Nikon D1 - Manual (Page 52)

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Getting Good Results with Autofocus
Autofocus performs best when:
• The subject is well lit. To use autofocus with very dark subjects, use the
AF-assist illuminator built into the Nikon SB-28DX Speedlight (available
separately) and select the center focus area.
• 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 objects in the focus brackets are all at the same distance from the
camera. For example, autofocus may not perform well when you are
photographing an object inside a cage, as the bars of the cage will be closer
to the camera than the object in the cage, and both the bars and the object
in the cage will be in the focus brackets.
• The subject is not dominated by regular geometrical patterns. For
example, the camera may have difficulty focusing on a row of windows in
a skyscraper.
• The subject is evenly lit.
If the in-focus indicator ( ● ) does not appear in the viewfinder when the shutter-
release button is pressed half way, focus manually or use focus lock to focus
on another subject at the same distance, then recompose your photograph
(see “Focus Lock”).
Camera Settings: Getting Good Results with Autofocus