"C" focusing on Nikon D300 Doesn't work

<p>I had my D300 with "C" auto-focusing shooting mode. Yesterday, I was taking kids' high speed moving picture in the Easter Amusement Park's mechanical octopus ride. I set D300 to "CL" continuous shooting, half pressed the shutter release, following kids' spinning boxes. However, when they arrived my designated spot, I pressed the shutter release fully but the camera didn't react at all. Eventually, after I re-set it to manual focus mode, the continuous shuttering was working. <br>

Did I miss something to fail the "C" auto-focus mode ? I'm going to shoot school boys' ice hockey game next week. Without the "C" code, how can I catch those rapidly stop, move and turn high speed motion ? </p>

<p>I don't know about the D300, but the D2H continuous AF did not track and adjust focus *while* photos were being taken. As soon as the shutter was engaged the AF stopped making adjustments for moving subjects. I would need to release pressure on the shutter release button, then reengage, in order to continue tracking moving subjects.</p>

<p>Other in-camera choices can affect AF: whether the camera is set to focus priority, release priority or a combination of the two; the area covered by AF; whether the AF is set to closet subject or center subject; etc. Again, I haven't used the D300 but all of the other Nikon dSLRs I've tried had variations of these adjustments that could influence AF performance.</p>

<p>the d300 in AF-C mode should be able to track focus and write to card at the same time. i usually decouple the shutter from AF using AF-On and then shoot by pressing the shutter.</p>

<p>I would check Custom Setting a1. If that is set to focus priority, the D300 would not fire unless it thinks the subject is in focus. Also double check the setting of the S/C/M switch just below the shutter release.</p>

<p>I believe the half-pressed shutter locks the AF at that point. </p>

<p>+1 Eric A about de-coupling the AF and the Shutter Button.</p>

<p>+1 Shun's note about Focus or Release Priority. It's a very handy feature, but you've got to know what <em><strong>you</strong> </em>want the camera to do and when.</p>

<p>I'll be darned - it's been so long since I've used the D2H for action shots I'd forgotten that it will track focus in continuous mode if I assign AF to the AF-ON thumb button. Thanks for the reminder, folks.</p>