Case 3 Swiftly responding to the sudden appearance of a subject
Recommended settings
- Focus ModeAF-C
- Focus AreaExpanded Flexible Spot
- AF Track Duration5
- AF drive speedFast
- Smile/Face DetectionOff
- Priority setupBalanced Emphasis
- AF Range ControlAs needed
When shooting a subject that could appear at an unexpected time, as when it emerges from shade, or when shooting various subjects quickly, one after another, each with different framing, setting AF Track Duration to 5 (High) is recommended. With a high AF Track Duration setting, however, the camera starts tracking an object as soon as it enters the focus area, although it may be a different distance away from the camera than the main subject. So be aware that such a setting can increase the risk of losing main subject focus to the background or another subject, against your intention.
Shooting tips
A high AF Track Duration setting works best when shooting a wild animal or bird that moves unpredictably. For the photo at left, Expanded Flexible Spot (rather than Wide or Zone) was selected for the Focus Area, in order to avoid focusing on an unintended object. Expanded Flexible Spot is very convenient — just press the multi-selector once to bring the area of focus back to the center of the frame.
Similar settings can be used for scenes/subjects such as:
Wild animals / Skateboarding / Mountain biking / Skiing (slopes, etc.)