Nikon D700 AF is simply fantastic...

[Stany Buyle]

Among some macro shots from today I was amazed by the accuracy the D700 AF system captures insects in flight @ quite short distance handhold...
Getting accurate AF on flying instects who are only approx 1cm long is not so evident...
Since I use the AF-ON button technique I get MUCH more keepers in difficult AF situations...

[pam.meier]

Hi Stany, so would you like to share your AF-On technique?

Pam

[Stany Buyle]

Hi Stany, so would you like to share your AF-On technique? Pam

Hi Pam. Yes, of course, for you everything...
Here we go...
Focus mode on C
AF area mode on Dynamic AF, for the kind of pictures like the flying hooverfly I used 21 points, it feels fine this way and I get less AF-hunting while being very close to a moving subject...
AF-C selection on: release (custom setting A1)
AF activation: AF-ON only(custom setting A5). I push this separate button with my thumb and I press the shutter with my finger... MUCH less hunting!!!

I enabled this settings in one of my menu banks but very soon I guess I'll exlusively shoot this way for everything...

[MDelfeld]

Very good Stany! It's a pity but I can't use this on my Canon's

[DavidLake]

I gues for my wedding work, I find the half press to do the trick. Also, the AF-ON button does not engage VR, so if you are shooitng slower SS and need VR 'at the ready', the AF-ON technique tends to be slower as you have to wait for the VR to settle. But for sports (or fast moving bugs) where SS is high enough to not use VR, Ican see where it would be the way to go.

BTW - I don't think I have used the word hunting since switching to the D3 :)

[Stany Buyle]

Underneath picture has been taken HANDHOLD @ 1/320 sec(with PU flash) and F11 with D700 and 180mm sigma. Seeing the facets of the bees or flies eyes with HANDHOLD macros with D700/D3 is not an occasional happening for me. The AF system is soo good, fast and accurate I have approx 25-30% of keepers while shooting this way. Setting up a tripod fior extreme macro is better in theory but in practice often the insect is gone before your setup is ready...

The picture:


and a crop:


Thanks for looking

[DavidLake]

"Who needs a PU flash on a 'pro' camera" What a bunch of BS. There are many times I have wished my D3 had it, and had to carry a huge SB900 just in case.

Nice captures btw. Any way to reduce the moire on the fly's eyes?

[Stany Buyle]

"Who needs a PU flash on a 'pro' camera" What a bunch of BS. There are many times I have wished my D3 had it, and had to carry a huge SB900 just in case. Nice captures btw. Any way to reduce the moire on the fly's eyes?

Hi David. Next to size and weight, PUFlash was the main reason I turned from D3 to D700. The commander mode of the D700 PUFlash is si^mply fantastic.