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AF fine tune (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter shrek48
- Start date
DSC_2842
Musoman
PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter
Hi Shrek
Your focusing seems to be improving, so well done. The last photo of a pair of Gold Finches ( i didnt check any others ) the ISO is still too high at 22,800. Even more so because you haven't got into processing yet.
That 36,000 ISO above has been processed.
Try reducing the ISO to 1600 ( dont use auto ISO ) and try brighter days for your photos. Not easy at this time of year in the UK, i know
Your focusing seems to be improving, so well done. The last photo of a pair of Gold Finches ( i didnt check any others ) the ISO is still too high at 22,800. Even more so because you haven't got into processing yet.
That 36,000 ISO above has been processed.
Try reducing the ISO to 1600 ( dont use auto ISO ) and try brighter days for your photos. Not easy at this time of year in the UK, i know
Well done Shrek, I am so jealous of the Long-tailed Tits. When I last came over in 2019 in May/June 2019 I was hoping to photograph those little beauties. I didn't see one I'm afraid. I didn't see a lot of birds that were common in gardens 20 years ago but sadly pesticides put an end to that. I did 3000 miles and the only bugs on the front of the rental car were Scottish bugs. Your garden must be full of bugs
OK Shrek, you'll either love this or hate this. My advice is try it and persevere with it for a while. I've done it all of my camera's for the last 16 years. I think it will help you with your focussing even more. The default for the focusing is a half press of the shutter release to focus followed by a full press to trigger the shutter. If you rush to get a shot you could miss the focus by triggering before it's fully focussed. There's a setting which won't trigger the shutter unless it detects that you are in focus or alternatively you can set it to focus irrespective of whether your focused or not. This is always how I set my AF-C Continuous Auto Focus on all my camera's. Getting back to Back Button Focussing as it's called you focus using your right thumb and trigger the shutter with your index finger as normal. If you set your focussing mode to AF-C and press the Back Button it will continuously focus at whatever is under your focus point until you release it. Because it's continuous AF it compensates all the time for movement of the subject. When you get the pose you want roll your finger over the shutter release and as your already focussed you'll get a better shot. You never need AF-S (Single Focus Mode) because you simply focus with the BBF (Back Button Focussing) on your subject then release the BB and it will stop focussing and stay where it was. This is handy for people standing still, you focus on their face for instance then you let go of the BB and recompose the shot and it stays in focus so simply press the shutter release.
Try it and give it a go. I think it will help. Heres a video on how to set it up on your D7200.
D7200 Back Button Focussing
Try it and give it a go. I think it will help. Heres a video on how to set it up on your D7200.
D7200 Back Button Focussing
shrek48
Well-known member
Thanks Mike, I already use back focus as normal focusing with shutter release was a nightmare for me. thanks
Musoman
PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter
The reason your 2 dark pictures are that dark is because you're using to high an aperture at F11. At that aperture, you're getting 1/8000 th shutter speed which is not letting in enough light.
I'm wondering what settings you are using on the top left dial. Also, change metering from multi to spot and see what happens
Can you say what other settings you are using ?
I'm wondering what settings you are using on the top left dial. Also, change metering from multi to spot and see what happens
Can you say what other settings you are using ?
Getting better all the time, but room for improvement.
Looking at the EXIF data for DSC_8191 it says 1/1000s f/10 ISO6400. If you drop down to f/7.1 or f/8 your shutter speed will go up but it would be better to drop your ISO down even more which will help with reducing noise.
What is also noticeable is that you have blown Highlights because the image is overexposed. This means that there is no data at all in the whites. As Musoman says you could try changing to Spot Metering with would help but a better solution would be to enter the realms of Exposure Compensation or Exposure Bias or Exposure Value (EV) they're all the same thing with different names. This is the button to the right of your ISO button. You hold it down and rotate either the Front or Rear Dial ( probably the rear button, it is on mine) to override the camera's exposure determination, because it doesn't always get it right. You can override it in either 1/2 or 1/3 increments either + or -. In your case for this image you would need to drop it down to probably -0.7 or -1.0. What this effectively does by entering a minus compensation is that you would make the whole image darker by increasing the shutter speed to gather less light so consider it a bonus. It's not as confusing as it sounds. Focus on a fixed target and take a shot without compensation, then take the same shot (in the same lighting) with both Plus and Minus compensations and see for yourself the change in shutter speed and the effect on the image.
If you're struggling to grasp this let us know and we'll help you with it.
You can set your image review to display what's commonly know as "blinkies" these flash any areas of the image that are over exposed. Not sure on the D7200 how to do it so it's a case of RTFM I'm afraid.
Thanks. Yes you are quite correct.
If you want to be pedantic 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 and I’m smiling as I write this. You cant select 0.1. If you have 1/2 stops selected it‘s +/- 0.5 or 1.0 etc. If 1/3 stop it‘s +/- 0.3, 0.7 or 1.0.
🤣
🍺
Actually your Great Egret would be a good example for Shrek, what EV did you use for that or did you Spot Meter?Dead right mate - 0.3 / 0.7 etc upto 3.0 +/- on my D7000
shrek48
Well-known member
ok, way over my stupid head but thanks for all the help, I will endeavor to repay your continuing help by improving but I am enjoying the help and trying out the tasks u set me. I am really happy with some of my results now so will keep on playing... "EV" might have to wait until I am confident with speed, F stop & ISO ;-)
I am a very slow learner these days sadly and cannot practice everyday as my health will not allow, but love my camera and the birds, thanks all please keep posting an helping ....
I am a very slow learner these days sadly and cannot practice everyday as my health will not allow, but love my camera and the birds, thanks all please keep posting an helping ....
An exposure masterclass, Pete.
