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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Moving Car Shots
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Nikon D300
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
 05/18/2008 04:05:20 PM · #1
When shooting a car coming towards me at an angle what settings should I use? (I'm using D300 terminology but I imagine Canon's do the same type of thing.)

I currently use:
Continuous Focusing
Continuous High Speed Shutter Release
9 Point dynamic AF area
VR off (on the lens as it doesn't have a panning mode)
Focus Tracking Off (i.e. shortest delay)
and adjust the shutter speed to suit the speed of the car. The ones below were taken at 1/125.

Now this one I quite like as the front of the car is in focus:


This one is OK but the focus point is a bit further back:


So three questions really:
1. How can you get the entire car in focus if possible? (the above were at f/13 and f/16 respectively)
2. Where should I be aiming the focus point?
3. And are there any other settings hidden deep within the 400 page manual that might assist with these sort of shots?

cheers
Rob
SiPix Blink
 05/18/2008 04:09:19 PM · #2
Sorry, this is not a helpful post, but I love those shots. Both of them really convey a sense of motion.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 05/18/2008 04:22:02 PM · #3
I would try just a little slower shutter speed while panning for more of sense of speed. Great car.
Canon EOS-60D
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
05/18/2008 04:22:46 PM · #4


Here are two of mine, I think these were f29 speed 1/50 iso 100 (lens canon 100-400) image stabilizer mode 2

Message edited by author 2008-05-18 16:23:42.
 05/18/2008 07:04:01 PM · #5
i just recently started doing some moving vehicle shots and i ran into the same problems you are experiencing. as you can imagine it gets way worse as it gets darker outside.

all of these shots were shot in TV mode, a way ive found to get better panning shots is get in another vehicle along side it if you can, and shoot out the window or truck bed. leaves less room for error when time is an issue.

Message edited by author 2008-05-19 09:36:28.
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