auto focus area mode which one?
 

I've finally upgraded my d40x and got myself a d5100. I am so so happy what an amazing little camera it is. The high iso performance is blowing my mind. To get the noise levels of the d40x at 400 iso i need to bump the d5100 to 3200 iso amazing! I've got it set at auto iso in the house when catching quick shots of the little one.

I only had 3 focus points on my d40x so i used the 'dynamic area AF' Now i got 11 points i'm thinking maybe i'm better off using '3d tracking' or 'auto-area AF'. Watch the general consensus here? What are you guys using?

General use use Auto.
For planned shots, use single point.

3D tracking is only really for moving objects (horses running, cars on a track etc).

Check this (should still apply to the D5100): [url]http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d7000/af-settings.htm[/url]

Hi thefonz

I have the D90 and as the manual says 3D tracking is really designed for recomposing your shots and not for tracking fast moving objects , tried it a couple of times with my white Jack Russell in a large meadow in very good light . I used the centre focus point to get a good lock on him and as soon as he ran off I panned the camera to follow him and the camera remained locked on the patch off grass that he was standing on but if I focused on a stationary object and moved the camera around you can see in the view finder each focus point picking up the lock as the object passed by .
If your going to ask me why it's called 3D tracking I'm afraid I haven't got the foggiest :(
However the dynamic area A/F combined with A/F C and high speed continuous shooting is amazing , I promise you it will put a smile on your face when you see how well it works :)
I do use auto ISO and usually app priority but unless I'm doing something like macro work I use the dynamic and AF C setup .
I know the 5100 has a much newer system than the 90 so you may have better luck with the 3D than I did , I had read reports that the 300s with its better metering and more numerous focus points would track successfully using the 3D so I would be very interested in your experiences .

Good luck

Mark

I've been playing with the 3d today im pretty impressed with it.

Hope you don't mind me asking ,

What conditions are you shooting in , what is the subject , background and what set up are you using .
I'm interested in finding out if it's down to the upgrades of the 5100 or if I just didn't give it a proper go .

Mark

I've been using 3D tracking on my D90 for recomposing static subjects as the manual suggests, but after deciding that single is probably more reliable I just move the AF point after I've composed. I found 3D a bit annoying how it flicked around between points when recomposing.
I haven't done much shooting of moving subjects so don't yet know what I would do in that situation!

[QUOTE=wintermute;63674]I've been using 3D tracking on my D90 for recomposing static subjects as the manual suggests, but after deciding that single is probably more reliable I just move the AF point after I've composed. I found 3D a bit annoying how it flicked around between points when recomposing.
I haven't done much shooting of moving subjects so don't yet know what I would do in that situation![/QUOTE]


I wish it did work like the name suggests but your experience sounds identical to mine .

The other question I forgot to ask is what lenses both of you are using , I was using the Sigma 18 – 250 but don't know if a better faster lens would make any difference

Mark

You're welcome.

I'm usually using a 50mm f1.4 when indoors. I've started using the single mode again. Auto if shooting a face doesn't seem to lock on to the eyes.

Help on AF please!
 

Hi there, very new to DSLR although back in the late 70's used Nikon F1 and F2's so know a bit about SLR in general.
However the numerous AF settings are mind blowing! I use either 'S' or 'A' priority what would you suggest for everyday pictures 'Landscapes' Portrait's' any help would be appreciated