Tracking tips

GET TO KNOW YOUR NIKON’S AUTOFOCUS TRACKING SETTINGS

When you attempt to focus on erratically moving birds in flight you realize how important it is to tailor your autofocus settings to the subject. The right tracking and sensitivity settings will give you the best possible chance of locking on to fast-moving birds.

First you should set your autofocus mode to continuous tracking, which Nikon calls AF-C. This means that the camera will continually engage the autofocus to adapt to a subject that is moving closer or further from the camera.

On some Nikons you can change the tracking sensitivity of AF-C mode. A low – or delayed – sensitivity will make the autofocus less likely to snap on to another object like a tree or other animal that might come between you and your subject. You can also tailor your tracking to account for more erratic subject movement in the focus tracking menu.