Question about D300 BIF settings

Thanks Al for sharing the settings. Got a couple of questions for you though:

<!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: bbcode_quote --> Quote:
<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="alt2" style="border: 1px inset ;"> Originally Posted by Alfred Forns http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...s/viewpost.gif
Got some settings for you !!!

Go to AF

a1 release
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<!-- END TEMPLATE: bbcode_quote -->Why "release" and not "focus" or "release/focus"? My understanding is choosing "release" means photos can be taken even the target is not in focus. Wouldn't "release" possibly result in all shots out of focus? What are the disadvantages of selecting either of the other two options ?

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<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="alt2" style="border: 1px inset ;"> In camera there are three settings The middle is dynamic which I use a lot even with cluttered bt Will also use the bottom setting for tracking with the center point Do use this a lot for large birds for precise focusing point. The top setting I never use </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<!-- END TEMPLATE: bbcode_quote -->Did you mean the three AF-area modes here?

Desmond is best to try both and see which suits you best The focus setting did not work well for me Find some gulls and check it out !!! btw those settings will affect the frame rate.

Yes I was talking about the three AF-area modes.

a release set to FOCUS is to be used with single shot / static subjects only.

A release set to RELEASE will give a higher frame rate that Release plus Focus and from what I'm seeing, IN SOME CASES (BIF moving directly toward me or at an angle less than fully parallel to me) will actually yield a higher percentage of in focus images.

As it was explained to me, this is because the processing speed of the D300, especially with subjects moving toward you is such that it can't always keep up if you're asking it to more fully guarantee focus as a requirement for shutter activation.

Jim I did try for a while the Focus setting for stationary but did not see much difference to the release so basically have been using that setting all the time. Probably one of the few I don't tend to change.

Desmond,
I am set to Focus-Release when I am in AF-C mode.

You may notice the frame rate slow down a little to let the AF catch up.

Focus would be the best, however I photograph BIF stopped down a bit. If not in perfect focus he camera shutter will not release.
Stopped down I have a little wiggle room. The image that is not sharp to the camera may be sharp stopped down and would have been missed.


James

Thanks guys for the replies.

James, focus-release seems to a reasonable compromise. I think I'd experiment more with the "release" option to learn more about it.