D70 focus

jamesow · 9th December 2004

Hi!
Is the focus fast? Any1 tried on sports or bird/s on flight?

espn · 9th December 2004

Focusing depends mostly on the focusing module in the camera, which is the F80's module - Cam900. After which the lenses you use will determine how fast it can get as well. AF-S lenses are faster than none SWM lenses.

You should consolidate your questions into 1 thread and ask, don't need to start 1 thread for every question/query.

jamesow · 9th December 2004

paisey, new to the forum... pt noted.
thanks for the infor on the focus.

espn · 9th December 2004

No worries dude, trying to help you so that you don't end up having to track so many threads.

Basically the focusing is quite ok, but I think it's still too slow for action. But it's just me.

jamesow · 9th December 2004

too slow for action? that's my worry...
wat action hv u tried so far tt made u conclude the focus is too slow?

espn · 9th December 2004

The focusing speed is pretty slow (for fast action), so even if equipped with a fast len it's still pretty slow to lock on the subject when it's moving. The dynamic AF should not be able to keep up fast like the D2H.

I know it's going to be slow because the focusing module is the same as the one found in D100/F80.

jamesow · 9th December 2004

hey u seem to know alot. r u working in nikon?

espn · 9th December 2004

Nope... I wish I was though...

Witness · 9th December 2004

haha.....keep up la espn...one they they will recog u and make u official nikon ambassador for the region haha....

for super fast subjects like birds or even f1 cars.....i would choose an f5 ....digital equivalent probably the d2H

dunno bout the d2x though.....

2100 · 9th December 2004

Actually, F1 cars and boats, you can get by with D70. So can a lower rung in speed events like wakeboarding. Tried and tested by a small amateur like me....

These are outdoor shoots, no problem using smaller apertures. Also, the targets are big, no problems with contrasting areas to lock on. This affects accuracy as well. Of course if you are a pro and you are paid, that's another playing field as every shot counts.

Comparatively, bird shooting (also outdoors) needs fast AF. Birds are small and definitely non-contrasty, so you will be looking for nothing further than 30metres for big birds like Grey or Purple Herons, and nothing more than 10 metres for smaller birds like KFs. Stuff like Little Egrets (look at my 3 nature galleries) are a bitch AF, where's the contrast man? Most times i just AF at their legs. Allow me to take the opportunity to salute people like Peng Eik for able to MF at 500mm and track a 10cm common KF at distances of probably 5 metres or so (he didn't even crop much). And also the black naped terns which are bigger.

It's really those low-light and fast stuff that makes AF speed critical. Even a fashion show which seemingly does nto seem like may benefit from it. That is because you will be using wide open, f2.8-f4 is very common. Speed/figure skating would be another rung up, necessitating you to use even bigger apertures. Coupled with the "quite close" distances (which affects DOF), you need fast AF + shutter release lag so that you can AF lock and snap very fast. The shallow DOF due to close subject distance + very big apertures is tricky.

That's my limited amateurish experience. Need the pros to explain further.

9th December 2004	#1
jamesow Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 90	D70 focus Hi! Is the focus fast? Any1 tried on sports or bird/s on flight?

9th December 2004	#9
Witness Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: www.maverickatwork.com Posts: 6,768	haha.....keep up la espn...one they they will recog u and make u official nikon ambassador for the region haha.... for super fast subjects like birds or even f1 cars.....i would choose an f5 ....digital equivalent probably the d2H dunno bout the d2x though..... __________________ w maverick.photography b maverick.blogging

9th December 2004	#2
espn Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Planet Nikon Posts: 22,045	Focusing depends mostly on the focusing module in the camera, which is the F80's module - Cam900. After which the lenses you use will determine how fast it can get as well. AF-S lenses are faster than none SWM lenses. You should consolidate your questions into 1 thread and ask, don't need to start 1 thread for every question/query.

9th December 2004	#10
2100 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,116	Actually, F1 cars and boats, you can get by with D70. So can a lower rung in speed events like wakeboarding. Tried and tested by a small amateur like me.... These are outdoor shoots, no problem using smaller apertures. Also, the targets are big, no problems with contrasting areas to lock on. This affects accuracy as well. Of course if you are a pro and you are paid, that's another playing field as every shot counts. Comparatively, bird shooting (also outdoors) needs fast AF. Birds are small and definitely non-contrasty, so you will be looking for nothing further than 30metres for big birds like Grey or Purple Herons, and nothing more than 10 metres for smaller birds like KFs. Stuff like Little Egrets (look at my 3 nature galleries) are a bitch AF, where's the contrast man? Most times i just AF at their legs. Allow me to take the opportunity to salute people like Peng Eik for able to MF at 500mm and track a 10cm common KF at distances of probably 5 metres or so (he didn't even crop much). And also the black naped terns which are bigger. It's really those low-light and fast stuff that makes AF speed critical. Even a fashion show which seemingly does nto seem like may benefit from it. That is because you will be using wide open, f2.8-f4 is very common. Speed/figure skating would be another rung up, necessitating you to use even bigger apertures. Coupled with the "quite close" distances (which affects DOF), you need fast AF + shutter release lag so that you can AF lock and snap very fast. The shallow DOF due to close subject distance + very big apertures is tricky. That's my limited amateurish experience. Need the pros to explain further.