good to see it's an industry-wide malady.

anthony11 wrote in post #11008675
Agreed. They did after all discontinue the AF-S 24-85 while continuing to sell the AF-D 24-85. Hard to fathom some of the things they (and Canon) do at times.

Well from what i understand, the AF-D 24-85 is actually better optically iirc, its also a hair faster (its a f/2.8-4) and the AF is actually pretty fast from what i understand, I can see why Nikon discontinued the AF-S one since iirc it cost more, and likely was more expensive to produce (since it used ED glass and an AF-S drive)

And from what i understand, the 24-85 is a pretty underrated little lens, fairly sharp, lightweight, compact, and a useful speed as well as being quite cheap since it lacks VR and such

So in that instance, i can see the logic...

A better one would be WHY DID NIKON DISCONTINUE THE AF-S 80-200? But again, from what i understand the later screwdrive ones were pretty quick and the AF-S lens didnt add much speed, while also adding to cost...

Though I have heard the 80-400 is designed to be slow intentionally to maintain focus accuracy...the Canon 100-400 isnt exactly a speed demon either you know

Stealthy Ninja wrote in post #11005215
(I use AF on half press all the time, I don't think that makes a difference. As for the release+focus etc. I have focus priority on so it will lock before it releases the shutter. This does slow down burst (sometimes by quite a bit) so sometimes release+focus is good (sorta between the "Release" setting and the "Focus Only" setting). If you just had it on "release" then you'd be getting a nice burst rate, but a lot of shots would be OOF). The thing is... "Release" is the standard setting. It will just fire away at maximum burst, as the AF tries to keep up. Sometimes it fires when the focus is right, sometimes it doesn't.)

The first time I tried a friends D300 it shot the burst and then after checking I found it defaults to release. I guess they do that to ensure it gets peak burst. After fixing it and telling my friend about it. He didn't seem to understand. I used his camera for one weekend and figured this out. He had it for half a year.