Autofocus Settings Summary - Nikon D300 Complete Manual

Autofocus Settings Summary

Focus Mode
Single Servo
Single Servo
Single Servo
Cont Servo
Cont Servo
Cont Servo
The big problem most first time D300 users have is that this is
a very different system from previous Nikon cameras. In
particular, I see these aspects causing the most confusion:
• Single Servo no longer uses predictive focus. A subject in
motion when AF is first detected is not tracked on a D300,
where it was on many previous Nikon models with this
setting.
• Group AF is gone. None of the variants of Group
autofocus appear on the D300 as they did on the D200
and D2 series. There is also no Wide/Narrow choice nor
any patterned groups. If you were using one of these
options, you'll have to convert to a new technique.
• Closest Subject Priority (CSP) is gone. As much as I've
harped on negative aspects of CSP, there certainly were
times when it was useful. The D300 has no method in
which you can force it to focus on the nearest object or
nearest object in a group of sensors. Again, if you were
using those facilities on your previous camera, you'll need
to find a new method.
The camera doesn't always tell you which autofocus
•
sensor was used. See the summary chart, above. In most
Continuous Servo modes the camera doesn't tell you
which area was used for focus. Over time you'll learn to
trust the camera, but until you do, remember that you can
always review the focus selection point after the fact by
Thom Hogan's Complete Guide to the Nikon D300
AF Area
Mode
Single Point
Dynamic Area
Auto Area
Single Point
Dynamic Area
Auto Area
Initial Final
Area Area
Selected Selected Shown?
by by
User User
User User
Camera Camera
User User
User Camera
Camera Camera
V1.02
Final
Area
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
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