d700 focussing with 70-200 VR - techniques

ShawWellPete

ShawWellPete

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I have been playing around with my focusing technique on the D700. After reading about it in a couple of places, I have disabled the half press autofocus so I always use the AF-ON button before the shutter.

The idea, which takes some getting used to, is to use it with continuous autofocus and it allows you to track a moving subject or not depending on whether you hold down the AF-ON button or just press and release it.

Has anybody else tried this technique? I think I'm getting more keepers this way now I have got used to it.

I have a 70-200 2.8 VR and have never used the focus lock buttons, does anybody else here use them? Is there any way to change what these buttons do? Ideally, I would make them into another af-on button.
 
not sure about the af lock buttons on the 70-200 but I've been using the af on button for focussing for most of this year now. It took about 100 shots to get used to it, but now I'm never going back, my percentage of keepers is much higher and for focus and compose shooting its great.

I think with the focus removed from the shutter button then the af lock button becomes redundant

Hugh
 
A problem I am having with the 70-200 is when I can close to the focus limit which is not as close as I would liek (1.5m I think). Because there is no beep confirmation of focus on continuous mode I don't know if the focus is there or not.

Any suggestions?
 
the green dot in the view finder comes on still, but I have all the beeps switched off anyway so I've neve really thought of this as an issue.

One thing you must of noticed with the 70-200 (or any VR lens) using the AF on button is you still need a half shutter press to activate VR, may be a problem for some

Hugh
 
boyfalldown said:
the green dot in the view finder comes on still, but I have all the beeps switched off anyway so I've neve really thought of this as an issue.

One thing you must of noticed with the 70-200 (or any VR lens) using the AF on button is you still need a half shutter press to activate VR, may be a problem for some

Hugh
Click to expand...

I've never used the green dot, but I will from now on, thanks!

I've only had a quick play using the af-on button on this lens, I practiced mostly on the 24-70 so hadn't noticed that the VR didn't come on. Do you need to keep the shutter half pressed for the VR to work? or do you half press then release then press the af-on button to focus?
 
Hi Pete,

I just tend to use the 70-200 with VR off, sorry thats not a more helpful answer

Hugh
 
I can imagine, given a choice I tend to use a 24-70 on one body and 85 on the other, so not using VR doesn't worry me to much. I only use the 70-200 nodays if I have no choice

Hugh
 
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