Picture at the top: Holland feb 2022 Redbreasted Merganser (Middelste Zaagbek) 35 meter sun handheld D500 Nikkor 500m f/5.6E PF VR TC-14E equivalent 1050mm standard camouflage. This picture was made using M/a of Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR telelens: temporarily manual focus override until Release button pressed”. Manual focus was temporarily required (aiming camera through small space between obstacles in foreground but eventually this picture of this beautiful bird was actually made using Autofocus function of camera and lens when we pressed Release button.
This is workshop page 1a Switches Nikkor lenses
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Some switches of Nikkor lenses:
∞ – x meter (x for example is 8 meter at Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR and 10 meter at Sigma Sport 150-600mm). Setting it to limit value x usually speeds up autofocus a bit becaus the lens saves the time trying focusssing at distances <= x meter.
We only set it to value x when we absolutely need maximum speed for example when we try photographing fast or rather unpredictable action like the in the picture of the Hornet down at this page. Otherwise we tendto forget that we have set the lens to limit value x and if then our lens refuses to focus because the actual distance to the bird is within x, we miss the shot. Typically our Sigma Sport 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 tends to strictly obey its actual limit 10 when set to x, so we missed several shots at 6 – 9 meters when we had forgotten to reset the switch to value ∞. Do as you wish but “handle with care”.
A/m or M/a or M. (This is tricky):
A/m stands for “manual focus override”: the lens will use manual focus temporarily as long as you turn or press manual focus ring and press Release button to make a manually focussed picture. However as soon as you stop turning or pressing manual focus ring the camera will resume autofocus mode. So it works like a “one time manual focus“.
M/a stands for “manual focus override until pressing Release button”: Consequently we call M/a setting in mind “the camara will eventually perform autofocus“. You can use manual focus as long as you press or turn manual focus ring but whenever you press Release button the camera will switch to autofocus mode and thereafter make a picture. In this case you have assisted the camera by using manual focus mode temporarely – often because camera didn’t manage focussing right away for some reason – to focus on the subject but make the picture using autofocus.
M stands for manual focus always: you can press and turn manual focus ring as you wish, once you press Release button, a picture wil be made and without ever using autofocus.
Next page workshop: 2 Camera’s and settings in general
