D810 Maximizing Face Detection automation

rmp

I don't think this question belongs in the general tread on the D810.

First let me admit I have read Thom Hogan's manual for the D800. I do not have his D810 manual yet. Second let me admit that my eyes glaze over after only two or three paragraphs. And last let me admit that I have never used the D810 Custom Setting menu items.

Now, with that context, "how do I maximize the use of Face Detection on a D810?" In the past I used single point focus and focused on the nearest eye. It seemed to work in "P", "A" and "M" modes. But I wonder if there is a better, more automated way.

Golf007sd

Try using Live View and it will show you have many faces it detects. Moreover, when you preview and image on the back LCD, you will see how many it detected. The mode you use, to the best of my knowledge, is irrelevant.

rmp

Live View is a big help. The little green face markers, the zoom to focus feature is great.

Is it possible to get some indication through the eye level viewfinder?

Are there some settings of the "Auto Focus Servo Modes" and "Autofocus Area Modes" that maximize Face detection?

Vipmediastar_JZ

Without looking at the manual I beleive you can maximise it by setting the AF TO AF-S and it should expose for the face.

rmp

Thanks all. I think I finally got it. The metering system should be set to matrix metering and the focus system should be set to AF-S or AF-C. Then the colors and highlights in the metering system can add to the face recognition (two eyes, nose, mouth) to maximize the effectiveness of the total face recognition system.

Golf007sd

FYI, I believe the AF System, will detect about 31 faces...all at one time. Now, how on earth you will ever get that many faces to not blink and look at you in order to have a good shot, is in Gods hands. :P

rmp

That is exactly the problem I am facing. I must shoot a friends 50th wedding anniversary. It will be a party with about thirty guests. I'm thinking spray-and-pray with cut-and-paste for closed eyes and non-smiles. :-&

WestEndBoy

Tell the boys that they will get pink bow ties in their hair and the girls that they will get moustaches if they blink It works every time if I count to 3.

rmp

I like it. I think it was Msmoto that suggested this one:
Tell the group you will count backward to zero. When you get to zero they are supposed to smile. Then you start counting: 99, .---98,--- 97. At 97 they are all smiling.

Msmoto

Sanook

I tried another one, I told everyone to close their eyes, I tell them to open eyes when I tell them to. I count "3,2,1,OPEN EYES & Thankyou". and between the words eyes & THANKYOU I fire off some shots and it seems to work, although some still forget to smile @-) >:/

Sometimes I think you'd be better off shooting paint balls at them )

Photographing large groups increases my appreciation for landscape photography. ~X(

spraynpray

I'm thinking spray-and-pray with cut-and-paste for closed eyes and non-smiles. :-&

Just send me the plane ticket and I'll be there...

Pistnbroke

My anti blink is theset the CL to 2 per second and take 2 or 3 of every shot.....

donaldejose

Pistenbroke: I like that idea. Never use CL before and that would be a good use for it when the situation is group shots.

rmp

I like that CL idea. But isn't the default 3 ps and wouldn't that be better?

jj168

Thanks all. I think I finally got it. The metering system should be set to matrix metering and the focus system should be set to AF-S or AF-C. Then the colors and highlights in the metering system can add to the face recognition (two eyes, nose, mouth) to maximize the effectiveness of the total face recognition system. - See more at: http://forum.nikonrumors.com/discussion/3274/d810-maximizing-face-detection-automation?post#Form_Body

Hi rmp,

Re face detection in View Finder, in addition to what you said above, I believe the face recognition only work on faces within the AF coverage. Also note if part of the face is blocked, i.e by hand or hat, the camera may not able to detect face. I discovered this when shooting my daughter. Took few shots in the same scenes (a bit back lighting) in matrix metering. The one with part of her face covered by hand was under exposed on the face, the rest were well exposed to her face. This was with d800 where the face detection is always on.