Autofocus Area Modes - Nikon D300 Complete Manual

One point that sometimes gets confused is how the camera
uses something called "predictive focus tracking." When the
D300 focuses in Continuous Servo AF, it always uses
predictive focus tracking. But it doesn't do that in Single Servo
AF. That's a change from previous Nikon models, where
Single Servo AF would use predictive focus tracking if a
subject was moving at the time focus was acquired.
In other words, in Continuous Servo AF if you focus on a
runner in the starting blocks of the 100-meter dash and hold
the shutter release down partway, when the race begins and
the runner starts coming towards you, focus will be tracked as
long as you hold the shutter release partway down. In Single
Servo AF, focus would stay at the starting line.

Autofocus Area Modes

The D300 also has three Autofocus Area modes, which
determine how the fifty-one individual autofocus sensors are
used.
The Autofocus Area mode is set by the switch on the back of
the camera that's immediately underneath the Direction pad.
Your choices are (starting at the bottom and working up):
Single Point AF
selected autofocus sensor for focusing. You control which
sensor is used to focus by pressing the keys of the
Direction pad on the back of the camera (when the meter
is active).
109
Previous Nikon cameras called this Single Area autofocus.
Thom Hogan's Complete Guide to the Nikon D300
109
—the camera uses only the currently
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