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What's wrong with AF Area mode = Closest Subject

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What's wrong with AF Area mode = Closest Subject

Postby BullcreekBob on Tue Jan 10, 2006 12:34 am

I thought that Closest Subject might have meant the ppl in the foreground would be used to calc the auto focus? sure they're not smack bang in the centre of the frame but I wouldn't have thought that wasn't required.

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Still it's kinda cute that all 3 cars are sharply focused even though they're all different distances away.

Bob in Bull Creek
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Postby Big Red on Tue Jan 10, 2006 12:39 am

spot metering straight through the middle :lol:
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Postby BullcreekBob on Tue Jan 10, 2006 12:45 am

shane gerrish wrote:spot metering straight through the middle :lol:


Err, well, setting on camera = closest subject, metadata in exif = pattern but it sure as hell looks like single area or spot metering. Is my camera faulty? or just me?

Well some further testing shows that regardless of the AF Area mode I choose, the EXIF metadata always say the same, i.e. Pattern - Now I am confused.

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Postby gstark on Tue Jan 10, 2006 6:08 am

Bob,

What's your shooting mode?

A,S,P, M, or one of the presets?

My guess is the latter, which overrides your settings.
g.
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Postby nito on Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:05 am

I think the camera couldnt focus on the guy's white shirt because of low contrast. The shirt may encompass the bottom and right AF sensor. The guy in the brown shirt may be too far for the left AF sensor so the camera chose the closest subject which is the car on the middle and possibly the left AF sensor.

That's my theory. :D
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Postby sirhc55 on Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:24 am

Bob - the simple answer is never to use closest object focussing. Due to the single cross focussing point on the D70 you will have more problems than not :wink:
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Postby moggy on Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:44 am

And make sure your focus lock switch is off. :wink:

8) Bob.

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Postby BullcreekBob on Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:39 am

sirhc55 wrote:Bob - the simple answer is never to use closest object focussing...


It is not something I think I would want to use much, if ever. But it's a new camera, and it has settings and options so I want to try everything out to see what they do.

I've now had the camera for quite a few months and so I'm at the stage where I'm reading every page of the manual (again) including all the fine print.

Knowing what all the buttons, knobs and settings do may not make me a better photographer but I'd like it if my shots were close to being technically the best the camera can do and that quest for technical knowledge requires me to try things

Thanks for all the feedback folks.
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