@shamsmoopen - In response to your question, when in single point AF, you can use the multi-selector to move the focus point around the frame so regardless of your framing, you can place the focus point on the bride.

You need to go to the digitutor I provided above. And then go shoot about a thousand frames and edit these in the computer.

Here is the way to do this:
First, turn on the camera and hold down the "qual" button and the one that has the =/- on it to the right of the release button.

Set ISO to 400, auto ISO OFF "P" mode
You are now in AF-S and single point focus in the viewfinder. Now, step outside and shoot some cars moving toward you. About ten shots.

Now, on the left lower side of the lens is AF Mode button. While pressing this, rotate the main control dial, the one your thumb falls on at the back of the camera at the top right, and viewing through the viewfinder you will see a letter on the bottom change from S to C. Leave it at C and go shoot the same ten shots of cars moving toward you.

Now shoot ten more shots, but about three feet from a large tree, focus on the trunk, and while holding the release button halfway down reframe the photo which has the tree on one side, then push the button the rest of the way down and take the exposure. Do about ten of these.

OK, back to the AF MODE button...press and while holding this rotate the main control dial again to show the "S" in the viewfinder.
Then go shoot the tree shots again.

Then, load all forty shots into your computer. Examine each one and see what you have.

The first ten, some will have been on focus, some not , some the camera will not have even fired and you will think it is broken.

Second ten...most should be perfect.

Third set of ten...mostly out of focus tree......

Fourth set tree in focus at side of frame.

You now know everything there is to know. Unless you want to read the manual. But with the information above you should understand what the things do. Let us know if you are able to do this and get the results.

As far as shooting a wedding...because of the high stress level, the critical timing, the need to have the camera function as a second arm, without even thinking about it, I would highly suggest you not do this until you have at a minimum six months or about 10,000 - 15,000 clicks on your D800. And have processed all of these in your computer yourself.

Now that I read this one. Not only are you not sure about the focus settings, but you don't really seem to know much about DOF or anything either...Eck!

Good luck.

shamsmoopen

With weddings AF S is probably best most of the time

but there will be times when you might prefer AF C

with the greatest possible respect
Before doing weddings, you really need to fully understand, what the focusing and all the other controls do.

Before doing weddings The technical side has got to become second nature to you

BTW RTFM

shamsmoopen said:
Hi

Can someone please point me the right direction on this one. I've got a real bug bear when it comes to understanding the focusing systems of the D800 and was hoping people could help me.

I've just bought the D800 & I'm am getting into wedding photography.

Now what is the generally the best and most consistent mode for weddings please? Is it AF-S or AF-C?

Thanks

sevencrossing said:
understatement of the year

Oh, sorry, I meant to say "I don't have a clue what many of them are." :-)

Actually, I have tried single servo with all the various sizes of area from point to 3D. And my experience suggests I am more comfortable with moving the little red rectangle around all by myself with the little funny toggle on the back of the camera as opposed to allowing the camera to attempt to read my mind and figure out what I want to focus on.

And in continuous servo, the same idea...I want to place my focus point all by myself. Period. But the area around the focus point in continuous servo is good as it allows the lens to continue to be locked on once the initial focus is obtained from the main point. I like the 9 point area for moving objects, A single point is good in crowds for grabbing a face and following it as it moves.

msmoto said:
The complexity is very high in the focus variables.

understatement of the year

As TTJ stated, read the manual. A short way to do this is to use Static focus mode, leave the focus spot in the middle, then while moving the frame over one of the couple, press the button half way or hold the AF lock button, reframe the subject and press the button the rest of the way to take the photo.

I would suggest you take your new camera out and shoot about a thousand exposures, practicing your technique. At a wedding you will be anxious and unless you have practiced this it may not go well.

But, read the manual means to read it about a dozen times....that is what I have to do to understand it. And I mean this seriously, The complexity is very high in the focus variables.

Go to this link http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Digital-SLR-Cameras/25480/D800.html
and you will find a Digitutor near the bottom left. Click here and it will help immensely to understand the straight forward methods of autofocus.

Read the manual - it will point you in the right direction and what type of AF is used for what. The D800 actually has updated the AF and it slightly different than previous models. I don't even have a great handle on what is best for what.

As for the AF points - Single subject, Single AF point - Group, Multi point.

You just have to make sure the DOF is large enough to get everyone in focus. On multi-point if you shoot at 2.8, it will pick the middle of all the identified AF points which means the far front and back of the group will be not in the sweet spot. Front of the group is usually the bride and the groom so they could be out of focus.

Hi

I've just got the D800 with the 24-70 f/2.8 lens and it's great. However, I wanted to ask about Autofocus. I'm going into wedding photography and wanted to know what the best autofocus mode is (single point or a range of points if that's possible)?

I'm just concerned that if I go for single point focus - for example there is space in the middle of the scene where the focus point is in the centre caused by the couple to be side on, they will be out of focus and just the point behind them will be in focus. Hope that makes sense, I just want to know how I nail down really sharp shots on the D800 with the right Autofocus.

Thanks

Jonathan