Re: "Official" Nikon 500 f/5.6E PF Discussion and Image Thread
Hi Bruce...
It’s been along winter. Aren’t they all?
I don’t know if the moving VR element affects the system’s choice of AF point. Have not considered it. But I will now.
For BIF, I use Auto AF almost exclusively. This based on Geoff’s suggestion several years ago; i.e. how well it worked for him. I tried it and was so impressed that I never looked back.
Prior to Auto AF I had been going between d9 and d25. As I recall now, d9 was just too difficult to keep on the bird. So, (again, as I recall) I think I settled on d25, before he suggested Auto AF.
I do find that the point that Auto AF chooses to focus on *does* vary. Sometimes it hits the eye on the button and many times it is some other part of the bird. I hope that DOF is deep enough to assure the eye is in focus, but not always.
I always work toward the lowest perspective I can achieve on the water. So, maybe you are right. Maybe it is “grabbing” the water as you say. But it also can occur to me, on a passing bird, as you also mentioned it can occur to you on a passing bird.
I just figure there is nothing in any Nikon AF system I have used thus far, that will assure the AF point lies on the eye. Isn’t that changing now in Nikon's research labs? I think so.
I love VR’s ability to stabilize the image I see in the viewfinder. It had not occurred to me that the moving of the VR element might cause any problem with AF. But I can see how that may be the case. I just do not have enough knowledge of this to know.
After your suggestion, I am going to remember to experiment with turning off VR at high shutter speeds. But honestly, at this point, I think that the Nikon AF system simply chooses a final focus point randomly, and hopefully (for us shooting BIF) that point assures that the eye falls within DOF.
May 03, 2020 at 08:38 AM
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