focus

[Blackbird20202]

Hello all.

:confused: Hope this isn't a stupid question, but with all the airshow pics on here atm, I notice on the exif data to a lot of the pics that the focus distance is set to infinite or infinity (delete whichever does not apply.. lol ). Can anybody tell me why? surely we would be tracking our targets at these ranges? Even so, I wouldn't know how to set my camera to infinity unless the autofocus is off. Is this the case?

What are the benefits of shooting aircraft with infinity set? or the disadvantages? and I use patern metering, is this correct for tis type of shot.

Yours Humbly

Ian

(Shame on Me):confuse:

[benjiblanco]

funnily enough, i thought quite similar Ian, but think its error, or at least non-precise measurement in the exif.

Im not sure where the cut-off is, but is appears that as I get close to infinity, even though im not at it, the exif just reads - infinity. I think its over 30meters? just searching through my pics.

I can assure you i wasnt using manual focus, and be very surprised if Jeni was either, probably true for Rob too.

We started a thread about settings just the other day.

I use pattern metering, even with aeroplanes. But, and a big but.
I will set the exposure compensation to about +1.

Because the camera will expose for the majority of the shot, (the bright sky), the dark aeroplane will come out, dark!
Therefore, i overexpose the shot by a stop to gain some detail back in the plane, to compensate.

[Marvin]

Nikon lenses, ever since the introduction of the "D" series, have reported back to the camera the focus distance. (Whether autofocus or manual is used, it is still the same) This data is useful for the flash (if used) and is also included in the exif data. Greater than a certain distance and it is classed as infinity. (flash set to maximum power)
At these distances, the hyperfocal distance will be so close to infinity it won't matter, you will see that the clouds are just as sharp as the planes. ;)

I can't speak for other manufacturers but suspect they are copying Nikon by now.... :p

[bikers]

Dare I contribute to this intelligent discussion? What I found worked best on my Lumix G1 at recent Southport Airshow was to use manual focus and, with the help of 'manual focus assist', focus on a fairly distant object (in this case the far markers on the beach) then switch of MF assist and don't touch focus ring at all. That way there is no focussing to wait for or think about. Of course being on f14 helped. Like Ben, I had +1 or so exposure compensation because of the sky.

[Blackbird20202]

I can't speak for other manufacturers but suspect they are copying Nikon by now.... :p

Being a Canon user Sir, I'm sure they have. I just haven't found it yet, lol