Ask Jason
Is using Auto ISO a slippery slope? Will my Canon lenses and kit work with my new D850? Jason sets you straight
Our resident Nikon expert Jason Parnell-Brookes answers your questions and solves your problems. If you’d like Jason to come to the rescue regarding your Nikon-related question, email it to mail@nphotomag.com. Please note that we reserve the right to edit queries for clarity or brevity.
I’ve got a 16-85mm VR lens for my D7000, but at the short end of the zoom range, it seems to autofocus at the wrong distance. Why is this? Phil Rowland Jason says... I’ve noticed this phenomenon myself, and not just with the D7000. Nikon says that when using wide-angle or super-wide-angle lenses, autofocus errors can occur if the main
subject is placed in front of a distant background, or when the subject is finely patterned, like a field of flowers. Nikon recommends autofocusing on a different subject at the same distance from the camera, locking the focus setting, and then recomposing for the shot, or focusing manually.
Thankfully, due to the large depth of field when using wide and super-wide lenses, focusing accuracy isn’t usually critical. However, if you’re shooting close-ups with a wide aperture, accuracy can still be important, as the DoF is reduced. Try switching to Live View mode and using magnified preview for manual focusing.
I tried a D850 and was so impressed I’m swapping from Canon to Nikon. Is there any way of using my Canon lenses and flashguns via adaptors? Steve Watts Jason says…
Lens adaptors don’t tend to work well. You’d only be able to use lenses in manual mode, with no automatic aperture control, autofocus or stabilization. And as for flashguns, you’ll lose all dedication, plus I’d be very wary about mounting them in the hotshoe without a single-pole adaptor that keeps all the additional, ‘dedicated’ pins isolated.
Sigma has a ‘mount conversion service’ available for some of its recent ‘global vision’ lenses. You’re best off selling your Canon kit and buying replacement Nikon-fit versions. You could trade in your Canon kit for used Nikon gear with a company like MPB (see Secondhand Superstar, right).
I’ve started using Auto ISO instead of making constant adjustments. Is this a good practice or best avoided? Vern Rutley Jason says…
I absolutely love Auto ISO. It’s great for shooting anything from weddings and social events to travel photography where you’re nipping in and out of buildings like museums and cathedrals. For events, where you’ve got a lot on your plate and can struggle just to keep up with what’s going on, Auto ISO gives you one less thing to worry about. Similarly, it’s great when you’re switching between indoor and outdoor shooting, as it’ll increase your ISO by just enough to enable sufficiently fast shutter speeds for safe handheld shooting, without going too high and impairing image quality. It also works brilliantly with a dedicated flashgun, enabling an excellent balance between flash and ambient lighting with auto flash metering.
My A3+ printer has just died and I’d like to replace it with something that can make bigger prints. Is there another A2 capable printer that will still fit on a desktop? Ben Smith Jason says...
There are two prime candidates for desktop printers that enable A2 printing. One is the Canon image PROGRAF PRO-1000 and the other is the Epson SureColor SC-P800. They both cost around £1000/$1200, and can both deliver borderless photo prints up to a size of 23.4x16.5 inches. That’s considerably larger than the 19x13 inches of an A3+ printer.
The Epson can go larger, with an optional roll feeder that enables large-format panoramic prints. Both printers use pigment-based inks, but Canon’s ‘chroma optimizer’ cartridge creates smooth prints on glossy photo paper. Both are good at mono as well as colour. However, the Epson wastes time and ink when you switch between glossy and matte media, as the ‘photo black’ and ‘matte black’ cartridges share the same
channel in the print head.