Professional Setting Guide — Sports AF Edition — Revision 1.
Table of Contents 2 Sports AF: Autofocus Basics ...................... 3 • AF Mode: AF‑C...................................................................................3 • AF-Area Mode: 25-Point Dynamic-Area AF................................3 • Focus Tracking with Lock-On.........................................................4 • The Standby Timer...........................................................................5 AF-Area Mode...................................................................
Sports AF: Autofocus Basics The following settings are suitable for most sports: • Autofocus mode: AF-C • AF-area mode: 25-point dynamic-area AF • Custom Settings ‣‣a1 AF‑C priority selection: Release ‣‣a3 Focus tracking with lock-on >> Blocked shot AF response: 2 Subject motion: Normal ‣‣a10 Autofocus mode restrictions: AF‑C ‣‣c2 Standby timer: 1 min l AF Mode: AF‑C Focus is adjusted continuously while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway or the AF-ON button is pressed.
l Focus Tracking with Lock-On Custom Setting a3 (Focus tracking with lock on) controls how autofocus responds to changes in the distance to the subject. Blocked Shot AF Response: 2 Increasing the speed with which the autofocus system reacts to blocked shots ensures that focus responds quickly to frequent subject changes. Subject Motion Position the slider according to how your subject moves. The default (“normal”) position, midway between Erratic and Steady, is suited to a wide variety of subjects.
Sports AF: Autofocus Basics l The Standby Timer Choose long standby times to keep the timer active and avoid the delay that occurs when it is reactivated (note that this increases the drain on the battery). If you’re at a soccer match and the default six-second timer expires while you’re waiting for a player to line up a corner kick, the delay may make you miss the golden moment following the kick. In situations like these, we suggest setting the timer to a minute or more.
AF-Area Mode Choose an AF-area mode according to your subject.
Description The focus point is selected manually. The camera focuses on the subject in the selected focus point only. Choose for subjects you can keep framed in the selected focus point. The focus point is selected manually.
AF-Area Mode l Custom Settings For faster AF-area mode selection, you can: • Assign specific AF-area modes to buttons using Custom Setting f1 (Custom control assignment, page 24): If you assign 72-point dynamic-area AF to the Pv button and group-area AF to the lens focus function buttons, for example, and then select 25-point dynamic-area AF with the AF-mode button and sub-command dial, you can keep the Pv button pressed to take pictures with 72-point dynamic-area AF, keep a lens focus function button press
Focus Points The camera focuses using 153 focus points, of which the 55 shown in red at right can be selected by the user. The available cross sensors and focus points vary with the lens or teleconverter used (pages 10–14). Focus-Point Selection The center focus point can be selected by pressing the center of the multi selector. See page 20 for information on choosing the number of focus points available, page 23 for information on configuring focus-area selection to “wrap around”.
l Cross Sensors The focus points with cross sensors are highlighted in green. All other focus points use line sensors. Lens Cross sensors AF‑S lenses other than those listed below with maximum apertures of f/4 or faster * 99 cross sensors AF‑S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12–24 mm f/4G IF‑ED AF‑S Micro NIKKOR 60 mm f/2.
Focus Points l Teleconverters and Available Focus Points The focus points shown below are available for autofocus and electronic rangefinding when a teleconverter is used. Cross-sensor focus points are highlighted in green. Max. lens Teleconverter aperture Focus points • TC‑14E/TC‑14E II/TC‑14E III • TC‑17E II f/2 • TC‑20E/TC‑20E II/TC‑20E III 153 (55 selectable); TC‑14E/TC‑14E II/TC‑14E III f/2.8 99 cross sensors • TC‑17E II f/2.
The focus points available for autofocus and electronic rangefinding when teleconverters are used in combination with different lenses are shown below (data are current as of March 2016). AF‑S NIKKOR 400 mm f/2.8E FL ED VR and 70–200 mm f/2.
Focus Points AF‑S NIKKOR 600 mm f/4E FL ED VR • Alone: 153 (55 selectable); 63 cross sensors • With TC‑14E/TC‑14E II/TC‑14E III: 153 (55 selectable); 45 cross sensors • With TC‑17E II: 37 (17 selectable); 25 cross sensors • With TC‑20E/TC‑20E II/TC‑20E III: 15 (9 selectable); 5 cross sensors with support for a combined aperture of f/8 AF‑S NIKKOR 200–400 mm f/4G ED VR II • Alone or with TC‑14E/TC‑14E II/TC‑14E III: 153 (55 selectable); 45 cross sensors • With TC‑17E II: 37 (17 selectable); 25 cross sensors
Focus Points AF‑S NIKKOR 80–400 mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR and 200–500 mm f/5.
Sports AF: Custom Settings Users of the D4S should note the differences between it and the D5 with respect to Custom Settings Group “a” (Autofocus).
l a1: AF‑C Priority Selection Custom Setting a1 (AF-C priority selection) controls whether the camera gives priority to focus or shutter release. Shutter-release button pressed all the way down G Release: Pictures can be taken whether or not the camera is in focus. Frame rates do not slow during burst photography.
Sports AF: Custom Settings : Subject not in focus : Subject in focus : Photo taken (frame number shown in top left corner) 3 4 5 6 7 2 3 4 5 6 3 4 5 2 3 4 17
l a3: Focus Tracking with Lock-On This menu contains two options: Blocked Shot AF Response and Subject motion. Blocked Shot AF Response In continuous-servo AF, focus tracking with lock-on prevents the camera refocusing when your subject is briefly obscured by another object, ensuring that it will continue to track the main subject once the obstacle has moved away. Choose the length of time before the camera refocuses from 1 (Quick), 2, 3, 4, and 5 (Delayed).
Sports AF: Custom Settings Subject Motion Choose how the camera tracks subjects in motion. Choose Steady for subjects approaching the camera at a steady pace, like speed skaters or race cars on a track, Erratic for hockey players and other subjects prone to sudden stops and starts.
l a6: Number of Focus Points Choose the focus points available for user selection. • 1 55 points: Choose from the 55 points shown at right. Use for precise framing. • 2 15 points: Choose from the 15 points shown at right. Use for quick focus-point selection. l a7: Store by Orientation This option lets you concentrate on shooting without having to worry about focus-point selection.
Sports AF: Custom Settings Camera rotated 90° counterclockwise Landscape (wide) orientation Camera rotated 90° clockwise • Off: The same focus point and AF-area mode will be used regardless of camera orientation.
l a8: AF Activation AF-ON button Choose AF‑ON only to split the functions of the AF‑ON and shutterrelease buttons so that the former is used for focus while the latter is used only to release the shutter. Lift your thumb from the AF‑ON button to lock focus and take more shots at the current focus distance or prevent the camera refocusing when an object passes between you and your subject.
Sports AF: Custom Settings l a9: Limit AF-Area Mode Selection Prevent the selection of unwanted AF-area modes. For example, you can select Dynamic-area AF (25 points) and Group-area AF to switch quickly back and forth between these two modes. l a10: Autofocus Mode Restrictions Prevent the selection of unwanted autofocus modes. For sports photography, you may find it convenient to choose AF‑C to stop you accidentally selecting single-servo AF.
Sports AF: Custom Control Assignments Custom Setting f1 (Custom control assignment) can be used to assign different roles, including focus-related functions, to camera controls such as the Pv and Fn buttons.
• q AF-area mode + AF‑ON: As for AF-area mode, above, except that pressing the control also initiates autofocus. • B AE/AF lock: Focus and exposure lock while the control is pressed. • F AF lock only: Focus locks while the control is pressed. • A AF‑ON: Pressing the control initiates autofocus.
Sports AF: Custom Control Assignments l Lens Focus Function Buttons You can use S Lens focus function buttons to choose the role played by the focus function buttons when the focus function selector on the lens is set to AF‑L. For fast-moving sports, choose AF-area mode to enable rapid AF-area mode selection. Focus function buttons Lenses with Focus Function Selectors As of March 2016, the following lenses featured focus function selectors: • AF‑S NIKKOR 800 mm f/5.
Auto AF Fine-Tuning The D5 can fine-tune autofocus automatically. The results can be used with all lenses of the same type. Use only as required. AF fine-tuning should be performed at the focus distance at which the lens is normally used; finetuning performed at short focus distances may be less effective with distant subjects and vice versa. 1 Ready the camera. Mount the camera on a tripod and aim the camera at a flat, high-contrast subject parallel to the camera focal plane.
2 Start live view. Rotate the live view selector to C and press the a button. 3 Adjust focus settings. Rotate the focus-mode selector to AF and use the AF-mode button and command dials to select the following: • Autofocus mode: AF‑S • AF-area mode: 5 (wide) or 6 (normal) 4 Select the center focus point. Press the center of the multi selector to select the center focus point. 5 Focus.
Auto AF Fine-Tuning 6 Perform auto AF fine-tuning. Press the AF-mode and movierecord buttons simultaneously and keep them pressed until the dialog shown in Step 7 is displayed (this should take slightly over two seconds). AF-mode button Movie-record button 7 Save the new value. Highlight Yes and press J to add the AF fine-tuning value for the current lens to the saved values list (CPU lenses only). Note that only one value can be stored for each type of lens. 8 Enable AF fine-tuning.
Recommended AF Settings by Event This section offers some advice on adjusting autofocusrelated settings for different sporting events. l Overview: Settings by Event The settings for different events are summarized in the table below.
Custom Settings a3: Focus tracking with lock-on a1: AF‑C priority a7: Store by selection Blocked shot AF response Subject motion orientation 2 Normal Focus point 1 (Quick) or 2 Erratic 2 — Normal Release 3 Steady Focus point Normal 31
Event Gymnastics Balance beam (page 50) Vault (page 51) Rings and horizontal and uneven bars (page 52) Sprints (page 53) Athletics Aquatics 32 AF mode AF-area mode 3D-tracking or auto-area- or 72-point dynamic-area AF Auto-area- or 153-point dynamic-area AF 72-point dynamic- or auto-area AF 25-point dynamic- or group-area AF Hurdles (page 55) AF‑C 9-point dynamic-area AF Marathons (from a vehicle, page 56) Shot put, discus, javelin, Group-area AF and hammer throw (page 56) Long jump and triple jump (p
Recommended AF Settings by Event Custom Settings a3: Focus tracking with lock-on a1: AF‑C priority a7: Store by selection Blocked shot AF response Subject motion orientation 3 Normal 2 Normal or erratic Normal — Focus point Release 3 Erratic — Normal 33
l Soccer Photographing soccer matches involves quick changes of focus and subjects that may be briefly obscured by foreground objects.
Recommended AF Settings by Event l Winter Sports Here are some suggested settings for photographers at the rink or on the slopes. Hockey If you find yourself continually switching subjects as the puck passes from one player to another, select low values for Custom Setting a3 (Focus tracking with lock-on) > Blocked shot AF response to quickly refocus at new focus distances. Note, however, that the camera will refocus instantly when the subject leaves the focus point.
Ski Jumping Choose settings according to whether you are at the side of the hill with jumpers crossing your field of view or at the bottom with jumpers coming toward you. From the Side The following settings are recommended for shots taken from the side of the hill.
Recommended AF Settings by Event From the Front When the subject is at the edge of the frame, the number of focus points available for dynamic-area AF drops; for coverage similar to 25-point AF, choose 72-point AF.
Alpine Skiing Choose settings according to whether the skier is near the gate or taking air over a jump. Near Gates With a slow blocked-shot response of 5 (Delayed) or 4, the camera may be slow to switch back to the skier after focusing on a gate (the effect varies with the distance between the gate and the skier).
Recommended AF Settings by Event Jumps If you anticipate that the subject will come into view suddenly and will not overlap a gate, choose group-area AF. Group-area AF lets you track your subject in a wide area, ensuring that even small, hard-to-frame subjects can reliably be captured in sharp focus.
Singles Figure Skating Auto-area AF is recommended if composition is a priority. To automatically switch focus points and AF-area modes as you go from “tall” (portrait) to “wide” (landscape) orientation and back again (page 41), select Focus point and AF-area mode for Custom Setting a7 (Store by orientation).
Recommended AF Settings by Event Instant AF-Area Mode Selection For flexible AF-area mode selection when photographing figure skating, select 25-point dynamic-area AF with the camera and assign group-area AF to the focus function buttons using Custom Setting f1 (Custom control assignment) > S Lens focus function buttons (page 26).
Pairs Figure Skating/Ice Dance For events in which skaters frequently cross in front of one another, a slow blocked-shot response is recommended to improve tracking and prevent the focus point falling between the skaters.
Recommended AF Settings by Event Speed Skating For more precise focus, use 25-point dynamic-area AF for wide-orientation upper-body shots and shots taken head-on. Switch to 72 points for tall-orientation shots with the skater near the edge of the frame.
Short-Track Speed Skating The following settings are recommended: • Autofocus mode: AF-C • AF-area mode: 9-point dynamic- or group-area AF • Custom Settings ‣‣a1 AF‑C priority selection: Release ‣‣a3 Focus tracking with lock-on >> Blocked shot AF response: 3 Subject motion: Normal ‣‣a7 Store by orientation: Focus point If you find the subject hard to track with 9 focus points, choose 25-point dynamic-area AF.
Recommended AF Settings by Event Instant AF-Area Mode Selection Group-area AF is a good choice when your subject is in the lead, but 9-point dynamic-area AF may be the better option when your subject is back in the pack, as the camera may otherwise tend to focus on the leader. For rapid AF-area mode selection when skaters switch positions, assign AF-area mode to the lens focus function buttons using Custom Setting f1 (Custom control assignment) > S Lens focus function buttons (page 26).
l Gymnastics Try these settings for gymnastics events. Floor Exercises Auto-area AF is recommended if composition is a priority, but 72-point dynamic-area AF may be preferred if the background contains objects with regular, detailed patterns, as otherwise photos may not be in focus even if the in-focus indicator (l) is lit. To capture fast-moving subjects, choose group-area AF or a dynamic-area AF option with a comparatively high number of focus points (r).
Recommended AF Settings by Event Select Focus point and AF-area mode for Custom Setting a7 (Store by orientation) to automatically switch focus points and AF-area modes as you rotate the camera (page 20). Choose 15 points for Custom Setting a6 (Number of focus points) to reduce the number of focus points for quicker selection (page 20).
Rhythmic Gymnastics For events with apparatuses, choose 3Dtracking, position the focus area over your subject (for best results, choose the uniform or another area of the subject that is a different color from the background), and press and hold the AF‑ON button or keep the shutter-release button pressed halfway. The camera will automatically track the subject, letting you concentrate on composition.
Recommended AF Settings by Event Select Focus point and AF-area mode for Custom Setting a7 (Store by orientation) to automatically switch focus points and AF-area modes as you rotate the camera (page 20). Choose 15 points for Custom Setting a6 (Number of focus points) to reduce the number of focus points for quicker selection (page 20).
Balance Beam Auto-area AF is recommended if composition is a priority, while 72-point dynamicarea AF is suggested for close-ups. When photographing events with frequent jumps or changes of direction, choose 3D- tracking, position the focus area over your subject (for best results, choose the uniform or another area of the subject that is a different color from the background), and press and hold the AF‑ON button or keep the shutter-release button pressed halfway.
Recommended AF Settings by Event Vault If you find the subject hard to frame, select auto-area AF. Auto-area AF in particular lets you concentrate on composition while leaving the camera in charge of choosing the focus point. If you find that auto-area AF tends to focus on the vault, choose group-area AF or 153-point dynamic-area AF.
Rings and Horizontal and Uneven Bars If you find the subject hard to track using 72-point dynamic-area AF, choose a mode with more focus points (r).
Recommended AF Settings by Event l Athletics You may find these settings useful when photographing road running or track and field events. Sprints Choose 25-point dynamic-area AF when photographing approaching runners to help prevent the camera focusing on their hands, grouparea AF for more reliable focus when photographing runners on the start line and in other shots taken at long range.
Instant AF-Area Mode Selection For flexible AF-area mode selection when photographing approaching runners, select 25-point dynamic-area AF with the camera and assign grouparea AF to the focus function buttons using Custom Setting f1 (Custom control assignment) > S Lens focus function buttons (page 26).
Recommended AF Settings by Event Hurdles The following settings are recommended: • Autofocus mode: AF-C • AF-area mode: 9-point dynamic-area AF • Custom Settings ‣‣a1 AF‑C priority selection: Release ‣‣a3 Focus tracking with lock-on >> Blocked shot AF response: 3 Subject motion: Normal ‣‣a7 Store by orientation: Focus point You can refocus as needed if the camera focuses on the hurdles in the foreground.
Marathons (from a Vehicle) When shooting from a moving vehicle, choose 9-point dynamic-area AF to keep specific runners in focus as they change position in the pack, auto-area AF if you find it hard to keep your subject in the focus point. If your lens supports vibration reduction, choose SPORT (if available) or ACTIVE to reduce camera blur.
Recommended AF Settings by Event Long Jump and Triple Jump Choosing a dynamic-area AF mode with comparatively few focus points (r) when photographing long and triple jumps from the front helps prevent the camera focusing on the sand while still letting you capture subject motion.
l Aquatics Synchronized swimming • Autofocus mode: AF-C • AF-area mode: 25-point dynamic-area AF • Custom Settings ‣‣a1 AF-C priority selection: Release ‣‣a3 Focus tracking with lock-on Blocked shot AF response: 3 > Subject motion: Normal Swimming Choosing 9-point dynamic-area AF helps prevent the camera focusing on splashes (you can refocus as needed if the camera fails to focus on the main subject).
Recommended AF Settings by Event Instant AF-Area Mode Selection For flexible AF-area mode selection when photographing the start of a race, select 9-point dynamic-area AF with the camera and assign grouparea AF to the focus function buttons using Custom Setting f1 (Custom control assignment) > S Lens focus function buttons (page 26).
Diving When photographing divers against low-contrast, undifferentiated backgrounds, choose 3D-tracking, position the focus area over your subject (for best results, choose the uniform or another area of the subject that is a different color from the background), and press and hold the AF‑ON button or keep the shutter-release button pressed halfway. The camera will automatically track the diver, letting you concentrate on composition.
Recommended AF Settings by Event • Autofocus mode: AF-C • AF-area mode: 3D-tracking or auto-area or 153-point dynamic-area AF • Custom Settings ‣‣a1 AF‑C priority selection: Release ‣‣a3 Focus tracking with lock-on >> Blocked shot AF response: 3 Subject motion: Normal ‣‣a4 3D-tracking face-detection: Off 61
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