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Archive 2008 · Low Light D3 AF settings

  
 
SGWW
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p.1 #1 · Low Light D3 AF settings


What are your AF settings for optimal low-light shooting?


May 28, 2008 at 12:13 PM
w2hef
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p.1 #2 · Low Light D3 AF settings


It all depends on camera/lens combination.

D300 i use ISO 800-1600, AF, and set the DOF according to what i want, and at least 60th-80th sec or so.

D3 i use ISO 1600 --> or greater "same other settings"

The D300 and D3 also have the capability of setting auto ISO with limits that's quite handy in a pinch... Especially when you are shooting in a lot of different environments where the lighting is changing.



May 29, 2008 at 02:17 PM
SGWW
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p.1 #3 · Low Light D3 AF settings


Let me clarify - by AF settings - I'm talking about AF-C or AF-S... center point... 51/11, etc.


May 29, 2008 at 03:18 PM
w2hef
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p.1 #4 · Low Light D3 AF settings


oops! mistaken... i use center point AF-S single not continuous.


May 29, 2008 at 03:23 PM
gugs
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p.1 #5 · Low Light D3 AF settings


w2hef wrote:
oops! mistaken... i use center point AF-S single not continuous.

+1

Guy



May 29, 2008 at 08:32 PM
James R
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p.1 #6 · Low Light D3 AF settings


SGWW wrote:
Let me clarify - by AF settings - I'm talking about AF-C or AF-S... center point... 51/11, etc.


Single-servo, single-point, 11 pt (not sure it is anymore effective than 51), and auto ISO. However, the most important thing is contrast--can't focus without it. Last choice is manual focus.

jr



May 29, 2008 at 09:00 PM
James R
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p.1 #7 · Low Light D3 AF settings


Terry D,

I've also found 3D not to be very effective in low light when the subject black. Now a white car would be a different story.



May 29, 2008 at 09:04 PM
Terry D
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p.1 #8 · Low Light D3 AF settings


James R wrote:
Terry D,

I've also found 3D not to be very effective in low light when the subject black. Now a white car would be a different story.


I agree... a white car would probably helped. I took the shots from the stands with two fast primes.... 85 f1.4 and 105 f2.0... so manual focus really wasn't a problem.

I have a brightscreen coming, so that should help even more.... I hope.



May 29, 2008 at 09:45 PM
James R
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p.1 #9 · Low Light D3 AF settings


Terry D wrote:
I agree... a white car would probably helped. I took the shots from the stands with two fast primes.... 85 f1.4 and 105 f2.0... so manual focus really wasn't a problem.

I have a brightscreen coming, so that should help even more.... I hope.


Please let us know how you like the brightscreen.



May 29, 2008 at 09:55 PM
SoundHound
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p.1 #10 · Low Light D3 AF settings


I shoot fast moving dancers with my D3 set at ISO 6400, continuous focus and select a single AF point for the focal plane of interest at F2.8.


Jun 01, 2008 at 11:13 AM
clew
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p.1 #11 · Low Light D3 AF settings


AF-C, 21pt AF, no problems with low light, though I'm usually following a white dress.


Jun 01, 2008 at 12:15 PM
rjk55425
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p.1 #12 · Low Light D3 AF settings


Terry D wrote:
I'm gonna present one of those 'No answer answers' I switch it off. I got some stunning pictures last weekend at the drag races... the thread is on page 2 if you want to see it... and the few times that I tried AF, it missed focus. See the shot of the 65 Mustang below. If you look at it the crowd behind it is in focus, but the Mustang isn't... that was with 3D 51 point Dynamic AF... you couldn't have gotten more motion than rather large car launching into the air... but it missed just the same.
...Show more

I wouldn't expect all points AF to work with a shot like this in any light level. Doesn't AF grab the closest object in the frame? Single point AF should work better.

I did some shooting at ISO 4000 on a D3 and didn't have any focus issues, can't tell what your settings were.

Randy



Jun 02, 2008 at 10:41 AM





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