XT20 AF modes : Tracking moving objects in the frame

[ykg]

Hi,

What is the best mode track moving objects?

To be more exact I would like the camera to recognize the object by itself (while it is in the frame) and change the focus area as the object moves.

Say the camera is secured on a tripod and I can't move it.

Thanks.

 

[Doug Pardee]

The Wide/Tracking mode is intended for that scenario: AF-C with a stationary camera and the subject moving around the frame. You set which AF point the camera is to start tracking from. Be aware that unless you're also using CH burst mode (and some other limitations), Wide/Tracking uses contrast-detect (hunting) autofocus.

You could also try Zone mode, but in that mode the camera can pick anything within the zone to track, and can't track it if it moves outside the zone.

Be sure to check out the AF-C custom settings, too.

 

[ykg]

Thanks for the detailed answer.

Regarding "Wide/Tracking uses contrast-detect (hunting) autofocus" - why does it matter to me? what is the difference from "regular" AF-S/AF-C focus?

Thanks

 

[Doug Pardee]

"Wide/Tracking uses contrast-detect (hunting) autofocus" - why does it matter to me? what is the difference from "regular" AF-S/AF-C focus?

Contrast-detect autofocus runs the lens back and forth, looking to see where the best focus is. That's the same sort of thing you'd do with manual focus. It's slower, noisier, and most of the time the image is out of focus. In AF-C, the continual "pumping" effect as it hunts back and forth to see if the focus distance has changed can be rather annoying, although it won't affect the quality of the still pictures -- the camera won't take a picture until the lens is set at the determined best focus distance. For video, you'll get some of the hunting in the video.

Phase-detect autofocus (which essentially all DSLRs use when not in Live View mode) simply measures the focus distance and adjusts the lens to that distance in a single go. It's very fast, quiet, and doesn't "hunt".