Question on focus mode

[pentahedron]

Okay I'm looking through my manual again to read about focus modes and if I'm understanding this correctly. AF-A,AF-S, and AF-C only control whether or not the camera continues to focus when the shutter is released? While Single point, dynamic area, auto, and 3d control how many points the camera focuses on and whether or not it is manual?

If so then I always assumed for some reason that the single point,etc... also controlled how the camera metered for exposure. If I'm understanding this correctly the camera meters based on what is in the center? It also explains why some of my subjects are also blurry >_>

[jdepould]

If you're in matrix metering mode, it does pay attention to which focus point is active.

If your subjects are blurry that's either a slow shutter speed or missed focus.

[pentahedron]

I've been using single point so far. I had left my camera in AF-A so it switches between AS-S and AF-C depedending on what I'm shooting. My manual says if the subject starts moving after I release the shutter then the camera willl continue to try and focus. So I was just wondering.

[dcclark]

The camera will try to track your moving subject. But, if the subject is moving fast enough, and if your shutter speed is slow enough, you'll still get motion blur. It's not a matter of focus in that case, it's just that the subject moves while the shutter is still open.

So, it's probably not the focus mode. You need to get the shutter speed to be faster -- perhaps by opening up the aperture, or increasing the ISO.

[Sterling]

AF-S, AF-C, and AF-A determine how the camera will focus (e.g. continuously or once).

Single, Dynamic, Auto, and 3D determine where it will focus (e.g. on one specific point or on different points if the subject moves).

[gifarkas]

Metering depends on the metering mode, not the focus mode. I find that spot metering gives you a lot of freedom, and that's what I'm using most of the time.

In my opinion, you shouldn't use AF-A, you can pretty easily decide between AF-S and AF-C based on the current situation. One more thing to add: 3D tracking isn't very useful with only 11 points (which I believe the d3k has), it will often miss, at least that's my experience.