D800 af setting for sports?

[Syrah]

Hi all,

I've a d800 + 70-200 vrII. After be part of the group "what-lens-must-I-buy-after" I decided to stop buying and invest in a couple of photography courses (just a comment, totally recommended, I'm a gear lover, but it's great to go deeper in technique and just listen photographers and disciplines).

The issue is that I'm used to manage manually all the parameters (speed, aperture, ISO) and when I want to take the standard pictures of my son playing football (soccer), I'm sure camera can help a lot, but I struggle to find the right setting regarding af-mode, af-c? 3d?

I shouldn't say that, my son never will be a sport star, but I would like to take a nice picture before the match ends (joking).

Thanks guys!

 

[ormdig]

Hi Syrah, I've been using this camera/lens combination for almost 5 years for sports with great success. The great thing about the 70-200 is that you can shoot side open when the light get low and still get very sharp photos.

Press the AF-manual selector button (left side of body next to lens mount) and rotate the rear command dial to set the auto focus to C-continuous servo focus, this lets you continuously focus while the button is pressed. Turn the front command dial to S, this tells the camera to only use one focus point at a time.

I use Custom Setting Menu-a Autofocus-a1 AF-C priority selection-release.

a3-Off, this is important with fast moving subjects.

a4-AF-ON only, this gives you back button focus (AF-On button next to the rear command dial) so you aren't metering until you press the shutter release and in the heat of action you aren't accidently releasing the shutter. You can leave this setting the way it is for all types of shooting. When you want continuous focus keep the button pressed, when you want to focus and lock just let up on the button.

a7-Number of focus points-51. You can select which focus point to use very quickly with the outside area of the multi-selector.

For sports I have come to shutting VR off at all shutter speeds above 1/125. Every thing is optimized for the fastest possible focus acquisition. No VR and no focus tracking. Both are slight drains on the camera and lens's ability to instantly acquire focus.

With poor light you set your shutter speed and aperture and use auto ISO to make up for lack of light. I might start a track meet at 1/1600 with f/5 and base ISO and by the time the last race is finished in the dark I might be at 1/320, f/2.8 and 3200 ISO. I don't much care for above ISO3200 with the D800 but people do use higher values.

I will stress that with these AF settings I rarely, I mean rarely have more than 2 or 3 out of focus shots in each hundred photos and those are usually just slightly soft. I want the areas within my DOF tack sharp unless there is slight motion blur due to the fact I just can't shoot high enough shutter speed to avoid it.

Since you don't have the fastest shooting camera with the D800 you will learn to predict your shots. I don't know when I quit but I don't even shoot continuous shutter though I have it set to C-high. The only time I miss a fast frame rate is in the pole vault when the vaulter is at the top as the change in direction is so quick. I still get most of the shots I want in this event, just not all of them.

You have a great set of tools and will soon learn their abilities. Don't be afraid to chimp continuously to monitor your exposure. Make the multi selector button to zoom when pressed to quickly see if you getting good focus. Hve fun,

 

[scokill]

Hi Syrah, I've been using this camera/lens combination for almost 5 years for sports with great success. The great thing about the 70-200 is that you can shoot side open when the light get low and still get very sharp photos.

Press the AF-manual selector button (left side of body next to lens mount) and rotate the rear command dial to set the auto focus to C-continuous servo focus, this lets you continuously focus while the button is pressed. Turn the front command dial to S, this tells the camera to only use one focus point at a time.

I use Custom Setting Menu-a Autofocus-a1 AF-C priority selection-release.

a3-Off, this is important with fast moving subjects.

a4-AF-ON only, this gives you back button focus (AF-On button next to the rear command dial) so you aren't metering until you press the shutter release and in the heat of action you aren't accidently releasing the shutter. You can leave this setting the way it is for all types of shooting. When you want continuous focus keep the button pressed, when you want to focus and lock just let up on the button.

a7-Number of focus points-51. You can select which focus point to use very quickly with the outside area of the multi-selector.

For sports I have come to shutting VR off at all shutter speeds above 1/125. Every thing is optimized for the fastest possible focus acquisition. No VR and no focus tracking. Both are slight drains on the camera and lens's ability to instantly acquire focus.

With poor light you set your shutter speed and aperture and use auto ISO to make up for lack of light. I might start a track meet at 1/1600 with f/5 and base ISO and by the time the last race is finished in the dark I might be at 1/320, f/2.8 and 3200 ISO. I don't much care for above ISO3200 with the D800 but people do use higher values.

I will stress that with these AF settings I rarely, I mean rarely have more than 2 or 3 out of focus shots in each hundred photos and those are usually just slightly soft. I want the areas within my DOF tack sharp unless there is slight motion blur due to the fact I just can't shoot high enough shutter speed to avoid it.

Since you don't have the fastest shooting camera with the D800 you will learn to predict your shots. I don't know when I quit but I don't even shoot continuous shutter though I have it set to C-high. The only time I miss a fast frame rate is in the pole vault when the vaulter is at the top as the change in direction is so quick. I still get most of the shots I want in this event, just not all of them.

You have a great set of tools and will soon learn their abilities. Don't be afraid to chimp continuously to monitor your exposure. Make the multi selector button to zoom when pressed to quickly see if you getting good focus. Hve fun,