Nikon 5000 - Manual (Page 92)

78
Taking Photographs—Beyond Point-and-Shoot
Autofocus
In autofocus and macro close-up modes, the camera adjusts focus automati-
cally. In User Set A, the camera adjusts focus continuously while the monitor
is on (continuous autofocus;
121). When the monitor is off, the camera
does not focus until the shutter-release button is pressed halfway (single
autofocus;
121). In either case, focus locks when the shutter-release but-
ton is pressed halfway, and remains locked as long as the button is held in this
position (focus lock;
53). When User Set 1, 2, or 3 is selected, the FOCUS
OPTIONS > Auto-Focus Mode item in the SHOOTING menu can be used to
enable single autofocus when the monitor is on (
121).
Getting Good Results with Autofocus
Autofocus performs best when:
• There is contrast between the subject and the background. For example,
autofocus may not perform well on subjects that are the same color as the
background.
• The subject is evenly lit.
Autofocus does not perform well when:
• You attempt to focus simultaneously on two or more objects at different
distances from the camera. For example, autofocus may not perform well
when photographing an object inside a cage, because the bars of the cage
will be closer to the camera than the main subject, and both the bars and
the main subject will be in the focus area.
• The subject is very dark (the subject should not, however, be too much
brighter than the background).
• The subject is moving rapidly.
If the camera is unable to focus using autofocus, the green lamp next to the
viewfinder will flicker when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. Use
focus lock (
53) to focus on another subject at the same distance, or mea-
sure the distance to your subject and use manual focus ( 98).