D200, did puppy out run auto focus??

[dave_gionet2]

I shot this picture with D200 and a 85mm 1.8 lense set at ISO 200, 1/500m f-2.2

I had it set at dynamic autofocus- closest subject, continuous focus.

It should have focused on his face, instead I got his rear. What did I do

wrong?<div></div>

[Matt Laur]

At f/2.2, you have a vey shallow depth of field. With a moving subject like that, you're bound to have some trouble keeping exactly the right spot in focus in lower light.

[lex_jenkins]

That's one of the toughest tests for any AF system: Fast moving subjects moving toward or away from the camera.

 

Closest subject continuous AF is a good choice. Try to select an off-center focus sensor group more directly over the subject's face.

[don_cooper]

Dave, is this showing the full frame or has the image been cropped?

[bruce_margolis]

Dave, if it's any consolation, you probably did get it right. Unfortunately the dog was still moving toward you in that split second between the time you focused and actually hit the shutter.

 

Next time, try f/5.6 with ISO 800 (auto ISO?) and see what happens. Alernatively, you can try manual focus and wait for the dog's face to reach the focus point. Hopefully this is a dog you can return to shooting frequently.

[elliot1]

I never found the dynamic focus to work well on my D200s. I would just use the center point and keep it positioned exactly where you want the camera to focus on.

[dave_gionet2]

Don, It is the full frame, no crop. I think that Bruce may be right, I have other images that came out similar. But the ones with no forward movement came out good. I guess I need to set greater depth of field. But that wasn't the look I wanted.

thanks- all

[tri-x1]

Plus the puppy is light-colored and fairly low contrast, making it even harder on the AF

[ShunCheung]

The closest subject AF mode is probably the slowsest one, as it involves all AF points. Supposedly, the camera needs to evaluate information from all 11 points and therefore slows itself down.

 

I would try using the center AF point only. That is the only cross type on the D200.

[mksnowhite]

I photograph horses and dogs...it's what i do, and yes a fast moving object towards you is the most challenging. Takes a lot of practice. I use the center af point only..tried just about every other way on the D200 and this works best in my experience.