Before I get slammed for not searching... I did, and didn't find what I was lookiing for.
I'm borrowing a friends D3 to shoot a HS track meet, and am looking for recommended D3 settings. The D3 is not listed on the SI resource link, and searches here, Sportshooter and DPreview did not turn up what I was looking for.
Specifically I'm looking for AF settings... # of points, Dynamic, etc??
I usually use Ch (continuous high) shutter release mode - I use the lowest setting of 9fps (menu item d2) most of the time
I use C (continuous servo-AF) for continuous tracking rather than letting focus lock once acquired - this is the switch on the front of the camera
I use either the single point AF or the dynamic area AF setting depending on what I’m shooting (this is the switch on back of camera). If you use the single point setting, you need to keep the selected point on your subject at all times. On the single point setting, the AF system is extremely responsive because the camera has only the one focus point to process. The AF points in the center circle are cross type points and will track motion in both the horiz and vert direction. I usually stick to these. If you use the dynamic setting, then the number of points you select in menu item a3 determines how much of the frame is covered by the AF system (9, 21 or 51 points).
Menu item a1 AF-C priority selection - leaving on the default setting “focus” will cause the loss of too many otherwise decent shots IMO. I use release or release plus focus. The release setting will allow the shutter to release even if the camera is not in focus. The release plus focus setting is a compromise between the two extremes. R+F will cause the camera to stop shooting momentarily during a burst from time to time as the system looses and reacquires focus. This is most noticeable when someone is running directly toward you.
Menu Item a3 Dynamic AF area - (9pt, 21pts, 51pts or 51pts w 3D tracking) I generally use the lowest number of points that I can get away with to cover the amount of the frame I want to be active for the type of action I’m shooting. If there is a lot of side to side action, more points covers more of the frame. The lower the number of points you dial in, the less the camera has to think and the more responsive the AF system is.
Menu item a4 focus tracking lock on - I use the lowest duration I can get away with (but not off). Again, the lower the duration focus is locked, the more responsive the system will be. For track you should be able to use “short”. There is a bit of art to this setting combined with when you mash and don’t mash the AF-On button.
Menu item a5 - Autofocus activation - Usually, I use the AF-On Only setting to turn off AF activation with the shutter release. I use the back button to autofocus most of the time instead of the shutter button half press.
Menu item a8 Autofocus point selection - This sets the universe of AF points available for selection. I use the 51 point setting. I wish there was something in between 11 points and 51 points but there isn’t.
There is good info in the Nikon publication located here.
