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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
D100 Focus speed problems in low light
Nic Hume, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Victoria | BC | Canada | Posted: 5:30 AM on 02.23.04 |
->> I've been shooting university basketball with a D100 and 70-200/2.8 VR zoom for the last half of the season and I'm going CRAZY with AF problems. I should point out that the lighting is crappy, to say the least. Exposure STARTS at around ISO 1600 - 1/200 / F2.8 and get worse from there. My D100 is very close to 2 years old now (I got it when they first came out) and is pushing 17 000 frames of use on it. The 70 – 200/2.8 was bought over the summer of 2003 and has been used heavily, but treated well. I've been having problems with auto-focus speed and tracking of fast-moving players. The AF seems to lag about 4 or 5 feet behind the moving subject (if they're moving towards me) or simply focus on what I really don't want it to even though the center AF area is pointed right at what I'm shooting. It FEELS like the AF just can't keep up with the action, and/or the lag between shutter button and shutter release is great enough that the subject has moved out of focus in that time. Has anyone else had problems like this with the D100's AF?
Thoughts? Comments? Please? |
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Denny Medley, Photographer
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Kansas City | MO | USA | Posted: 7:08 AM on 02.23.04 |
->> Nic,
My D100's less than a year old, and I've thought the AF in low-light has sucked the entire time. I shoot a lot of bball, and studio portraiture as well, and the D100's AF is almost unuseable in those situations. The studio I can always go to manual, but on the court, I was never happy with it's performance.
Solution? Bought a D2H, and it's AF is INCREDIBLE! The predictive focus on it almost ensures players are in focus, and I normally shoot on court at 1100 ISO with no flash. I highly recommend it! |
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Mike Leakey, Photographer
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Indianapolis | IN | USA | Posted: 8:20 AM on 02.23.04 |
| ->> I had the same problems with my D100. D2H solved the problem with focus and the short shutter lag is awesome. |
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Walter Calahan, Photographer
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Silver Spring | MD | USA | Posted: 8:32 AM on 02.23.04 |
->> Yes, the combination of the 70-200 VR and the D100 is a problem. I've posted this problem on other threats and my review of the lens. The 70-200 VR is a power drain on the D100, especially when VR is set on active. I've had the auto-focus completely quit while the camera writes to the CompactFlash Card.
The only solution is to use a fixed focus telephone lens or use a D1h or D2h which has better power capabilities so the 70-200 VR doesn't slow down or quit focusing.
I'm afraid the D100 just isn't designed for shooting sports. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 10:12 AM on 02.23.04 |
->> After getting a DUD D1X (images that didn;t read to the card)when they first came out, G-d must have been shining on me because my D100 has no problems whatsoever (knock on wood!!!) I use it in low light, at concerts, with the 70-200 and it works fine.
Whew! |
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Sam Cooper, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Oxford | OH | USA | Posted: 10:25 AM on 02.23.04 |
| ->> I was in the same boat. Last year, I shot basketball with my d100 + sigma 70-200 2.8 with focus problems all the time. I was also in about the same light (1/400 2.8 @ iso 3200). Like the other posters, my solution was to get the d2h, which also gave me the ability to shoot with the 85 1.4. So now I shoot @ 1/400 f/1.4 iso 1250. |
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Ben Liu, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Union City | CA | USA | Posted: 12:37 PM on 02.23.04 |
| ->> I began with the D100, always had that problem from the beginning. The D100 is based on the N80 film camera. The focusing sensor is not fast under low light conditions. I made due with what I had ever since it first came out. I recently bought a used D1x. Great AF! The D100 is a great camera, but it is not a sports camera. However, it can be used, just takes lots of patience. |
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Sam Santilli, Photographer
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Philippi | WV | USA | Posted: 3:37 PM on 02.23.04 |
| ->> Nic, we had the same problem, and switched the af mode to continuios (C in the body) and that helps alot. I also started tapping the shutter button constantly, and now do it without thinking. After making moeny with the D100, we have ordered a D2h, but not everyone has a few grand sitting around or that much room on the old plastic. I am sure you clean the glass often, but it does help. Good luck, Sam |
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Brett Groehler, Photographer
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Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 5:18 PM on 02.23.04 |
->> I use the D100 to shoot hockey and basketball mostly using Nikon 80-200 2.8 D and a 300 2.8 AF. I always use 2-6 stobe heads (Photogenic and White lightings) I came to the D100 from the F5 so I do notice the lag time and focus differences. At first it was frustrating, but now I think it has made me a better shooter because I anticipate more now and it allows the D100 to get the shots I want. I would suggest even setting up a couple speedlights in the corners for basketball and just shooting under the basket. I think you will be happier with your shots and the camera too.
My 2cents,
BG |
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Nic Hume, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Victoria | BC | Canada | Posted: 5:12 AM on 02.24.04 |
->> Well, first off, thanks to everyone for all the comments.
I guess I should elaborate a bit on how I'm shooting. I've encountered this problem in both AF C and S modes. Neither seems to significantly alter the problems I'm having. I don't have the gear to set up strobes off-court right now (maybe by next season, but there are a few other things on my purchase list first) so that's unfortunately not an option. Thanks again to everyone for the responses, now I just need to sell enough shots to get myself a D2H and I'll be a happy camper ;) |
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