When photographing, along with the settings excerpts, aperture, ISO and image quality, one of the most important parameters for a SLR camera is the correct setting of the focus mode and method.
Focus on Nikon
Nikon has many focus options with different combinations of focus modes and focus areas. Usually focusing on modern Nikon DSLR cameras occurs when pressing the shutter button halfwayor by pressing the dedicated AF-ON button.
Focus Modes:
'AF-S' or 'S' (Auto Focus Single) - focus mode camera, in which the camera, when the shutter button is pressed halfway, focuses on focus, and when a successful aim is achieved, it stops focusing. Once pressed - once focused... In the manuals for cameras, the mode is often translated as'Single AF Tracking'. To change the aiming accuracy, release the button and press it again. The mode is suitable for static scenes.
Focus mode switch Nikon D700. The same is available on cameras Nikon D300, D300s, D200, D1, D2, D3 etc.
'AF-C' or 'C' (Auto Focus Continuous) - tracking continuous (continuous) mode of automatic focus of the camera (in the instructions it is often translated as'Continuous AF Tracking'). When the shutter button is pressed halfway, the camera constantly tries to focus correctly. Pressed the button - and the camera constantly monitors the focus. A very useful mode when subjects are moving or composition changes.
AF-A (Auto Focus Automatic) - automatic focus mode selection camera. In this mode, the camera can choose to work in AF-S or AF-C mode. Basically, all amateurs shoot in AF-A mode and often do not even suspect the presence of other modes. I noticed that the mode AF-A more often behaves like the AF-S mode.
AF-A, AF-C, AF-S mode selector on Nikon D90
AF (auto focus) - general auto focus mode. The mode is enabled on the camera itself, not to be confused with the 'A' mode on the lens itself.
AF focus mode switch (lever) on the camera
MF (manual focusing) - manual focus camera... The mode is activated using the camera menu. Usually only cameras without a focus motor have this mode. In this mode, you need to manually rotate the focusing ring on the lens to achieve correct focusing. On the one hand: manual focus can be difficult for beginners, on the other hand: it is A vital focus method for advanced photographers and professionals. Manual focus on the CZK is one of the major advantages over conventional digital cameras (soap dishes). Very often, the automation of the camera and the lens cannot determine how to focus correctly and to achieve optimal focus, just switch to manual mode and point the camera manually for precise focus.
Focus Mode Switch Using the Nikon D5100 Camera Menu
M (M - manual focusing) - manual focus on the lens or on the camera. Same as MF. Attention: Not all lenses have a focus mode switch, such as a lens Nikon 50mm f / 1.8D AF Nikkor It has no focus switches at all. It's important: in order to switch to manual focus mode MF with a lens that does not have a focus mode switch, you need to switch the focus lever to mode M on a camera with a focus motor; on a camera without a focus motor, only the MF mode with such a lens will always be available. About different types of lenses and cameras is described in detail in the section Nikon Lens Differences.
Lens with focus mode switch and lens without focus mode switch
A (Auto) - auto focus mode lens. In this position of the focus switch on the lens, only automatic focusing with the lens is available. Attention: not all lenses have such a focus operation switch, for example, the switch on the lens is shown below Nikon 85mm f / 1.4D AF Nikkor.
Example of a manual or auto focus lens
M / A (autofocus with manual override) - automatic focusing lens with priority of manual control. Attention: not all lenses have this focus mode, the example below shows the switch on the lens Nikon 85mm f / 1.4GN AF-S Nikkor. This mode implies auto focus with instant manual focus adjustmentand the lens does not need to be set to focus mode 'M'. You can read more about this mode. here.
This is how the switch of focus modes on the lens with support for MA-M mode looks
AF-F (Full Time Servo Auto Focus) - continuous tracking focus mode for video shooting. Attention: This focus mode is only available on modern cameras with the ability to record video. This mode does not work when taking pictures. Usually you cannot find the mode in the menu AF-F, it is only available in live view when entering the info menu. This is a very useful mode, it allows you to record with constant auto focus. This mode is available only in cameras starting from Nikon D3100.
AF-F mode for shooting video
Important: due to the fact that all Nikon CZKs have different controls and different menus, each camera switches its focus mode in its own way. In the general case, M, AF, S, C is responsible for choosing the focus mode switch near lens mount for cameras with a focus motor and settings in the menu of the camera itself. For non-powered cameras, the focus mode is selected only through the camera menu. Different combinations of settings for different types of cameras are shown in the diagrams above.
Damn important: if you use a camera with a focus motor, and on it is a lens with auto focus but without a focus motor and without a focus mode switch on the lens itself, for example, a bunch Nikon D90 (camera with motor) and lens Nikon 85mm f / 1.8D AF Nikkor (without focusing motor and without focusing mode switch) - for manual focusing, be sure to switch the lever near the camera mount to the 'M' position, otherwise when focusing manually can damage the camera.
A number of cameras from Nikon have a built-in rangefinder (focus indicator in the viewfinder). The rangefinder in the viewfinder can tell in which direction you need to rotate the focus ring on the lens in order to achieve the correct focus. The range finder works both with automatic and manual focusing. Rangefinder is in the cameras Nikon D3100, D5100, D700 etc. In general, on older lenses that could not focus automatically, there is a special focusing scale, which indicates the distance to the focusing object. It's a pity when using the old AI-S optics on younger Nikon cameras, the rangefinder refuses to work. With manual optics, the rangefinder only works on older Nikon cameras.
The principle of operation of the electronic rangefinder
On any Nikon CLC camera, the green circle in the viewfinder in the lower left corner of the viewfinder is responsible for the accuracy of focusing on the selected focus point. When it is on, this means that the sharpness at the selected point is normal. The green dot (focus confirmation point) is an indispensable tool when working with old class lenses AI-S and similar, for example, such as Nikon 100mm F / 2.8 Series E MF
A green dot that confirms correct focus
Advanced cameras have fine-tuning the focus: Release priority and Focus priority in AF-C and AF-S mode.
Usually in AF-C mode, the choice is:
- FPS frequency - the shutter release is more important for the camera than the focusing accuracy, this is called release priority
- FPS + AF frequency - the shutter is more important for the camera, but it also takes into account the focusing accuracy (not available on all cameras)
- Focus - the focus is more important for the camera, not the shooting speed.
Using the priority setting, you can set what is most important when shooting - focus, and then release the shutter, or release the shutter and ignore focus. I set AF-S priority to focus priority mode, AF-C to shutter priority mode.
Setting Focus Priorities
Important Note:
Younger Nikon cameras do not support shutter priority mode (release priority). The exact list of cameras, as well as other useful information on limiting priorities, can be found in the section “Unpleasant restriction of Nikon entry-level cameras and its solution", As well as in the section"Restructuring AF-S, AF-C modes when working with an external flash. Features Focus Focus".
Live View
live view allows you to turn a complex SLR camera into an ordinary soap box, that is, you can focus (photograph) using the large display of the camera itself, and not through the optical viewfinder (peephole). In Live View, focus is based on contrast. This method is much slower for normal focusing through the optical viewfinder. Moreover, the difference in focusing speed in Live View mode and through the optical viewfinder can be tens of times. Some cameras have two focusing modes in Live View mode. The first one is “tripod” focusing, it is done as on conventional digital cameras (dichotomously, in contrast). Second, you can frame the frame through Live View, but when you press the shutter button to focus, the camera turns off Live View, focuses through the usual focusing system, and then turns on Live View again or takes a picture. For a simple description of how Live View works, see Dmitry Evtifeev’s blog.
How Live View Works
Important:
camera Nikon D700 и Nikon D300 in Live View and Tripod sub-modes, focus only when AF-ON button is pressed.
Focus Points and Focus Areas
Each camera has a different number of points and areas through which it can focus. A special module is responsible for focusing in the camera, which is located at the bottom of the camera’s mirror. The focusing module just calculates the phase values, on the basis of which it gives a command to perform focusing. In fact, modern central control valves have two mirrors, the second mirror serves to perform focusing through the focus module, in more detail here... Usually, a focusing module consists of a certain number of points (zones) on which focus analysis is performed. For 2012 Nikon has cameras with 3, 5, 11, 39, 51 focus points. The number of points affects the usability and focusing accuracy of the camera. You can read in more detail about focus systems on Nikon cameras.
The image shows the focus point where focus is achieved.
For working with focus points, the settings are responsible. AF-area mode.
- Automatic (auto-area AF), denoted as a white rectangle. Focuses on the closest subject using all available points.
- Dynamic (dynamic-area AF), focusing works on only one point, but takes into account information with adjacent points
- Single Point AF, focuses on only one point.
- Additional: 3D-tracking, or the choice of several zones. Such settings are not available on all cameras and often they are sub-functions of the dynamic focus area selection.
Points and focus method: AF-S single point
Important:
It’s very convenient to set the choice of the focus area method for amateur and advanced amateur cameras using a soft key (as I did on Nikon D90) This will allow you to quickly switch between focusing on a single point, automatic zone selection, dynamic mode, 3D tracking, etc. On Nikon professional and flagship cameras, a special zone switch is provided, which simplifies the work with professional equipment.
Attention:
in manual focus mode (M, MF), only one focus point is available.
Important:
A number of cameras can show in the image at which point or group of points the focus was performed. When viewing a picture, you can activate a mode in which the focus points are indicated by squares. This mode is supported only by professional cameras of the type D200, D300 and all full-frame. This is convenient because when setting up a quick preview of the image on a 1 to 1 scale, scaling is done exactly at the focus point at which the shooting was performed. This allows you to quickly check and select good sharp pictures. On advanced amateur and amateur cameras, to view the correct focusing, press the zoom button, and then use the selector to find the area in the image by which focus was performed. If your camera does not have a function that shows at which point the focus was performed, you can use ViewNX, which comes with the camera. Focus points can be displayed on the computer display. This is sometimes very helpful. In the sample photos, I just copied the work of ViewNX 2.
Important:
ViewNX only displays focus points on the computer when the picture was taken in AF-A, AF-S, AF-C modes with focus priority. If AF-S, AF-C with shutter priority is selected, the program will show focus points only if the camera was sure that the focus was correct.
Important:
Not all Nikon cameras allow you to change the area and type of focus when using the automatic modes (green mode). In modes P, A, S, M, everything can be customized to your taste.
Single point focus. AF-C focus mode
Focus point loop function
This function simply allows you to move the focus point in a circle, thus looping it around. When the rightmost point is selected, when you press the selector right, the focus point will go to the leftmost position. This function simply allows you to speed up the work when focusing on a single point.
Wide and standard focus area
In some cameras, you can choose a wide focus area, in contrast to the usual. A wide focus area reduces the number of focus points (zones). For example, for Nikon D200 With 11 focus points, 7 wide areas are created. Optically in the viewfinder, the zones will be larger in size than the dots. This sometimes simplifies the work with the camera.
Focus adjustment (alignment)
Sometimes the lens may malfunction and focus behind the subject (back) or in front of the focus object (front). In the people, such a lack of lenses is called back focus, front focus (back and front focus). Some cameras may adjust to the “wrong” lens. To do this, you need to find the focus adjustment in the camera and adjust the focus. Only have tuning Nikon D300, D300s, D500, D7000, D7100, D7200, D7500, D700, D750, D780, D800e, D800E, D810,D810a, D3, D3s, D3x, D4, D4s, D5, Df, D600, D610.
Focusing with Dark Lenses
Almost all Nikon cameras can focus without problems automatically only when using lenses with apertures up to F / 5.6. This is indicated in the camera manual. When using lenses with a smaller aperture, such as the Tamron 28-300mm F / 3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph (IF) Macro, it may be difficult to focus on the F / 6.3 aperture. Also, when using teleconvertersthat decrease the effective aperture value of the converter lens, focusing problems may also occur. Only a few cameras can focus without problems with F / 8.0 lenses. The limitation is related to the number of focus points that can work normally at F / 5.6-F / 8.0. You can find more details about which cameras and which focus points (zones) are used to work with 'dark' lenses here.
Single-point focusing with the Nikon D2Xs
Cross-shaped focus points (sensors) vs regular focus points
How many times I didn’t use one-point focusing, I did not find the difference in the quality of focusing using the cross-shaped point and the usual focusing point. Basically, cross-shaped focus points (sensors) are said to do a much better job of focusing than regular focus points. It is generally accepted that cross-shaped focus points are better at handling 'wire against sky' scenes.
Focus light
Nikon cameras have a special light bulb that helps focus in dark conditions. The light bulb simply illuminates the subject in focus and autofocus is easier to focus on. The backlight may not come on in AF-C mode. The focus light is often called the “spotlight” and is recommended to be turned off. Personally, I have the backlight turned off, but in poor lighting conditions I use a flash that has its own "red spot" with a long range. More details about the flashlight in photo tricks section.
Focus light
Important:
Some Nikon CLCs for some reason do not illuminate the subject with the AF-assist lamp in single-point focus mode, if a non-central point is selected. As far as I know, all Nikon cameras provide auxiliary illumination with a lamp in single-point focus mode, if the center focus point is selected.
Important:
Flagship Niko camerasn such as Nikon D1, Dh, D1x, D2h, D2x, D2hs, D2xs, D3, D3s, D3x, Df, D4, D4s, D5 do not have a focus assist lamp at all.
Interesting:
Nikon cameras can be implemented very simply focus trap.
AF-S single-point focusing mode
My experience and recommendations on focusing on Nikon cameras can be found here.
Is everything complicated and little understood?
Then just turn on AF-A and the icon with a rectangular focus area. Automation copes well with the main tasks. I recommend fully automatic focusing for home use. Sometimes fine-tuning the modes of the focus points does not justify itself.
Which Nikon camera focuses best?
Focus best Nikon D5 and Nikon D500 with the most advanced focus modules.
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Conclusions:
Learning how to deal with focus modes will help you more accurately and quickly achieve the desired result. I strongly recommend experimenting with the modes and focus areas on your camera.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
Arkady and another question - I have only two focus points on the d7000 - 11 points and 39, but how about one that I won't find it
Several menu sections are responsible for focusing in your camera. In order to activate focusing by one point, just press the button near the camera mount and select the appropriate mode using the control dials. Modes are changed using the front and rear control dial. What you write about 11 or 39 focus points is a completely different menu item, which is responsible for how many points the camera should use.
if I understand correctly - this is the AF area mode - and not the number of focus points, those are face priority mode or tracking
I have such a question, when shooting a video while focusing, help the floor press the shutter, and then watch it, I hear that at each focus, it rattles loudly, I don’t hear a person talking to the camera about something. Narmal but is it?
This is most likely noise from the focus motor - this is normal.
Arkady Shapoval and tell me if to take pictures of the dancers - which mode wakes up more accurate dynamic or 3D? thanks
More accurate will be the mode with which you know how to work best. Dynamic mode has just its 3D tracking subfunction.
Arkady Shapoval I didn’t put it that way if I shoot dances - is the 3D zone mode suitable in AF-C or is it better to put 39 points?
The mode that will be relevant for your dances is better, just take 2-3 pictures to feel the difference.
on the Nikon D7000, the focus icon has stopped moving. How can this be fixed ?! Thank you in advance.
If the icon means the focus point, you need to release the lock.
Arkady, how to unlock
Set the switch from L mode.
Hello, but what do you usually do when you press the shutter button, it focuses on me, and now something is done in the settings of the climb
What camera?
Hello, I want to ask a question. He has been tormenting me for a long time. I gathered a small studio at home, and when I photograph f8 1/200 and iso 100 or 200, and with these values, nothing is visible in the camera, I have to go blind as I take pictures so I can see where aims at me please
It is not visible with vizinovarii, or after shooting on the display the whole picture is a black square
after I take a picture and the flashes fire, the photo turns out, but when I just look at the screen I don’t see where the model is aiming
I read yesterday and found something about Live View, I might need to turn it on to see it on a covered diaphragm, but I have not tried what you advise yet
Try Live View
oh, I tried and it turned out light as day would now I learn to clearly focus
Thank you very much for the article, helped to dot all and. There is one addition from me, focus adjustment is also available on the d600, I say because I use it myself. Thanks a lot again.
Added D600 to the list.
Sergey, tell me how the d600 with focus works well? And the focus points closer to the center of the frame do not strain? Well, in general, how is the device in operation?
Yuri. how to switch from automatic focusing mode to manual so as not to damage the motor on the Nikon d90 ???
Are you asking yourself? If there is a switch on the lens - use it, and / or use the switch on the camera, near the mount.
Is it possible to twist the focus ring in autofocus mode? d7000 kit 18-105 mm f / 3.5-5.6 VR Thank you!
You can not.
Explain “Can I rotate the focus ring in autofocus mode”
Nikon lenses usually have a focus mode switch. The 'M A' switch means that the lens can only be switched to the automatic focus mode 'A' (Auto), or only in the manual focus mode 'M' (Manual). For such lenses, you cannot rotate the focus ring during autofocus. But the switch 'M / A M' indicates that the lens can work in the 'M / A' mode - an automatic mode with the ability to manually adjust the focus at any time. The 'M' mode allows you to control focus only manually.
Why on the Nikon d 5000 the AF area with the “one point” I select in the menu is set to “auto area” (every time I turn on the camera)
Most likely a feature of the camera.
What is the best mode for focusing on Nikon d 3100 18-55 ???
Auto mode is pretty good.
Hello Arkady! Tell me, please, is there a Release Priority in the D7000?
Hello Arkady. I cannot understand about the rangefinder. I turn it off in the camera menu, what I turn it on (naturally, the lens is in manual focusing mode), no indicators appear or disappear in the viewfinder. The arrows, which for example are indicated in the information about the selected setting (in the camera itself) look like the arrows of the exposure scale, but these are different things .. I don't understand anything ... D5100 camera
Let's try again.
Under difficult conditions, the rangefinder can go crazy and show nonsense.
That's it, I figured it out. The trick is that I had manual mode turned on. But as soon as I switched to automatic, the exposure meter scale in the viewfinder began to fulfill the function of the range finder. How to turn on the range finder in manual mode is not clear to me. So you can add this feature to the article so that others do not have questions on this topic)
On different cameras, the range finder is different.
at 5200, the instructions say directly that M does not include, for example. Probably in every article you can write in the postscript “read the instructions and there will be happiness” :)
Fortunately, the instructions are now more than detailed.
Hello Arkady! My question is this: On the D7000, when focusing on a dime without a motor after focusing, the shutter lags, not always but periodically. It is unclear if the camera focused why the shutter does not immediately trigger, although the shutter release is pressed completely. I had the same problem on d70s with a lens of 70-300 bp.
Sometimes, a 0,5-1sec descent also hung. D3000, reset the camera to factory settings, allows.
When I rush-greedy, one after another I strain, for shooting an event such as a wedding or
2-3 times to zero.
Is it possible to say that in spot focus mode and focusing with the selected center dynamic focusing point is the same thing? You wrote in the article: "Dynamic (dynamic-area AF), focusing works only on one point, but takes into account information from adjacent points." Can you elaborate on what kind of information the camera takes into account?
There are different modes of operation of a dynamic zone, for example, 3D is its submode. If one at a time, then the focus takes into account the values of adjacent points.
Arkady, can you please tell me, I have Nikon D90 and lens 24.2,8 lacking a back focus lens, really do something to fix it on this camera .. because you wrote that only Nikon D300, D300s, D7000, D700 have adjustments, D800e, D800E, D3, D3s, D3x, D4, D600 ……. d 90 in span .. advise what to do .. ??
Take to the workshop and adjust the lens, or just focus through LIVE VIEW. You can adjust the focus on the D90 yourself with bolts, but it's too complicated.
There is nothing complicated ... BUT ... the guarantee flies, and the worst thing is that you are tied to a specific "wrong" objective, ie. if you then put another one, it will smear the focus and again you need to turn the screws. And I would not recommend climbing a carcass often. Ideally, adjust the glass, otherwise one hemorrhage. There is a sense to twist the bolts only if you do not have another lens or you are constrained in money ... although no ... there is another one - mine .... this is when there is excellent glass, but it cannot be adjusted (Tokina 50-135) the nearest service center in Russia ...
Hello, I have a question when I shoot a wedding video, etc. then from the speakers loud, the sound doesn’t record very loudly, which may be how I should be able to set in which mode to shoot the video for earlier thanks. D90 nikon
In matters of video, I am not strong.
The sound is most likely from the focus motor. There is an exit:
1.Focus manually (hemorrhoids)
2. Buy an outdoor microphone (expensive)
Good day! I have a Nikon 7000. The problem is that more or less sharp pictures are taken only in Livt Wiew mode. With the usual focus method, the pictures are soapy. What is the reason, tell me?
The first reason may be a defective lens, the camera has a focus adjustment.
What does focus adjustment mean? Yes, I tried with a different lens, the picture is the same.
This means that the camera can be indicated that it focuses incorrectly and tell where it needs to shift focus.