Digital Photography Autofocus Tutorial

[BoredAtWork2000]

That's not true. I have a 50mm that is auto focus ONLY. Maybe that wasn't such a "stupid comment". Great lens overall, but big knock on this model is the auto only focus function.

[Mr1Ali1]

The only thing that would make your video better is if you could include a couple shot's from the day, with the settings just for interest. Other than that your videos are perfect.

[tomatokamatis19]

very nice tutorial jared thanks a lot :)

[dwhanson48]

I really appreciate this video. It helped me a lot!

[MrAyajan]

u friggin rock bud

[Linds19941]

I just wanted to thank you for your awesome videos. I'm a student and i'm about to learn photography on school (finally, because I've always wanted to do that). So now in the holidays I finally bought my camera for school, so I was looking for information so that I would understand everything better to get better pictures when I start with those lessons, so I found your YouTube channel and it's really helping me alot! Thanks!

[joseluissuerte]

Hey Jared, I'm in love with 3D tracking, maybe because I've been use it in D3000 and D90 with only 11 point focus, with 21, 39 or 51 I don't know until get mi new D7000 in my hands.

One more thing, I understand this.... if you are going to use Dynamic área must be with AF-C, because if you set AF-S the camera follow the object with the points BUT lock the focus in the first beep. Am I right? was easy to understand? sorry my awful english, I'm from Argentina

[PS2Reviewer]

does the D3000 have manual focus

[Sunshockey14]

@PS2Reviewer almost all lenses have manual focusw

[crazyasspusshole]

@PS2Reviewer OF COURSE, every dslr and every single lens have manual focusing!

please, inform yourself before posting stupid comments!

[ceciliadelineblogs]

5:55mins worth of watching video! Thank you so much Jarod! :)

[navyman4]

I'm learning much more ALL BECAUSE of that FUNKY BASS at the beginning of his videos! LOL...............

[LOTRzagorath]

Wow, really helpful video!

Thanks!

[miurdock]

Thanks you a lot for tutorial :) best regards from Lithuania

[jh3835]

thanx a lot, plain english. i had no idea which settings to use.

[Nightstrife911]

where on my nikon d3100 can i even set these settings for my focus??

[SlowChillMusic]

so is it wrong when i just leave it on continuos? I dont want to change it all the time.... or is this really important?

[JaredPolin]

@SlowChillMusic i change it depending on what i am shooting.

[1234mytubeuser1234]

Jared don't you think you should consider the canon users also? Why this video is for Nikon users. You have watchers from both the camera users. This would leave me less interested in your videos as I would start assuming that you always think Nikon not the Canon. I am sad :(

[bangbangboogybaby]

wat mode should i shoot in, right now im on guide and you cant change white balance

[atyl1972]

Jared please set up a tutorial on a landscape and where in the landscape you would focus?

[DANSANCR]

a bit repetitive (no hate), but other than that awesome video! I enjoy your videos so much and they are really informative.

[pioglfr2]

With 3D tracking, you choose what you want to focus on initially (like the face), and then you can reframe the shot, and the red dot will bounce around following the face. It isn't designed to choose the focus point for you like you describe in the video.

[JaredPolin]

@pioglfr2 yes u select an area but than it jumps and jumps and jumps, to me it was way to distracting.

[pioglfr2]

With 3D tracking, you choose what you want to focus on initially (like the face), and then you can reframe the shot, and the red dot will bounce around following the face.

[mhond15]

can u do a quick tutorial about metering( matrix, center-weighted, spot). like what are they and when to use them.. thanks a lot, i've been learning a lot from you're tutorials..

[jollyroop]

and could you do a video on Metering...

[jollyroop]

Jared, when using Dynamic area AF what points do you set it to. 9, 21 or 51?

[JaredPolin]

@jollyroop 21

[gtochad]

@JaredPolin the loud noises and movement make it hard to focus on you and what your talking about. just thought id give ya feedback jared :)

[tasos21peristeri]

@JaredPolin cant find this function (9,21,51 points) on my D5000. does it have?

[IDAlecious]

can you film this in a but more quiet room? the hockey game is kinda annoying

[javimald]

DUDE! i love your videos... i am slowly saving up to buy the D3100 -sigh- as a beginner i love HOW YOU EASILY explain everything in simple language terms. !!!! I BOW TO THEEEEE. haha. Am a beginner, but catch on learning technology EXTREMELY fast being that i am a computer-audio- stage lighting - geek/technician. LOOKING FORWARD in viewing more basic tutorials on the D3100 love this camera i visit best buy every week to play with this camera. LOL. I know one day I will own it. :-D

[fhqwghads]

I've noticed a problem with using AF-C. I use a Sigma 70-200, which from what I've read is supposed to have a faster auto-focus than the Nikon counterpart (and fast autofocus is what I *need* for shooting indoor MMA). The problem I've had is sometimes after x-number of shots the lens stops auto-focusing. I have to turn the camera off and back on. Have you ever heard of this issue, or it just a problem with my copy?

[JaredPolin]

@fhqwghads how many shots and what camera is it locking up in?

[fhqwghads]

@JaredPolin Seems a bit random. I shoot a lot of pictures, so if I were to guess I'd say perhaps 20-40 or more. It's on a Nikon D700. If I recall this also happened on my Nikon D80 with the same lens, so it sounds like something wrong with the lens itself, but wanted to see if anyone else had experienced this problem or I just got a bad one.

[andresrojas25]

@fhqwghads Your Battery was probably low

[fhqwghads]

@andresrojas25 Nope, battery was fine and lasted for hours beyond the lockups. I resorted to staying in AF-S.

[andresrojas25]

@fhqwghads Your battery was probably low.

[Aldardil]

Hey Jared..merry x-mas! I'm going to buy my first slr..and can't decide wich one..i am between the nikon d3100 and the nikon d5000..can you please tell me wich one is better beacause i can't find any major difference..(no money issue)..thanks a lot! :D

[JaredPolin]

@Aldardil d3100 is newer, new sensor i would go with it.

[PsykoOps]

I have d200 and what I do is that I use af-c and then focus with af-on button. Pressing shutter half way only locks exposure. That way I have both continous and single at the same time in a manner of speaking.

[tombarkerphotography]

I've recently started using Focus Lock. 99% of the time i'm in AF-C then use the AF-L button to lock in where I want, if your camera doesn't have a dedicated AF-L button you can usually assign another one to it' function.

[Pixelements]

Hi Jared, im a canonuser and i never altercated with the different autofocus options.i always used the single af,also at sports. but now u made me curious.

i got 3 af options to choose (i got the 550d) - 1. one shot, 2. ai focus and 3. ai servo. so whats the difference between ai focus and ai servo? u explained it on a nikon... which one is the "3d - autofocus",that focuses randomly and which one is the other one? that only continually focuses the object?

best regards from germany

[thelixir715]

@Pixelements in the manual: ai focus switches af mode automatically, ai servo is for moving objects

[OChristFollower]

Good video... alil confusing for us Canon folks

[Photo4Coffee]

Merry Christmas! I hope Santa brought ou a 2.8. :D

Br,

Coffee

[Photo4Coffee]

Merry Christmas! I hope Santa brought you a 2.8 .:D

[DodZJoka]

jared which mode is suitable for group photo?

[xK3ViNx07]

Jared, do you use Auto or Manual Focus on your lenses?

[JaredPolin]

@xK3ViNx07 auto for me.

[Zaneathankid]

Thanks for all the videos, they are just GREAT!!! You should make some more with DOM BOWER!

[SchneiderStudios]

I too like to focus on the chest

[deadkennedys909]

Lol unless you shoot a d60 like I do for my back up camera. Has 3 focus modes and the outter 2 are useless most of the time -___-

[mikenyesi123]

yoo jared i see that you have been using the 3100 quit often. is there any reason for that? i sometimes like to grab my d60 and take it around with me as a challenge because it limits me alot considering i use the d700 thats a bit of a leap from the d60. but i see you using that cam alot now any specific reason for that?

[JaredPolin]

@mikenyesi123 I am using it to review it as nikon sent it to me to play with. 

[JazzeRae360]

@JaredPolin i just got the d3100 but with the 18-55 and its not a good lens but i have a 70-200 tamron

[flowremix]

if you shoot wide open 1.4 and recompose...doesn't your focus point get recomposed too? like focus on the eyes, then recompose, then nose gets sharp then everything else is blurred out.

[JaredPolin]

@flowremix thats why in single mode I am constantly re focusing to make sure i am locked and sharp. 

[m505xl]

@flowremix Good point. I think that only becomes a problem if you are very close to your subject. You could always just change the focus point to the eye.

[tombarkerphotography]

@flowremix only if your using AF-C, you can also lock the focus and recompose.

[pioglfr2]

@flowremix definitely something you have to watch out for at f/1.4. it might be better to frame the shot, then manually select the AF point (to be on the eyes, for example), then focus.

[Zephear]

@flowremix that's true because the distance to subject changes as you turn you camera to recompose. I think it's even noticable at 1.8 or even smaller aperture. So I don't do that.

[catalystman]

good post fro - I think the name of the game here is to try each mode out yourself and understand how each mode behaves under various circumstances. a mere conceptual understanding (which is still VERY important - don't get me wrong!) won't translate itself into practical proficiency. practice practice practice.

[AudioVideoLOVER]

Merry Christmas to you all.

[bmwpr30]

Jared - I got a little confuse, when shooting portraits which one should I select:

a) AF-S + Single Point,

b) AF-S + Dynamic Area,

c) AF-A + Single Point

...Thanks Jared

[JaredPolin]

@bmwpr30 In single focus it doesnt matter because you are no tracking anything. I leave it in dynamic af myself.

[tmlim526]

Does AF-C cause a significant decrease in battery life??

[JaredPolin]

@tmlim526 i honestly dont worry about battery life, your not going to killer your battery in this day and age after 100 shots your going to get a lot of shots and rule of thumb have an extra.

[dnwphoto]

jared, i have a d40 and a nikkor 35 1.8, 18-55, and 55-200. im not too happy with the image quality im getting. would you suggest upgrading bodies to something like a d90 with better resolution, or better glass like a f/2.8 lens

[TechQuerk]

@dnwphoto the sensor on the d40 may be not as good as the d90, but it is still a good camera, if you want to bump yourself up to something a bit better i would go for what jared is using, the d3100, or the ones that jared is not using the d5000 or yes the d90. I think that if you want to go for something more professional then go with one of these camera's.

[DJariko]

I just have my autofocus programed on AE-L/AF-L button, that way I get the focus set about where I want it and then just manually adjust if I need to. Tho I'm not shooting much sports etc. so it's good for me.

[kapkaplui]

Thanks The Fro.

[00hmath00]

agreed... thanks alot Jared!!!

[SerGighen]

Hey Fro!! I'm and italian student that loves your job and the way u share all these informations with us.

I think this video is full of very precious info that I was trying to figgured out by myself but it's wasn't easy.

I would like to ask you if you could make another video about this argoument but this time further the theoretical info, you can show us some example setting the camera or in lightrrom?

Just because I'm sure not everybody speaks english very good.

Thanks again Fro!

[5Sportfreak5]

Wooow what a coincidence! I was just thinking about this last night and you made a video the day after! :D

[Quazat]

what would you recommend when shooting a group pic?

[JaredPolin]

@Quazat take a look over at the web page it breaks down where to use each.

[travbg77]

are you going to review the d5000??

[JaredPolin]

@travbg77 no i will not be.

[fahim76uk]

Thanks JP ............

[crysisguy05]

which autofocus mode do you recommend for children portraits? (they move a lot..)

[JaredPolin]

@crysisguy05 please go to the web site, it explains everything in full detail, click the link in the description.

[eq5uinox]

wow this is really awesome.....thanks Jared!!!

[TheDirekChew]

Hey Jared, i very confuse for my 5 year plan. The D7000 or D3100 for my first dSLR. Should i got for D3100 and get a good glass? Or D7000 and save up for a good glass.

P.S Doing as a hobby.(I still a student)

[JaredPolin]

@TheDirekChew always good glass.

[macambiskut]

i've always wonder about this on my D3000.

[MrJubblegum]

Finally :D Focusing Explained! Thanks Jared always Struggeld abit with those focusing points.