Ever since we first started shooting with the D5, understanding how it works with its new features has been a fun quest. The first big puzzlement came when photographing Sharp-tailed Grouse using Auto Area AF, the D5 grabbed on and locked focus in low light on subjects BEHIND grasses. Its performance defies IMHO how the classic AF systems work. They need contrast, strong vertical and/or horizontal lines to operate and in this scenario with the grouse, the lines were IN FRONT of the subject yet the AF system consistently locked focus on and delivered sharp images. And if Kevin hadn’t been beside me shooting with his D5 getting the same results, I would have thought it a fluke. But it’s not a fluke!
While at Magee Marsh photographing the warblers as they danced in and out of the tree limbs, at one point the D5 locked on and in the viewfinder I saw what I hypothesize as being how the AF system works. In the upgrade of the D5 AF system (which is a huge upgrade), the Face Detection (Cs a4 turned on) is somehow working its magic with these critters. Now the only thing I have to go on is the performance I’m enjoying and seeing the photographs where it’s working. The fact of the matter is knowing how it works is only a mental exercise in understanding the system. What’s really important is that it does work and works really damn well! Can’t wait to get the D500 in hand and test my theory. Should be more fun.