Nikon D7000 manual Mastering Autofocus Options, How Focus Works

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Mastering

Autofocus Options

One of the most useful and powerful features of modern digital SLR cameras is their ability to lock in sharp focus faster than the blink of an eye. Sometimes. Although aut- ofocus has been with us for more than 20 years, it continues to be problematic. While vendors like Nikon are giving us faster and more precise autofocus systems, with many more options, it’s common for the sheer number of options to confuse even the most advanced photographers.

One key problem is that the camera doesn’t really know, for certain, what subject you want to be in sharp focus. It may select an object and lock in focus with lightning speed—even though the subject is not the one that’s the center of interest of your pho- tograph. Or, the camera may lock focus too soon, or too late. This chapter will help you choose the options available with your Nikon D7000 that will help the camera under- stand what you want to focus, when, and maybe even why.

How Focus Works

Although Nikon added autofocus capabilities in the 1980s, back in the day of film cam- eras, prior to that focusing was always done manually. Honest. Even though viewfind- ers were bigger and brighter than they are today, special focusing screens, magnifiers, and other gadgets were often used to help the photographer achieve correct focus. Imagine what it must have been like to focus manually under demanding, fast-moving conditions such as sports photography.