Nikon D3X - Manual (Page 116)

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Framing Pictures in the Monitor
(Live View)
Select live view ( a) mode to frame pictures in the monitor. The
following options are available:
• Hand-held (g): Choose when taking hand-held shots of moving
subjects, or when framing photographs at angles that make it
difficult to use the viewfinder (pg. 91). Camera focuses normally
using phase-detection autofocus.
• Tripod (h): Choose when the camera is mounted on a tripod (pg.
94). You can zoom in on the image displayed in the monitor for
precise focus, making this option suitable for static subjects.
Contrast-detect autofocus can be used to compose photographs
with the subject positioned anywhere in the frame.
A
Phase-Detection Versus Contrast-Detect AF
The camera normally uses phase-detection autofocus, in which focus is
adjusted based on data from a special focusing sensor. When [Tripod] is
selected in live view, however, the camera uses contrast-detect autofocus,
in which the camera analyses the data from the image sensor and adjusts
focus to produce the greatest contrast. Contrast-detect autofocus takes
longer than phase-detection autofocus.