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What Happend to D51?


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8 replies to this topic

#1
Steve M

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And all the others?

When I bought my D7200 I was having issues with so many focus points when trying to do moving trains. I was instructed here to use single point and continuous focus. Hey I started doing some great pictures.

Since then though my camera had to be replaced and I started out the same, single point continuous focus. But now I am taking pictures of my grandchildren and I notice that when one is sitting behind the other the back one turns out blurry. I have my camera set to Auto and D51. I only see the single point not like I used to on my old D7200 which would be flashing many like 51 I would say. The D21, and D9 only shows the single point also.

Did I goof up the settings or am I missing something in my settings?

#2
nikdood17

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I have similar problems with my D50. There are five focus points in the viewfinder and only the one on the far right in the middle works. I compose a nice photograph but then have to move the camera to the left get the correct focus point. I know I have to go into the menu and find the pencil but I have several manuals and I just don't "get it" on how to change the focus point. When you get over the hill you are supposed to pick up speed but I think I have  flat tire or something.



#3
Merco_61

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nikdood17, it sounds like you are already in single area AF mode. To change the active area, you just have to move it with the multiselector. I think that stupidly enough, you have to pass the center point wherever you want to go as it won't go directly from the far left to the top by pressing up on the selector.

 

If I remember correctly, the auto and creative modes will override the AF-area mode setting with either Closest Subjct or Dynamic Area depending on which creative mode you are in.



#4
nbanjogal

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 But now I am taking pictures of my grandchildren and I notice that when one is sitting behind the other the back one turns out blurry. 

 

As long as the front child is in focus, It sounds like you have a depth of field problem rather than a focus problem. If you're shooting with a large aperture, you're more likely to get a shallow depth of field. Also, what lens? A longer lens can make your focus plane even shorter. (I'm writing from the assumption that you already understand depth of field--just holler if that isn't the case.)

 

Can you tell us what your lens and settings were for a photo such as the one you took with the children sitting one behind the other? Perhaps we can help you troubleshoot this issue.



#5
Steve M

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As long as the front child is in focus, It sounds like you have a depth of field problem rather than a focus problem. If you're shooting with a large aperture, you're more likely to get a shallow depth of field. Also, what lens? A longer lens can make your focus plane even shorter. (I'm writing from the assumption that you already understand depth of field--just holler if that isn't the case.)

 

Can you tell us what your lens and settings were for a photo such as the one you took with the children sitting one behind the other? Perhaps we can help you troubleshoot this issue.

 

Well you probably already helped some.   I was using my Nikon 80-400 MM and was at 220mm.   My F-stop was F/8      It was a bright day and I am not sure why but was using ISO 400 and a Shutter Speed of 1/1000.  Probably because I did a train just before.  I don't don't think m F-stop was out of line though?



#6
Merco_61

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How far away were you from the front child?

 

To understand more about DOF, you can play around with DOFMaster and check what numbers you get at different distances with the same aperture and focal length.



#7
Steve M

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How far away were you from the front child?
 
To understand more about DOF, you can play around with DOFMaster and check what numbers you get at different distances with the same aperture and focal length.


I was about 15 feet away. I will try and post the picture but am reluctant as I know the parents may not like it.

#8
Merco_61

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At 15 feet, the drop-off in sharpness will be quite abrupt. DOFMaster gives a DOF of about 0.45 feet at that distance, focal length and aperture. The D7200 isn't in the dropdowns, but you can use any of the other DX Nikons instead.

 

If you are reluctant to post the picture in a public forum, don't. You can, however PM me and Nicole with it if you want to and we will take the feedback to PM.



#9
Dogbytes

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Basically, there are three ways to increase your depth of field;

1 Use a lens with a shorter focal length

2 Use a smaller aperture (higher f-number) - i.e. f8 instead of f4

3 Increase the camera to subject distance.

 

You can maximise it by using the hyper focal distance but that's probably overcomplicating things at this stage.