Ever since using the D700 I have had a hard time with focusing close the the edge of the frame, and wondered why I didn’t have this problem with my D300. So finally I sat down tonight and compared the focus points of the D300 and D700. Here is a side by side of two photos. If you click on the image it will show a larger version, and be easier to compare the two.
Turns out the focus points on the D700 do not go as close the edge of the frame as the D300. The advantage to this is that the focus points are much more specific, the nice part is a much more precise focus. The problem is that often what I am focusing on is just outside the range, and I am forced to focus and recompose.
One nice thing about the D300 is that the 3rd focus point in on the top row is pretty much exactly at the rule of thirds powerpoint. With the D700 the powerpoint falls outside of the focus points. Not sure if it is is lazyness or good photography that got me in the habit of using one of the four focus point that matched up with the powerpoints, but the fact that I am forced to focus and recompose with the D700 anytime that I want to place the focal point at the powerpoint is frustrating. I notice that the focus isn’t as good when I do this. I am left wondering how other photographers deal with this situation, please leave a comment and let me know how you choose which focus point to use, and how you deal with focusing and recomposing if you do.
I am guilty of letting my focal points guide my composition a little bit. Not totally, of course, but if I can get the object I want in focus to overlap one of the focal points without wrecking the composition, I’ll just run with that without thinking too much more about it. Otherwise, I will just focus and recompose. I don’t have nearly so many points to choose from on my camera though, so I have to focus and recompose quite a lot. I’m going to have to think about this more as I’m taking photos in the next few weeks.
Nice to hear from you martinjcoles. I wonder if it might be better to have fewer focus points, but spread out across the entire frame, not just the inner third of the photo. But nice to know at least one other person lets focal points guide composition as well.
Yup… That’s one of the complaints about the full frame Nikons. They array of focus points is the same as on the D300, but on a larger sensor. I find it’s hard to complain, though. 🙂
Martin: I’ve stopped focusing then recomposing. It works OK with longer focal lengths, but the wider the lens, the more you’ll be off if the point you want to be in focus is near the edge of the frame. I’m also using autofocus less (though that’s partly thanks to a dodgy telephoto lens).
Marc-Julien, wow I am no good at using manual focus. Though to be fair I had been practicing with the manual focus lens that got stuck on my camera. I guess since then I kinda stopped trying.
As far as complaining about the sensor on the D700 I really have no problem complaining about it online. After all internet chatter does influence the next model out.
I’ve searched a lot untill found my problem discuss here on your blog. I have the same complain and the same comparison between D300 and D700. I find very hard to compose my subject close to the frame because of the alignment of the focus points. And I’m not used to focus and recompose neither. I can’t believe this is not an issue for much more photographers. Maybe we miss something, but I prefer to move my focus point and to be sure that the focus is right there.
Have you find a solution in the meanwhile? 🙂
Thanks!
Emmma, I’m also surprised more photographers haven’t commented on this. I got used to focusing and recomposing, but I no longer have the D700 so it’s not so much an issue for me any more. My D300 was in the shop for repairs, and the D700 was lent to me by a friend. Now that I have the D300 back, I had to return the D700
Thanks for your answer, I guess I will get used to that too, I have no choice 🙂
I still have the D300, but I love my D700 more, even with this “problem” 🙂