FWIW - My Problems w/AF

[pochito]

Some two months ago I started photographing birds with my D810 and had problems with autofocusing.
I asked about this in this forum and got a lot of advice, most, if not all, very clear and good.
I started practising as told and my technique improved noticeably (between my personal limits ) .
Anyway, now I got a D500, which I attached to my 150-600 mm zoom.
I have the feeling that everything works still better now. I even use GRP Mode (and it works!) which was not the case w the D810.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you guys, I'm having lots of fun.

 

[DRwyoming]

I'm having lots of fun.

And that's the most important thing.

Good on ya for putting in the effort and figuring out what helped you get the results you were after. And I'm with you, for birds in flight the D500's Group AF Area mode is quite good.

 

[VStammer]

I still have plenty of shots that don't turn out and it's seldom anything I can blame my camera gear for. I continue to "practice" the techniques in order to achieve more consistent results. At times it's frustrating but when you get a few really good ones it makes it worth while!

 

[Pistnbroke]

I hope you have done your fine focus adjust and if you shoot jpeg upped the sharpness to +9

 

[kimball]

I hope you have done your fine focus adjust and if you shoot jpeg upped the sharpness to +9

That's the most sharpening possible on a Nikon body. Aren't there a ton of halos at that level?

 

[Rassie]

I hope you have done your fine focus adjust and if you shoot jpeg upped the sharpness to +9

Just for the sake of clarification: In-camera sharpness settings are only applied to Jpeg images. Unless ypu process your images with Nikon's own software those sharpness settings will not be applied to NEF files. Also, though I don't shoot Jpeg files, if I did I would be hesitant to apply maximum in-camera sharpness to all images. There will be cases when one does not need all that sharpness, such as in portrait photography where one often desires a little softness to depict a creamy smooth skin as opposed to one where every pore is visible. That's not flattering. It's hard to fix an image that is over-sharpened, it's often easier to apply more sharpening during post processing.

 

[pochito]

Thank you guys.
Actually I shoot only RAW. I select my files in a first step with FastRawViewer.
The rest (In my case and for my taste) invariably benefit from at least some PP.
There are so few remaining anyway ...
I usually denoise first, make then other adjustements and only at the end sharpen definitively.
And I enjoy PP as well

 

[Larry Shuman]

That's the most sharpening possible on a Nikon body. Aren't there a ton of halos at that level?

Nikon applies all menu setting (sharpen, vivid, active D lighting etc) to raw and jpg shots when using transfer 2 for downloading. Again, Steve Perry, E.J. Piker of Naturescapes.net and Nikon have all confirmed to me that Nikon applies the camera setting to each shot. Since I shoot mostly birds I have no halo's plus I'm using Topaz Denoise AI

 

[jeffnles1]

For what it's worth, I assigned the function button FN1 on the front of my D500 to turn on GRP autofocus while depressed. I use "single point" for most of my work but when I see a bird about to take off or some other faster moving subject, I can quickly press one button which is by my shutter button hand anyway and instantly change to GRP and back again when released. That way I don't have to mess with menus or a button plus wheel adjustment in the heat of the moment.

Just offering up as an option if it may help someone. It works quite well for my style; however, everyone is different. Hope it helps.
Jeff

 

[pochito]

For what it's worth, I assigned the function button FN1 on the front of my D500 to turn on GRP autofocus while depressed.
...
...

He-he.
Since I'm learning how to use the different modes, I assigned a button to S, one to GRP and one to d 25, trying to acquire experience.
The problem is remembering which is which when needed...
Just joking

 

[jeffnles1]

He-he.
Since I'm learning how to use the different modes, I assigned a button to S, one to GRP and one to d 25, trying to acquire experience.
The problem is remembering which is which when needed...
Just joking

haha, been there / done that. I know exactly what you mean.

 

[gaknott]

For what it's worth, I assigned the function button FN1 on the front of my D500 to turn on GRP autofocus while depressed. I use "single point" for most of my work but when I see a bird about to take off or some other faster moving subject, I can quickly press one button which is by my shutter button hand anyway and instantly change to GRP and back again when released. That way I don't have to mess with menus or a button plus wheel adjustment in the heat of the moment.

Just offering up as an option if it may help someone. It works quite well for my style; however, everyone is different. Hope it helps.
Jeff

I do the same on my D850 and it works great!

 

[Whiskeyman]

It wasn't until I read about GRP focusing mode in Steve's giude to Nikon AF that I understood why I was having issues with focus in my shots. Once I did, my keeper rate went up a bit, and I expect it will continue to improve with practice.

W