Reading mode: Light Dark

focusing brackets part 2 (pics)

Go to last post
Jarrell Conley

Jarrell Conley

Forum Pro
Messages
15,506
Reaction score
173
Location
USA, GA, US
Here's the focusing test again, this time with six photos.
  1. 1 is with the less contrasty duck in front of the more contrasty can in the background and the focusing bracket placed on the duck. See the inset photo for placement of the bracket


As you can see the camera focused accurately on the duck.

in the second picture, the focusing bracket was rested about 50/50 on the duck and can (see inset)



My, my. What happened there.

In the third photo the bracket was put squarely on the can with a little of the outline of the duck in it



for picture 4, the can was brought to the front and bracket was on the can



In picture 5 the bracket was placed about 50/50 again. Look at the difference between picture 5 and picture 2



and the last photo is with the bracket placed on the less contrasty, background duck



I think this may relate to all the Coopix line, I know it does my 990 and 5700, but probably to others as well?

My conclusion is that the camera, if given the opportunity, will march it's little focusing self right over to the brighter more contrasty part of your scene if you give it half a chance and what you wanted nice and sharply in focus will be soft. Actually, it won't march, it'll just take the other into a lot more consideration than you want it to.
What'cha think?
Jarrell

How to embed photos in your message!
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=4033727

Owner and user of 990 and 5700 and Photoshop. When looking at my pictures, never take it for granted I didn't enhance them.... :-)
 
You're right. The camera is doing just what you told it to. Neat!!! Tnx.
--
Muriel - 995, 775, WC-63, TC-2E
 
Jarrell Conley said:
My conclusion is that the camera, if given the opportunity, will
march it's little focusing self right over to the brighter more
contrasty part of your scene if you give it half a chance and what
you wanted nice and sharply in focus will be soft. Actually, it
won't march, it'll just take the other into a lot more
consideration than you want it to.
What'cha think?
Click to expand...
Jarrell,

I think you just proved what everyone has been trying to explain about contrast based AF systems. This is not unique to the 5700 or to Nikon. I can assure you that this applies to any digicam whose AF is based on contrast.

If we go back to the picture of the gal where the hairline was used as contrast, it explains why the gal was out of focus. The camera chose the more contrasty side of the hairline. Period. To have had the gal in focus, the hairline on her forehead would have been a better choice of focus, don't you think?

Thanks so much for taking the time to do real life demostrations.
  • Olga
 
Jarrell:

Once again you have illustrated what many of us have been attempting (somewhat unsuccessfully) to illustrate in words alone. To me, the most striking revelation is the difference between photos 2 and 5. Obviously the camera has greater emphasis on the more contrasty can. The surprize to me however is how well it did in focusing on the right object (the duck) in photo 6. All these experiments really confirm that this camera is very capable, if we have the patience and dedication to learn to use it properly. I still have this wish that it would respond better under quick "snap shot" situations but I can certainly live with it the way it is now that we know how to better get the expected results.
--
Andy
 
this illustrates what i personally predicted was happening with the OOF shots that have been posted in some other threads, that is, the focus brackets were not completely on the desired subject and some other area (wall) ended up in focus.

i guess it is still possible however that the originator of this thread has one of the "non-defective" 5700s while other owners have "defective" ones that randomly pick areas outside of the brackets to focus on. unless i see examples i'm putting my money on scenario #1.
 
you're right, the eye opener is in photo 2 and 5. So, there are going to be those times when your main subject, say a persons face, is your main subject but the bracket is placed on an "edge" (edge between the persons head and background), in an attempt to get good focus (or ANY focus) in dim light, the brighter or more contrasty background is going to win out and theres one of those soft pictures I try so hard not to get but still do now and then. And I agree too with you on the wish that Nikon would, if they could, make it respond quicker in snap shot situations.
Jarrell
How to embed photos in your message!
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=4033727

Owner and user of 990 and 5700 and Photoshop. When looking at my pictures, never take it for granted I didn't enhance them.... :-)
 
I would never tell anyone their camera was NOT doing a peculiar thing, such as that, because it could very well be, I guess. Sorta freaky behavior though, isn't it.... :-)
Jarrell
tm255 said:
this illustrates what i personally predicted was happening with the
OOF shots that have been posted in some other threads, that is, the
focus brackets were not completely on the desired subject and some
other area (wall) ended up in focus.

i guess it is still possible however that the originator of this
thread has one of the "non-defective" 5700s while other owners have
"defective" ones that randomly pick areas outside of the brackets
to focus on. unless i see examples i'm putting my money on
scenario #1.
Click to expand...
--
How to embed photos in your message!
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=4033727

Owner and user of 990 and 5700 and Photoshop. When looking at my pictures, never take it for granted I didn't enhance them.... :-)
 
with this that someone elses camera isn't acting in an unconventional way. I look at my digital cameras sometimes and think of it as a little computer that somebody stuck a lens on, and I know how nutty computers can be at times.
Jarrell
How to embed photos in your message!
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=4033727

Owner and user of 990 and 5700 and Photoshop. When looking at my pictures, never take it for granted I didn't enhance them.... :-)
 
Confirms what my instincts have told me about autofocus in the whole time I"ve used it. Similar issues apply with autoexposure, especially with matrix or large spotmetering areas.

Taking more thoughtful control of what you input into the auto functions gets you much better results.
OlgaJ said:
Jarrell Conley said:
My conclusion is that the camera, if given the opportunity, will
march it's little focusing self right over to the brighter more
contrasty part of your scene if you give it half a chance and what
you wanted nice and sharply in focus will be soft. Actually, it
won't march, it'll just take the other into a lot more
consideration than you want it to.
What'cha think?
Click to expand...
Jarrell,

I think you just proved what everyone has been trying to explain
about contrast based AF systems. This is not unique to the 5700 or
to Nikon. I can assure you that this applies to any digicam whose
AF is based on contrast.

If we go back to the picture of the gal where the hairline was used
as contrast, it explains why the gal was out of focus. The camera
chose the more contrasty side of the hairline. Period. To have had
the gal in focus, the hairline on her forehead would have been a
better choice of focus, don't you think?

Thanks so much for taking the time to do real life demostrations.
  • Olga
Click to expand...
 
Jarrell Conley said:
with this that someone elses camera isn't acting in an
unconventional way.
Click to expand...
Jarrell,

I think the implications here are pretty clear ... anyone (yes, ANYONE) who feels their camera is behaving erratically need only duplicate the demonstration you've put forth here. Lysol is cheap by comparison to our cameras and the world is chock-FULL of less contrasty test subjects for anyonre who doesn't have a handy duck decoy on hand.

I'm delighted to see such a demonstration here -- it proves that the cameras (as a rule) ARE very capable of making remarkably fine discriminations when the details of positioning and focus area are paid attention to. If we want good photos, we need to practice good habits.

Period.

--
Gary (CP775 & CP5000)
 
Is there any way of moving the Focus Brackets while keeping the contents of the entire picture the same. In other words, can you move the Focus brackets to another point in the picture without actually moving the camera?

Drew
 
It's so much easier to whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!

(yeah I'm a lurker and I don't have a 5700... But I'm in the market for a new camera and the 5700 is right up there on the list. I have been monitoring these threads for a couple of weeks now and it's good to see some positives!)

; )

jim
 
Hello Jarrell,

Nice examples, even better than part 1. By the way, you picked very good subjects (can & duck) maybe you have set a new test standard. LOL This does prove quite nicely that "contrast" is very powerful and will always win focus if your not careful.

Ron T
 
dmul98 said:
Is there any way of moving the Focus Brackets while keeping the
contents of the entire picture the same. In other words, can you
move the Focus brackets to another point in the picture without
actually moving the camera?

Drew
Click to expand...
 
on the back of the camera can be pressed to select the different brackets. I wish Nikon had moved them a little bit further apart, but the benefit of that is debatable too. Wouldn't it be nice if you could move the ANYWHERE on the screen... :)
Jarrell
dmul98 said:
Is there any way of moving the Focus Brackets while keeping the
contents of the entire picture the same. In other words, can you
move the Focus brackets to another point in the picture without
actually moving the camera?

Drew
Click to expand...
--
How to embed photos in your message!
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=4033727

Owner and user of 990 and 5700 and Photoshop. When looking at my pictures, never take it for granted I didn't enhance them.... :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top