Nikon D5100 Experience
34
no reason to use it. It is something you may wish to return to later if you run into a difficult
exposure and focus situation and discover the need to sometimes work this way.
Live View and Movie Focusing
Live View Focus Modes
When working in Live View, you can choose from the following Focus Modes:
Single-servo AF (AF-S) – As described above, press the Shutter-Release Button half-way to
focus on a subject. Focus distance will not change unless the Shutter-Release Button is pressed
again. This is best for still subjects.
Full-time-servo AF (AF-F) – The camera will automatically and continuously focus on what it
believes to be the main subject. This can be used for moving subjects.
Manual focus (MF) – This is the recommended focusing method for movie recording. It
provides the most control, and is generally used by advanced videographers. However, optional
and expensive viewing devices and follow-focus devices are needed for best results.
Live View AF-Area Modes
Face-priority is obviously good for tracking and focusing on faces, however it can lose the
subject if their face turns sideways or is obscured.
Subject-Tracking is good for following moving subjects. Tell the camera what to track by
placing the focus point over the subject and pressing the OK Button. Use this in conjunction
with Full-time-servo AF (AF-F) to automatically retain focus on a moving subject.
Set Wide-area or Normal-area in other situations, based on how precise you wish to be and how
large of an area you wish the camera to look at to determine focus.
You will see that focusing in Live View is typically slower and more cumbersome than the
immediate response of the viewfinder AF system, so it is generally preferable to work through
the viewfinder.
Release Modes
This controls the number of shots taken when you press and hold down the Shutter-Release
Button, or else sets the camera for the Self-Timer, Remote, or Quiet shutter release options. It
can also be considered the “drive mode” if you are used to that terminology. This is set with the
i Button and Information Display (see Figure 23).
Single frame will take just one shot even if you keep holding it down. Use this, obviously, when
you only wish to take single shots and when you are using the internal or an external flash,
because the flash typically needs a brief time to recharge between shots.
Continuous will keep taking photos as you hold down the Shutter-Release Button,
approximately 4 frames per second (fps). Use this for action situations when you want to capture
a series of shots, the exact right moment or the peak of action, when a subject’s expression may
be changing from moment to moment, or when capturing subjects or animals in motion. Note
that if you are working with slow shutter speeds or using a flash, or if your memory buffer is
To Next Page
Loading...
