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Photo Forum / Digital Photography / DSLR Cameras / July 2006How to convince D200 to focus on far object?
A butterfly landed on a lilac outside my kitchen window, so I grabbed my D200, with the 18-200 set to 200 and started taking pictures right though the window screen. I had the AF-Area mode set to single-area, and the butterfly just about filled that box. The problem is that every once in a while, the AF would jump all the way back to focusing on the window screen, presumably because it's the closest object. Other than going to full manual focus, is there some way to convince it to ignore objects in the foreground? Yes, I realize that shooting through a screen isn't ideal, but I didn't think the butterfly was going to cooperate by hanging around while I removed the screen :-) >A butterfly landed on a lilac outside my kitchen window, so I grabbed my >D200, with the 18-200 set to 200 and started taking pictures right though [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >think the butterfly was going to cooperate by hanging around while I >removed the screen :-) Which AF-Area Mode was the camera set to? (p.54 of the FM) Unfortunately, it wold appear Nikon did not seem to fit this lens with a focal range switch like on my 70-200mm. So the best thing to do is move closer than the closest focus distance of the lens to the screen. -- Ed Ruf (Usenet2@EdwardG.Ruf.com) http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html > Which AF-Area Mode was the camera set to? (p.54 of the FM) Single-area. >> Which AF-Area Mode was the camera set to? (p.54 of the FM) > >Single-area. I believe this is the best you can use in this situation. Not much else I'm aware of in terms of settings. Be sure to frame the butterfly such that a high contrast edge is in the focus area marks. -- Ed Ruf (Usenet2@EdwardG.Ruf.com) http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html > >> Which AF-Area Mode was the camera set to? (p.54 of the FM) > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Ed Ruf (Usenet2@EdwardG.Ruf.com) > http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html Ah, that's an idea. I was basically pointing it right at the butterfly. The highest contrast edge would be the edge of its wings, and I think they often slopped over the edge of the focus area. Moving over a little would get the butterfly out of center of the frame, but keep the edge of the wing in the focus area. I'll have to try that the next time. Thanks. Now, anybody have any hints on convincing butterflies to sit on flowers oriented so their wings are facing the camera? :-) >Ah, that's an idea. I was basically pointing it right at the butterfly. >The highest contrast edge would be the edge of its wings, and I think they >often slopped over the edge of the focus area. Moving over a little would >get the butterfly out of center of the frame, but keep the edge of the wing >in the focus area. I'll have to try that the next time. Thanks. Not sure which one you're shooting, but many have black lines running through their wings. I think you want to focus on this, not the wind edge. You want something in a constant plane of focus. >Now, anybody have any hints on convincing butterflies to sit on flowers >oriented so their wings are facing the camera? :-) I've found butterflies to be much easier subjects than woodpeckers! :-) -- Ed Ruf (Usenet2@EdwardG.Ruf.com) http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html > Not sure which one you're shooting, but many have black lines running > through their wings. I think you want to focus on this, not the wind edge. > You want something in a constant plane of focus. I'm not a butterfly expert either (leip-something-ist?), but it looks like this (cropped out of a much larger file): http://www.texasphotoforum.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=5208&cat=500&ppus er=2485 All in all, quite a disappointing image. Soft focus, muddy colors, and the window screen certainly didn't help any :-) >> Not sure which one you're shooting, but many have black lines running >> through their wings. I think you want to focus on this, not the wind edge. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >All in all, quite a disappointing image. Soft focus, muddy colors, and the >window screen certainly didn't help any :-) Tried to follow the above url, but got: You must be a registered user to view images! To register click on the REGISTER button in the menu above. -- Ed Ruf (Usenet2@EdwardG.Ruf.com) http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html > Now, anybody have any hints on convincing butterflies to sit on flowers > oriented so their wings are facing the camera? :-) Capture them and put them in the freezer for a few minutes. > > Now, anybody have any hints on convincing butterflies to sit on flowers > > oriented so their wings are facing the camera? :-) > > Capture them and put them in the freezer for a few minutes. Some bug shooters swear by Superglue. They say the solvent will release the insect unharmed. >>> Now, anybody have any hints on convincing butterflies to sit on flowers >>> oriented so their wings are facing the camera? :-) >> Capture them and put them in the freezer for a few minutes. > > Some bug shooters swear by Superglue. They say the solvent will release > the insect unharmed. Meanwhile, the bug is thinking "Geez, take a picture. It'll last longer." I prefer to focus on dead bugs - no money in it but it creeps out the family. > Meanwhile, the bug is thinking "Geez, take a picture. It'll last longer." > > I prefer to focus on dead bugs - no money in it but it creeps out the > family. It would be even creapier if you killed the bugs solely for the purpose of taking the picture of their corpse. We should have somebody taking a closer look at you.  SignatureThomas T. Veldhouse Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1 >> Meanwhile, the bug is thinking "Geez, take a picture. It'll last longer." >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > taking the picture of their corpse. We should have somebody taking a closer > look at you. My mother-in-law has an old family formal photo, with a bunch of relatives sitting around this man. We asked who the man was, and she said "Oh, that's Uncle Otto. He was dead." They evidently used to take the dead guy and pose him for a last formal shot with family, like "Weekend At Bernie's." Ed Ruf (REPLY to E-MAIL IN SIG!) wrote: >> A butterfly landed on a lilac outside my kitchen window, so I grabbed my >> D200, with the 18-200 set to 200 and started taking pictures right though [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Ed Ruf (Usenet2@EdwardG.Ruf.com) > http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html A focal range switch? I have a Nikkor 70-300. I wonder if it has such a switch. I haven't noticed one. > Unfortunately, it wold appear Nikon did not seem to fit this lens with a > focal range switch like on my 70-200mm. So the best thing to do is move > closer than the closest focus distance of the lens to the screen. It is an AF-S lens ... why not just grap the focus ring and override the mistake [understandable since the screen is universally closer across the entire scene]? It is possible to rely too much on automation for the creative arts. SignatureThomas T. Veldhouse Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1 >A butterfly landed on a lilac outside my kitchen window, so I grabbed my >D200, with the 18-200 set to 200 and started taking pictures right though [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >think the butterfly was going to cooperate by hanging around while I >removed the screen :-) set the lens to manual and focus manually. Signature"One, two, and the Depot RAR-O, I will buy you a sweet Banana. One, two, and the Depot RAR-O, I will buy you a sweet Banana. Banana, banana, banana I will buy you a sweet banana. Shield, spear and knobkerrie, soldiers in war and peace, In war she fights with bravery, I will buy you a sweet banana. "Sweet Banana" Battle hymm of the Rhodesian African Rifles > set the lens to manual and focus manually. Hell .. it is an AF-S lens ... just grab the baby and focus it! SignatureThomas T. Veldhouse Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1 Thomas T. Veldhouse wrote (in article <0qydnSPpkPRAdCHZnZ2dnUVZ_qKdnZ2d@giganews.com>): >> set the lens to manual and focus manually. > > Hell .. it is an AF-S lens ... just grab the baby and focus it! Manual labor? You heretic. Stone him! SignatureRandy Howard (2reply remove FOOBAR) "The power of accurate observation is called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw >> Hell .. it is an AF-S lens ... just grab the baby and focus it! > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Stone him! I promise not to inhale. SignatureThomas T. Veldhouse Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1 > A butterfly landed on a lilac outside my kitchen window, so I grabbed my > D200, with the 18-200 set to 200 and started taking pictures right though [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > think the butterfly was going to cooperate by hanging around while I > removed the screen :-) The autofocus was focusing on the screen, just go to manual focus, easy on a D200, a finger should be right next to the switch. I often do this to fine tune macro photos. Somehow animals of any ilk don't wait around for the screen to come off. Tom >>A butterfly landed on a lilac outside my kitchen window, so I grabbed my >>D200, with the 18-200 set to 200 and started taking pictures right though [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Tom If you set the AF system up so that it's activated by the AF-ON button and not the shutter release, and are using an AFS lens, you just press AF-ON to focus then continue with manual only (since the AFS lenses have full-time manual AF, or whatever it's called). Doesn't work with body-driven AF lenses, though, since you need to switch to manual mode (to retract the focusing drive pin/axle/whatever it's called), as you said (not that it's such a hassle). |
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