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Why no Face/Eye detection on Nikon DSLRs?

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Lately I've been contemplating the purchase of Nikon 135/2DC lens to be used on my Df but many owners have mentioned the difficulty in nailing focus at F2. Originally I thought Nikon has finally implemented on the new D750/D810, but upon closer investigation, it's just face detect metering, not face detection AF, which by the way my Df is already capable of this slowness.

I'm curious, is this a technological limitation? Will Nikon DSLRs be able to do this someday?

I'm so used to the fast face-detection AF on the EM1 especially when using long lenses like Panasonic 35-100mm, I'm concerned my hit rate will probably go way down with the Nikon 135DC, especially on the not-so-stellar AF module of the Df.

Looking forward to hear experiences from owners of both systems regarding face-detection.
 
Because people like John1962 would have a hernia...
 
I have read in some reviews that D750 and DF has Face detection AF-A mode when you shoot trough viewfinder but i never have bothered to try any AF-A modes on my D750. Check manual.
 
Tharaphita said:
I have read in some reviews that D750 and DF has Face detection AF-A mode when you shoot trough viewfinder but i never have bothered to try any AF-A modes on my D750. Check manual.
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For the Df,

1. Face-priority AF, is available as one of the four AF-A modes in LV, according to Nikon http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/df/features05.htm

2. However, in normal VF photography, all Single-point AF, Dynamic Area AF, 3D Tracking and Auto-area AF do not mention face detection at all, according to p.62-64 or the Df manual.

On the other hand, D750 manual on p.124 mentions that

1. In Group-area AF, "If faces are detected in AF-S focus mode, the camera will give priority to portrait subjects."

2. In Auto-area AF, "if a face is detected, the camera will give priority to the portrait subject."

I haven't bothered to check D810 yet, but I assume it'd be the same since they share the same AF module.

So the conclusion is, Nikon has definitely incorporated some kind of "face-priority AF" in their latest cameras like D750/D810. But I wish this feature also available in other modes like single-point AF, dynamic-area AF and 3-D tracking, not just in Group-area and Auto-area only. Out of luck with my Df, sigh :-(
 
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digitalphotographer said:
...I wish this feature also available in other modes like single-point AF, dynamic-area AF and 3-D tracking, not just in Group-area and Auto-area only. Out of luck with my Df, sigh :-(
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Why would you want face priority in 3-D tracking. You've chosen your own priority of focus, and the camera will be following that for you. You wouldn't want it to suddenly switch to a passing face would you?
 
digitalphotographer said:
Lately I've been contemplating the purchase of Nikon 135/2DC lens to be used on my Df but many owners have mentioned the difficulty in nailing focus at F2. Originally I thought Nikon has finally implemented on the new D750/D810, but upon closer investigation, it's just face detect metering, not face detection AF, which by the way my Df is already capable of this slowness.

I'm curious, is this a technological limitation? Will Nikon DSLRs be able to do this someday?

I'm so used to the fast face-detection AF on the EM1 especially when using long lenses like Panasonic 35-100mm, I'm concerned my hit rate will probably go way down with the Nikon 135DC, especially on the not-so-stellar AF module of the Df.

Looking forward to hear experiences from owners of both systems regarding face-detection.
Click to expand...
I guess the metering sensor does not have enough resolution to recognize faces when mirror is down. When mirror is up there is plenty of resolution from sensor for finer details.

D810 is an example of that: up to 35 faces are detected and the camera will focus at the closest, according to the user´s manual, as I personally never used (yet) such functionality.

All the best,
 
Osvaldo Cristo said:
I guess the metering sensor does not have enough resolution to recognize faces when mirror is down. When mirror is up there is plenty of resolution from sensor for finer details.

D810 is an example of that: up to 35 faces are detected and the camera will focus at the closest, according to the user´s manual, as I personally never used (yet) such functionality.
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According to my research, the latest D810 and D750 seem to have face detect even shooting via VF, but only in selective AF modes http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/54529838

I wonder how they got around the mirror down issue. Maybe higher speed processor?
 
digitalphotographer said:
Lately I've been contemplating the purchase of Nikon 135/2DC lens to be used on my Df but many owners have mentioned the difficulty in nailing focus at F2. Originally I thought Nikon has finally implemented on the new D750/D810, but upon closer investigation, it's just face detect metering, not face detection AF, which by the way my Df is already capable of this slowness.

I'm curious, is this a technological limitation? Will Nikon DSLRs be able to do this someday?

I'm so used to the fast face-detection AF on the EM1 especially when using long lenses like Panasonic 35-100mm, I'm concerned my hit rate will probably go way down with the Nikon 135DC, especially on the not-so-stellar AF module of the Df.

Looking forward to hear experiences from owners of both systems regarding face-detection.
Click to expand...
Switch to AF-S and the camera will have face detection - face detection is disable in AF-C
 
ndenyer said:
Why would you want face priority in 3-D tracking. You've chosen your own priority of focus, and the camera will be following that for you. You wouldn't want it to suddenly switch to a passing face would you?
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Why? Because in 3-D tracking, in cases where DOF is too shallow, I'd like the camera to track the face of the subject that I've selected as priority instead of tracking random parts of the body.
 
digitalphotographer said:
ndenyer said:
Why would you want face priority in 3-D tracking. You've chosen your own priority of focus, and the camera will be following that for you. You wouldn't want it to suddenly switch to a passing face would you?
Click to expand...
Why? Because in 3-D tracking, in cases where DOF is too shallow, I'd like the camera to track the face of the subject that I've selected as priority instead of tracking random parts of the body.
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I'm not sure that a face detection function would improve AF accuracy, which is really what you're talking about.
 
The D610 has "Face-Priority AF" in Live View. According to the manual it can detect up to 35 faces.
 
digitalphotographer said:
Osvaldo Cristo said:
I guess the metering sensor does not have enough resolution to recognize faces when mirror is down. When mirror is up there is plenty of resolution from sensor for finer details.

D810 is an example of that: up to 35 faces are detected and the camera will focus at the closest, according to the user´s manual, as I personally never used (yet) such functionality.
Click to expand...
According to my research, the latest D810 and D750 seem to have face detect even shooting via VF, but only in selective AF modes http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/54529838

I wonder how they got around the mirror down issue. Maybe higher speed processor?
Click to expand...
There is two different things related to face detection in D810.

Metering in Matrix mode. It is possible to meter on face. I guess the metering sensors have sufficient resolution to recognize roughly faces and establish some valid metering for exposure. It will work in viewfinder mode.

Another different thing is focus on faces. It can work in LV mode only.

All the best,
 
Osvaldo Cristo said:
Another different thing is focus on faces. It can work in LV mode only.
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Not true, apparently the new bodies can do face-detection in certain modes now, see my quotes from manual above.
 
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I was watching a video on using the Eyelighter and the presenter was demonstrating with his Lumix and I noticed a box for face recognition, but then I noticed another thing; an x and y axis line with the connecting point being the closest eye to the photographer, which tracked as the subject moved so that it always had the closest eye in focus. How brilliant! Then of course, that brought me here to see if Nikon has this advanced feature. :( Officially bummed. Nudge Nudge Nikon!
 
TrudellPhoto said:
I was watching a video on using the Eyelighter and the presenter was demonstrating with his Lumix and I noticed a box for face recognition, but then I noticed another thing; an x and y axis line with the connecting point being the closest eye to the photographer, which tracked as the subject moved so that it always had the closest eye in focus. How brilliant! Then of course, that brought me here to see if Nikon has this advanced feature.
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I wouldn't judge what Nikon cameras offer today based on this 3-year-old thread.
 
digitalphotographer said:
Lately I've been contemplating the purchase of Nikon 135/2DC lens to be used on my Df but many owners have mentioned the difficulty in nailing focus at F2.
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It's an old thread but I'm going to reply anyway, in case anyone is reading now!

I have a Df, and somewhat reluctantly bought a 135/2DC a couple of years ago (before the 105 1.4 was available).

I say reluctantly because I'd used a 105/2DC on a D1H many years ago and found the focus not great, and because I read on forums some of the owner-reported-difficulty mentioned above. In the end, I took a chance because I wanted a fast portrait prime and there weren't other choices at the time, and because the 135/2DC was not as expensive as some top Nikkors.

I am very glad I wasn't put off. There is no problem at all getting accurate focus at f2. I just use single point AF on a subject's eye. I've been delighted with the lens. It hasn't need any AF tuning attempts.

Since getting the 135/2DC I've added a 70-200 2.8E FL. This is so good that I did think it might obsolete my 135, but there are times when the zoom is too big and unwieldy, whereas the 135 is OK to carry in a small bag along with a 50mm prime and a WA.
 
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TrudellPhoto said:
I was watching a video on using the Eyelighter and the presenter was demonstrating with his Lumix and I noticed a box for face recognition, but then I noticed another thing; an x and y axis line with the connecting point being the closest eye to the photographer, which tracked as the subject moved so that it always had the closest eye in focus. How brilliant! Then of course, that brought me here to see if Nikon has this advanced feature. :( Officially bummed. Nudge Nudge Nikon!
Click to expand...
Did you judge Nikon AF by reading this old thread? Nikon AF has changed dramatically since 2014/2015. If I absolutely, positively, had to use AF to get a vitally important shot, to capture an action that that could not be repeated, I would use a Nikon D5, D500, or D850 camera, in that order, with one of the Nikkor pro-level f/2.8 zoom “trinity” lenses, or my Nikkor 200/2 VR. There is more to AF than just the camera; the lens is a vital part of the equation. (Disclaimer: I have not yet used a D850, but trust those who have stated its AF is excellent.)

Nikon is not the only system I use. Nikon is actually my “secondary” system.

--
I wore a police badge and pistol, and made evidentiary images at night, incorporating elements of portrait, macro, still life, landscape, architecture, and PJ. (Retired January 2018.) I enjoy using both Canons and Nikons.
 
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