Timer and auto focus on D700

[treeman]

I'm sure I should know the answer to this, but I'm feeling more stupid than usual at the moment (VVV tired), and I can't lay my hands on the manual right now either. How do you get the AF to work when your on self timer?

I thought if I was on continuos mode, it will still focus allowing me to get in the shot and focused on, but it doesn't, it just lock focus as soon as the shutter button is depressed.

I know I could shoot on manual, but I'm wide open with little DOF so needs to be spot on.

Any ideas? :shrug:

 

[desantnik]

It says that it will focus before each shot... in single shot or continuous low/high.

http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/noprint/D700_noprinten.pdf

(p203)

Just remember to watch out for minimum focal distances... ie make sure you aren't too close!

Also bear in mind that its going to be hard to place yourself in a shallow DOF and exactly where you *think* the focus is going to be unless you do some trial and error testing and/or calculate distances and mark out the ground with an X to stand on....

 

[chrisgeary]

Couldn't find it in the manual myself, but a quick search on google reveals a thread on flickr that discusses this. Interval timer is your friend. Apparently it prefocuses before each shot.

 

[desantnik]

So you mean it focuses after each shot and then waits for the interval before releasing the shutter for the next one?

Sounds a bit odd!

I did muck around with it on my D300 (its the same thing for this feature) and it seemed to perform exactly how I wanted it to - not needing the thing hooked up to a PC like my previous cameras did was a godsend!

 

[chrisgeary]

I just tested it, pretty neat. It will focus then 1 second later take the shot. Then wait for the interval, focus, shoot, wait.

 

[Nod]

I don't use the timer for shots like that, I use a radio remote. That gives you far more time to get comfortable and posed exactly how you want to be and allows you to know exactly when the shutter's going to fire. If you're shooting wide open, you can't be sure that it's going to be your eye(s) that is/are in focus - may be better to stop down a little for insurance.