Nikon D6 Setting Guide(Sports AF Edition)
Professional
Setting Guide
—Sports AF Edition—
Revision 1.0
Table of ContentsTable of Contents
Sports AF: Autofocus Basics............................................................................................................ 4
Autofocus Mode: AF‑C ................................................................................................................................. 4
AF‑Area Mode: 9‑Point Dynamic‑Area AF ............................................................................................... 4
Focus Tracking with Lock‑On ..................................................................................................................... 4
Blocked Shot AF Response: [2] ....................................................................................................................................4
Subject Motion: [Steady] ...............................................................................................................................................4
The Standby Timer ....................................................................................................................................... 5
AF-Area Mode .................................................................................................................................. 6
Custom Focus Groups .................................................................................................................................. 8
Sports AF: Custom Settings ............................................................................................................ 9
The D6 Versus the D5 ................................................................................................................................... 9
a1: AF‑C Priority Selection ........................................................................................................................ 10
a3: Focus Tracking with Lock‑On ............................................................................................................. 11
a4: Focus Points Used ................................................................................................................................ 11
a5: Store Points by Orientation................................................................................................................ 12
a6: AF Activation ........................................................................................................................................ 13
a7: Single‑Point AF Watch Area ............................................................................................................... 14
a12: Auto‑Area AF Starting Point ............................................................................................................ 14
a13: Focus Point Persistence .................................................................................................................... 15
a14: Limit AF‑Area Mode Selection ........................................................................................................ 17
a15: Autofocus Mode Restrictions .......................................................................................................... 17
a16: Focus Point Wrap‑Around ................................................................................................................ 17
Sports AF: Custom Controls .......................................................................................................... 18
Focus‑Related Control Assignments....................................................................................................... 18
Lens Focus Function Buttons ................................................................................................................... 19
AF Fine-Tuning ............................................................................................................................... 20
Manual Tuning ............................................................................................................................................ 20
Auto AF Fine‑Tuning .................................................................................................................................. 21
The Saved Values List ................................................................................................................................ 22
Focus Points ................................................................................................................................... 23
Cross Sensors .............................................................................................................................................. 23
Teleconverters ............................................................................................................................................ 24
2
Table of Contents, Continued
Recommended AF Settings by Event ........................................................................................... 26
Overview: Settings by Event .................................................................................................................... 26
Soccer ........................................................................................................................................................... 27
Gymnastics .................................................................................................................................................. 27
Floor Exercises and Rhythmic Gymnastics ........................................................................................................... 27
Balance Beam .................................................................................................................................................................. 28
Vault ...................................................................................................................................................................................28
Rings and Horizontal and Uneven Bars ................................................................................................................. 28
Athletics ....................................................................................................................................................... 29
Sprints (Hand-Held, Single Runner, from the Front) ......................................................................................... 29
Hurdles .............................................................................................................................................................................. 30
Sprints and Hurdles: Remote Photography .........................................................................................................30
Marathons (from a Vehicle) ........................................................................................................................................ 30
Shot Put, Discus, and Hammer Throw (from the Front, at a Distance) ....................................................... 31
Javelin (from the Front, at a Distance) ................................................................................................................... 31
Long Jump and Triple Jump (Facing Oncoming Jumpers) ............................................................................. 31
High Jump ........................................................................................................................................................................ 32
Pole Vault .......................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Aquatics ....................................................................................................................................................... 33
Swimming ........................................................................................................................................................................ 33
Diving ................................................................................................................................................................................ 34
Artistic Swimming ......................................................................................................................................................... 34
Table Tennis ................................................................................................................................................. 35
BMX and Skateboarding ........................................................................................................................... 35
3
Sports AF: Autofocus BasicsSports AF: Autofocus Basics
The following settings are suitable for most sports:
Autofoccus modeAutofoccus mode AF‑C
AF-area modeAF-area mode 9‑point dynamic‑area AF
Custom SettingsCustom Settings
a1 AF‑C priority selection [Release]
a3 Focus tracking with lock‑on
a15 Autofocus mode restrictions [AF ‑C]
c2 Standby timer [1 min]
Autofocus Mode: AF‑CAutofocus Mode: AF‑C
The camera adjusts focus continuously while the AF‑ON button is pressed or the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. The following indicators are displayed while the AF-mode button is pressed.
Blocked shot AF response [2]
Subject motion [Steady]
Top control panel Viewnder
AF‑Area Mode: 9‑Point Dynamic‑Area AFAF‑Area Mode: 9‑Point Dynamic‑Area AF
If your subject briey leaves the selected focus point, the camera will focus based on information
from surrounding focus points. The following indicators are displayed while the AF-mode button is
pressed.
Top control panel Viewnder Focus-point display
Focus Tracking with Lock‑OnFocus Tracking with Lock‑On
Custom Setting a3 [Focus tracking with lock‑on] controls how autofocus responds to changes in the distance to the subject.
■ Blocked Shot AF Response: [2]
Increasing the speed with which the autofocus system reacts to blocked
shots ensures that focus responds quickly to frequent subject changes.
■ Subject Motion: [Steady]
[Steady] is suited to a wide variety of subjects.
4
Sports AF: Autofocus Basics, Continued
The Standby TimerThe Standby Timer
Choose long standby times to keep the timer active and avoid the delay in focusing that occurs when the timer is reactivated (note that this
increases the drain on the battery). If you’re at a soccer match and the
default six-second timer expires while you’re waiting for a player to line
up a corner kick, you may miss the golden moment following the kick.
In situations like these, we suggest setting Custom Setting c2 [Standby
timer] to a minute or more.
Face Detection
If you are shooting with 3D-tracking, group-area, or auto-area AF selected
for AF-area mode, you have the option of enabling face detection to allow
the camera to automatically detect and focus on faces. Face detection
for these modes can be enabled by selecting [On] for Custom Setting a8
[3D‑tracking face‑detection], a9 [Group‑area AF face detection], or
a11 [Auto‑area AF face detection].
Recommended Settings by Event
See “Recommended AF Settings by Event” (page 26) for the recommended AF settings for dierent
sporting events.
5
AF‑Area ModeAF‑Area Mode
Choose an AF-area mode according to your subject.
AF-area modeAF-area mode Top control panelTop control panel ViewnderViewnder
Single‑point AF
9‑point dynamic‑area AF
25‑point dynamic‑area AF
49‑point dynamic‑area AF
105‑point dynamic‑area AF
3D‑tracking
Focus-point displayFocus-point display
SelectionSelection ShootingShooting
Group‑area AF
Group‑area AF (C1)
Group‑area AF (C2)
Auto‑area AF
■ Single-Point AF
In single-point AF, the focus point is selected manually and the camera focuses on the subject in
the selected focus point only. Choose for subjects you can keep framed in the selected focus point.
To focus on subjects not framed precisely in the chosen point, select [Wide] for Custom Setting a7
[Single‑point AF watch area].
■ Dynamic-Area AF
In dynamic-area AF, the focus point is selected manually. The camera
focuses on the subject in the selected focus point when autofocus is initiated, but if the subject later briey leaves the selected point, the camera will focus based on information from surrounding points (during
shooting, the edges of the area surrounding the selected focus point
are shown by small dots, but all 9, 25, 49, or 105 focus points in the area
are used for focus). Choose for low-contrast subjects if the camera has
diculty focusing, or for active subjects that are hard to keep framed in a single point, and increase
the number of points if the subject is moving unpredictably or occupies a large area of the frame.
Choose a setting one level higher for subjects at the edge of the frame.
6
AF-Area Mode, Continued
■ 3D-Tracking
In 3D-tracking, the initial focus point is selected manually. While the shutter-release button is pressed
halfway, the camera uses color information to track subjects that leave the selected focus point and
selects new focus points as required. Face detection can be enabled by selecting [On] for Custom
Setting a8 [3D‑tracking face‑detection].
■ Group-Area AF
You choose the focus point, and the camera gives priority to the point containing the subject closest
to the camera in an area that includes the selected point and surrounding focus points. The eective focus area is wider than that for single-point AF, reducing the risk of the camera focusing on the
background. Choose for subjects that are dicult to photograph using a single focus point. Face
detection can be enabled by selecting [On] for Custom Setting a9 [Group‑area AF face detection].
■ Group-Area AF (C1/C2)
As for group-area AF, except that the vertical and horizontal dimensions of each of the two custom
focus groups can be selected using the multi selector or Custom Setting a10 [Custom groupings
(C1/C2)] (page 8). Custom focus groups are recommended if the size and shape of the area used
for focus can be determined in advance with a fair degree of accuracy. Face detection can be enabled by selecting [On] for Custom Setting a9 [Group‑area AF face detection].
■ Auto-Area AF
The camera automatically detects the subject and selects the focus point. Face detection can be enabled by selecting [On] for Custom Setting a11 [Auto‑area AF face detection]. If you can predict the
position of your subject in the frame with some degree of condence, selecting [Enable] for Custom
Setting a12 [Auto‑area AF starting point] lets you choose the starting focus point when AF -C is selected for autofocus mode. The camera resumes normal auto-area AF after focusing on the subject
in the selected point (page 14).
7
AF-Area Mode, Continued
Custom Focus GroupsCustom Focus Groups
The vertical and horizontal dimensions of the custom focus groups for
group-area AF (C1) and group-area AF (C2) can be selected using the AFmode button and multi selector or via the Custom Settings menu.
■ The AF-Mode Button and Multi Selector
If a custom group-area AF option is currently
selected for AF-area mode, you can choose
the dimensions of the focus group by holding the AF-mode button and pressing the
multi selector.
Width can be adjusted by pressing 4 or 2 and height by pressing 1
or 3 until the desired values are shown in the top control panel. The
supported groupings are shown below.
1–7 3–7 5–7 7–7
1–5 3–5 5–5 7–5
3–3 5–3 7–3 11–3 15–3
5–1 7–1 11–1 15–1
Custom groups can also be previewed in the viewnder during selection.
■ The Custom Settings Menu
Custom focus groups can also be sized using Custom Setting a10 [Custom
groupings (C1/C2)]. Choose the desired custom mode, size the group
using the multi selector, and press J.
Width
Height
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Sports AF: Custom SettingsSports AF: Custom Settings
Focus-related settings are found in Custom Settings Group “a” [Autofocus].
The D6 Versus the D5The D6 Versus the D5
Users of the D5 should note the dierences between it and the D6 with respect to Custom Settings
Group “a” [Autofocus].
D6D6
a1 AF‑C priority selection
a2 AF‑S priority selection
a3 Focus tracking with lock‑on
a4 Focus points used
a5 Store points by orientation
a6 AF activation
a7 Single‑point AF watch area
a8 3D‑tracking face‑detection
a9 Group‑area AF face detection
a10 Custom groupings (C1/C2)
a11 Auto‑area AF face detection
a12 Auto‑area AF starting point
a13 Focus point persistence
a14 Limit AF‑area mode selection
a15 Autofocus mode restrictions
a16 Focus point wrap‑around
a17 Focus point options
a18 Manual focus ring in AF mode
The D6 features seven new Custom Settings:
a7 [Single‑point AF watch area] (page 14),
a9 [Group‑area AF face detection] (page 7),
a10 [Custom groupings (C1/C2)] (page 8),
a11 [Auto‑area AF face detection] (page 7),
a12 [Auto‑area AF starting point] (page 14),
a13 [Focus point persistence] (page 15), and
a18 [Manual focus ring in AF mode].
D5D5
a1 AF‑C priority selection
a2 AF‑S priority selection
a3 Focus tracking with lock‑on
a4 3D‑tracking face‑detection
a5 3D‑tracking watch area
a6 Number of focus points
a7 Store by orientation
a8 AF activation
a9 Limit AF‑area mode selection
a10 Autofocus mode restrictions
a11 Focus point wrap‑around
a12 Focus point options
The former a6 [Number of focus points] is now a4 [Focus points used], and the options available
have changed to reect the change in the number of focus points. The former a7 [Store by orien‑
tation] is now a5 [Store points by orientation], replacing the former a5 [3D‑tracking watch area],
which is no longer available.
9
Sports AF: Custom Settings, Continued
a1: AF‑C Priority Selectiona1: AF‑C Priority Selection
Custom Setting a1 [AF‑C priority selection] controls whether the camera gives priority to focus or shutter release.
Shutter-release
button pressed
all the way down
: Subject not in focus
: Subject in focus
: Photo taken (frame number shown in top left corner)
G Release: Pictures can be taken whether or
not the camera is in focus. Frame rates do not
slow during burst photography.
B Focus + release: In burst mode, priority is
given to focus for the first frame and to release
for later frames, ensuring that the first frame
is in focus and that no subsequent frames are
missed. Frame rates do not slow.
E Release + focus: In burst mode, priority is
given to release for the first frame and to focus
for later frames. Frame rates slow as needed to
allow the camera to focus.
F Focus: Pictures can only be taken when the
camera is in focus.
Note: Release timing not exactly as shown.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4
10
Sports AF: Custom Settings, Continued
a3: Focus Tracking with Lock‑Ona3: Focus Tracking with Lock‑On
This menu contains two options: [Blocked Shot AF Response] and [Subject
motion].
■ Blocked Shot AF Response
If AF-C is selected for AF mode, focus tracking with lock-on will prevent the camera refocusing when
your subject is briey obscured by another object, ensuring that it will continue to track the main
subject once the obstacle has moved away. Choose the length of time before the camera refocuses
from [1(Quick)], [2], [3], [4], and [5 (Delayed)]. Lock-on applies only while the camera is focusing; to
focus at a new distance without waiting for lock-on to end, re-initiate autofocus.
The camera will track and focus on objects at the same distance as the
Main subject
main subject. High values (slow response) make the camera slow to refocus on obstacles when the shot is blocked. Select low values (quick
response) to quickly refocus on subjects passing in front of the camera
and for improved response when switching rapidly from one subject to
another.
Obstacle
■ Subject Motion
Choose how the camera tracks subjects in motion. Choose [Steady] for subjects approaching the
camera at a steady pace, like sprinters or race cars on a track, [Erratic] for long or triple jumpers and
other subjects prone to sudden stops and starts.
a4: Focus Points Useda4: Focus Points Used
Choose number of focus points available for manual focus-point selection from the options below.
Choosing [27 points] or [15 points] speeds focus-point selection.
105 points 27 points 15 points
Note that the groupings available when [Group‑area AF (C1)] or [Group‑area AF(C2)] is chosen for
AF-area mode vary with the dimensions of the group.
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