Features & Performance (...continued)

Autofocus System

The camera also features a 51 point autofocus system, using 15 cross type sensors. The autofocus system works extremely well, allowing the camera to quickly lock onto moving subjects, or the user to focus on a specific point while photographing static subjects, without focusing and re-composing. The number of focus points is significantly higher than many of the D300s's competitors, and a huge improvement over previous generations. The user can select from single point or dynamic modes (9,21,51, or 51 point groups with 3D tracking). I would have liked the option to show the chosen autofocus point group all the time in the viewfinder, as with my D70s. This would allow the user to quickly see what group they can move the autofocus point within. The camera currently shows the chosen group in the top control panel and LCD monitor information display only.

Figure 7: Katelyn, ISO 500. [Click the image above for an 8.2 MB high-res version]

Figure 8: Katelyn, ISO 200. [Click the image above for a 4.4 MB high-res version]