Nikon D750 & D780

Nice detailed explanation. I am however slightly confused by your comment about being difficult to nail focus using AF-C? The only time AF-C is difficult to nail focus imo is if you focus recompose as obviously the focus will shift when you recompose. I've actually wondered if AF-C might actually be better for shallow DOF as there's less chance of camera movement between acquiring focus and actually taking the shot as it's continuously adjusting focus right up until the shutter is pressed. I thought about doing a test but couldn't be arsed :LOL:

Not in my experience, AF-S as she's quite still and I can get right onto the eye, the AFC the eyes tends to be less sharp as it keeps adjusting.

Halloween by Tim G, on Flickr
 
Not in my experience, AF-S as she's quite still and I can get right onto the eye, the AFC the eyes tends to be less sharp as it keeps adjusting.

Halloween by Tim G, on Flickr
Interesting. I've not done specific tests but have used both and not found one better than the other TBH.
 
If you want to be really exact, use spot metering on the face, zero it for normal Caucasian skin. Been messing around with using spot metering in aperture priority, the beauty of a Nikon is that each focus point acts as the metering point (not so with Canon). Only issue with it is locking the exposure if you recompose, which I don't like to do (there's normally a small recompose after focus) but at times it's handy to use. Been using all the metering modes more so of late to really broaden my horizons
Yeah I do this if I'm doing it properly. Was just pointing out that matrix does have that feature ;)
 
Interesting. I've not done specific tests but have used both and not found one better than the other TBH.

In the time it takes to acquire focus with the D750 she's barely moved and as soon as it's acquired I'm taking the pic. I do have it set to fire only when focus has been achieved.
 
In the time it takes to acquire focus with the D750 she's barely moved and as soon as it's acquired I'm taking the pic. I do have it set to fire only when focus has been achieved.

I'll still be trying to acquire focus with the Df by the time you've took it, drove home, processed it and posted it on FB.

:D
 
In the time it takes to acquire focus with the D750 she's barely moved and as soon as it's acquired I'm taking the pic. I do have it set to fire only when focus has been achieved.
Yeah, sorry wasn't meaning to imply you should have done that with your shot, just went off on a bit of a tangent ;)
 
So, found a decent location in the woods:

To explain my choices and I admit to being a relative newbie in this type of shot: I used an 85mm (1.8) lens to get the shallow depth of field, and still be in working distance of Amelia. This was shot at 1.8, so I would suggest using something around 85mm at the widest aperture possible (f2.8 on your Tamron?) Also, keep and eye on the distance your background is from your subject, the reason this has this type of bokeh is that the background is 20ft+ away, and has highlights on it so that'll make the specular highlights (bokeh balls). Also, get to the subjects level (if it's children, dogs etc) try not to shoot from above them.

For autofocus, I was in AF-S Single point with the focal point moved the the one covering her eye, the shot was composed like this in the camera not after in post production. I wanted to ensure I nailed focus on her eyes, I did not use AFC as it's quite difficult to nail focus on the eyes, and she was relatively still at this point.

I then metered the shot and it was suggesting something like 1/60th at 1.8 ISO 100. Always keep to your lowest ISO possible to keep get the best IQ. I'd want to use at least 1/200 on my 85mm lens to guarantee no camera shake. So may have upped the ISO a touch if I wasn't using flash.

Now if I had left it at that, I would have had a nice shot. But I introduced a flash in a octobox to light Amelia so I can control the exposure on her AND the background separately, without a light on her she would have been exposed nicely but the background would have been too bright (for my taste). So I rolled the shutter speed back up to 1/200 to darken the ambient exposure and added a flash in a octobox to the above/side of Amelia set in TTL (easier to let the camera meter for that when trying to get a toddler to stand where she needs to). I then took the picture about 20 times to get a half decent posed one ;)

Here a picture of the flash setup, it was lower for shots of Amelia and more directed into the clearing, was trying something else when this was taken.

View attachment 76331

Right up my street this Tim. A couple of years away for me yet (mine's one next weekend). Are you using something more substantial than a speed light in the octa?
 
Right up my street this Tim. A couple of years away for me yet (mine's one next weekend). Are you using something more substantial than a speed light in the octa?

Couple of years?! Amelia isn't two til January, so you may get to do it sooner. Was just a speed light, I do fancy a Godox AD360II though, but maybe don't do this enough to justify it.
 
Couple of years?! Amelia isn't two til January, so you may get to do it sooner. Was just a speed light, I do fancy a Godox AD360II though, but maybe don't do this enough to justify it.

lol I'm still getting used to how quickly they seem to shoot up. I'd like the Godox but, like you, wouldn't use it enough to justify it. But then, that hasn't stopped me in the past....
 
lol I'm still getting used to how quickly they seem to shoot up. I'd like the Godox but, like you, wouldn't use it enough to justify it. But then, that hasn't stopped me in the past....
Nope me neither, would be a nice addition to my kit. But maybe an expensive luxury!

Gawwwwd. This thread is so sensible and grown up these days...
 
Does your df need a screen protector?
In the hands of minnnt it'll need armour plating ;) At least it's a fixed screen so he can't pull the ribbon cable out again :p
 
I took another trip to the deer rut this morning. I can't believe its 28th October and its still ongoing although its now reaching the end. I can't ever remember it going past mid-October at my local deer park. Here's one from this morning, the light was awful, I was down to f4 1/125sec just to get around 1600. Early on it was ISO 6400 f4 1/80sec which meant anything but static poses was out of the question. I'm always amazed by the detail captured by the D750, you can even see a spiders web strand between the antlers on the right side! This stag was looking at one of the dominant stag's harem but not getting too close as the stag was still chasing off all challengers.


Looking on
by Rob Cain, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
I took another trip to the deer rut this morning. I can't believe its 28th October and its still ongoing although its now reaching the end. I can't ever remember it going past mid-October at my local deer park. Here's one from this morning, the light was awful, I was down to f4 1/125sec just to get around 1600. Early on it was ISO 6400 f4 1/80sec which meant anything but static poses was out of the question. I'm always amazed by the detail captured by the D750, you can even see a spiders web strand between the antlers on the right side! This stag was looking at one of the dominant stag's harem but not getting too close as the stag was still chasing off all challengers.


Looking on
by Rob Cain, on Flickr
Is rutting season coming to an end? Looks like I've missed it for another year then :(
 
Is rutting season coming to an end? Looks like I've missed it for another year then :(
At my local park it's seems to be nearing the end. There was around 3 stags bellowing and chasing others off but there were many stags eating and sitting down on their own.

I find I nearly miss all the good action even though I try to make every Saturday and Sunday morning from mid September to the end of the red deer rut.what I have noticed are the Sitka and Fallow deer are getting more active so they can't be far off their Rut.
 
Rookie mistake. I asked a question in a different thread, forgetting that most answers to life can be found in the d750 thread!!

Where do folk buy their paper background rolls from?
 
Anyone sent there D750 back for the recall mods recently?
What's the real world turn around times like? Were you happy with the outcome?
Been a while since mine went in, wasn't happy with the outcome nor the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th time to correct it. Ended up getting a new camera though so very happy with the final outcome.
 
Got bored this morning of looking for birthday getaways for the other half in december so decided to have a play with my lens collection and found that the AF on my 70-200 vr1 is unbelievable compared to everything else. it was more noticeable on af-c than anything else.
 
Back
Top