Nikon D200 User Manual

51
Reference—Focus
This section describes the options that control how your camera focuses: fo cus 
mode, focus-area selection, and AF-area mode.
Focus Mode
Focus mode is controlled by the focus mode se lec tor 
on the front of the camera.  There are two autofocus 
(AF) modes, in which the cam era focuses automati-
cally when the shutter-re lease button is pressed half-
way, and one manual focus mode, in which focus 
must be adjusted man u al ly using the focusing ring 
on the lens:
Option Description
S...

52
Reference—Focus
 The AF-ON Button
For the purpose of focusing the camera, pressing the AF-
ON button has the same eff ect as pressing the shutter-re-
lease button halfway.
 Predictive Focus Tracking
In continuous-servo AF, the camera will au to mat i cal ly ini tiate pre dic tive focus track ing if 
the subject moves while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway or the AF-ON but-
ton is pressed.  In predictive focus tracking, the camera will track focus while at tempt ing 
to predict where the...

53
Reference—Focus
Focus Area Selection
At default settings, the D200 off ers a choice of eleven focus areas that together 
cover a wide area of the frame.  The focus area can be selected manually, allow-
ing photographs to be com posed the main sub ject positioned almost anywhere 
in the frame, or automatically to ensure that the subject closest to the camera is 
always in focus regardless of where it is the frame (closest-subject priority; 
 54).  
Group dynamic-AF can be used to focus on the closest...

54
Reference—Focus
AF-Area Mode
AF-area mode de ter mines how the focus area is 
selected in autofocus mode.  To select the AF-area 
mode, rotate the AF-area mode selector.  The select-
ed mode is shown by an icon in the control panel 
(see below).
Mode Icon Description
Single-area AF
User selects focus area using multi selector; camera focuses on 
subject in selected focus area only.  Use for relatively static com-
  po si tions with sub jects that will stay in selected focus area.
Dynamic-area 
AF
User...

55
Reference—Focus
Focus Zone Selection
When  (single-area AF) or  (dynamic-area AF) is selected for AF-area mode 
(
 54), the user can select from normal or wide focus areas (only normal focus 
areas are available when 
 group dynamic-area or  closest subject priority 
AF is selected for AF-area mode).
Option Description
Normal Frame
(11 Areas)
(default)User can select from eleven focus areas; camera focuses on selected fo-
cus area.  Use to focus on specifi c areas of subject.
Wide Frame
(7 Areas)User...

56
Reference—Focus
5
Highlight option.
6
Make selection.
To choose focus zone size using the FUNC. button and sub-command dial:
1 Select Focus Area Frame for Custom Setting f4 
(FUNC. Button; 
 170).
2 Press the FUNC. button and rotate the sub-com-
mand dial.  Wide focus zones are used when 
WIDE is displayed in the control panel.
Focus Lock
Focus lock can be used to change the com po si tion after focusing, making it pos-
sible to focus on a subject that will not be in a focus area in the fi  nal...

57
Reference—Focus
2 Check that the in-focus indicator (●) appears in the viewfi nder.
Single-servo AF
Focus will lock automatically when the in-fo cus 
indicator appears, and re main locked until you 
remove your fi nger from the shutter-re lease 
button.  Focus can also be locked by pressing 
the AE-L/AF-L button (see below).
Con tin u ous-servo  AF
Press the AE-L/AF-L button to lock both fo cus and 
exposure.  Focus will remain locked while the AE-
L/AF-L button is pressed, even if you later remove...

58
Reference—Focus
The AF-Assist Illuminator
The built-in AF assist illuminator enables the camera 
to focus even when the subject is poorly lit.  The cam-
era must be in focus mode S (single-servo autofocus), 
an AF-Nikkor lens must be attached, and the center 
focus area or focus area group must be selected or 
closest subject priority in eff ect.  If these conditions are met and the subject is 
poorly lit, the illuminator will light automatically to assist the autofocus operation 
when the...

59
Reference—Focus
Under the conditions described above, the optional SB-800 and SB-600 Speed-
lights and SU-800 wireless Speedlight commander will provide active AF illumi-
nation for the following focus areas:
AF lens focal length Normal frame (11 areas) Wide frame (7 areas)
23–34 mm
35–70 mm
71–105 mm
With other Speedlights, the camera AF assist illuminator will be used.
Getting Good Results with Autofocus
Autofocus does not perform well under the conditions listed below.  If the cam-
era is unable to...

60
Reference—Focus
Manual Focus
Manual focus is available for lenses that do not sup-
  port autofocus (non-AF Nikkor lens es) or when auto-
focus does not produce the desired re sults (
 59).  
To focus manually, set the focus-mode selector to M 
and adjust the lens focusing ring until the image dis-
played on the clear matte fi eld in the viewfi nder is in 
focus.  Pho to graphs can be taken at any time, even 
when the image is not in focus.
The Electronic Range Finder
If the lens has a maximum aperture...