NX1, 50-150 AF

Bill Hollinger wrote:

ocphotodad wrote:

Great shots. Could you let us know what focus settings you used? How many keepers did you get in this sequence?

I’ve played around a lot with the NX1 - I bought it in hopes it would be a lighter weight version of my fast heavy Nikons, like the D3s with 70-200 f2.8. If these shots are your primary focus, the Nikon is the camera you need. However, that said, the multi AF setting is by far (for me, in my experience - I realize anything I write on this forum is apt to bring forth a negative comment from someone) the setting that gives me the highest number of in focus action shots. That was counter intuitive given my past experience with other cameras. For static subjects, the single point, sized and placed where you want the plane of focus to be, works best.

As for a percentage of in focus shots in a sequence, it’s hard to give you a number, because it varies so much. Occasionally I’ll have an entire sequence in focus. But sometimes none will be in focus, and in those cases invariably I didn’t achieve focus (by pressing the shutter button half way or pressing the AF button on the camera back) before activating the shutter. For me in focus means their face/eyes are in focus. On the positive side, I am getting a higher percentage of in focus shots in a sequence the more I use the camera. There is a learning curve (at least for me). Also, the subject matters - the big dark gray dog gives me a higher percentage of in focus shots, regardless whether it’s the Nikons or the NX1 I’m using. The smaller very black, very fast puppy is a tough subject for either camera. Light makes a difference too, and if there are other things that come into the picture, a branch, another dog....the focus is apt to briefly shift to that. The focus shifts are very fast, which indicates to me the AF has the potential to track quite well. And when an image is in focus, it has excellent quality.

Fast dogs are a notoriously difficult subject for AF to track because they move erratically and quickly around the viewfinder and can be difficult to keep framed correctly. Interesting, here the NX1 does what no other camera I’ve used can accomplish, and that is track them to the edge of the viewfinder, maintaining focus even at the edge as they disappear past the camera. I think this camera will work fine for less difficult tracking, like people, cars, etc. If you are trying to track a single player at a sporting event, I’d try to dial down the multi point area. I wish there was more than one size you could choose, and also it would be helpful to be able to position it where you expect the action to take place. If that isn’t working, go to the single point setting with the largest point size dialed in.

Where the AF tracking really shines is in the video mode, both 4K and slow motion (120fps). That and the video quality - which is just amazing - has and is luring a lot of video people into the NX1 camp. You can get a pretty good sense of that here with dogs racing about in the woods, and also a man approaching the camera and a jogger going away from the camera, https://vimeo.com/115538855 None of the video people (on video forums) I’ve queried know of any other camera, regardless of cost, that will do this. This one in the snow that I posted recently is also a good example of a real challenge for any AF system, https://vimeo.com/116114780

The NX1 is using the entire sensor for video, thus it has all the focus points available. I don’t know if that, coupled with the fact something like 205(?) are phase detection points is the entire reason it works so well, but work well it clearly does, because there is no technique, experience or skill at work in these videos - just simply trying to keep the dogs located somewhere within the viewfinder, and let the camera do the work.

Excellent write up.

Im thinking of getting a NX1….but first of all I've got to work out if the NX1 can do anything more than my Sony A65.

We do about 50% videos.

As for stills (at 100ASA) i don't thank that there is any difference. (I don't need to go higher than 200ASA for what I do, and don't do sports).

In video mode the NX1 can autofocus in all settings, which the A65 can't, which can be sometimes annoying.

Luckily my subjects don't move around a lot.

George R