Mike Hagen - The Nikon Autofocus System: Mastering Focus for Sharp Images Every Time

Mike Hagen

Mastering Focus for Sharp Images Every Time

The Nikon Autofocus System

Mastering Focus for Sharp Images Every Time

Mike Hagen

www.visadventures.com

Project editor: Joan Dixon

Copyeditor: Jeanne Hansen

Project manager: Matthias Rossmanith

Marketing: Jessica Tiernan

Layout and type: Hespenheide Design

Cover design: Charlene Charles-Will

ISBN: 978-1-937538-78-1

1st Edition (1st printing, November 2015)

2015 by Mike Hagen

All images Mike Hagen unless otherwise noted

Images on Dollar Photo Club

Rocky Nook Inc.

802 E. Cota Street, 3rd Floor

Santa Barbara, CA 93103

USA

www.rockynook.com

Distributed in the U.S. by Ingram Publisher Services

Distributed in the UK and Europe by Publishers Group UK

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015944888

All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission of the publisher.

Many of the designations in this book used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks of their respective companies. Where those designations appear in this book, and Rocky Nook was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in caps or initial caps. All product names and services identified throughout this book are used in editorial fashion only and for the benefit of such companies with no intention of infringement of the trademark. They are not intended to convey endorsement or other affiliation with this book.

While reasonable care has been exercised in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein or from the use of the discs or programs that may accompany it.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Printed in Korea

Thank you to my wife Stephanie for loving me and supporting me as I continue to follow my dreams. Stephanie is an incredible woman and Ive been blessed beyond measure with 22 years of marriage to her.

Thank you to my son Matthew who I dearly love. I enjoy his humor and I love watching him grow into a wonderful young man.

Thank you to my daughter Allison who is a blessing to our family. I love her feisty spirit and her innate curiosity about the world around her.

Thank you to the amazing team at Rocky Nook who is supportive, helpful, and always on the ball. I love writing books with their company and am grateful for their partnership.

Most important, I give all glory to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. He has immeasurably blessed my life and I am thankful that He has filled my life with adventure, love, and purpose.

Mike Hagen, October 2015

Mike Hagen is an avid adventurer who combines his passion for the outdoors with excellence in photography. He is a skilled digital photography instructor, location photographer, class leader, and editorial writer.

Mike started his photography business in 1998 as a way to share his passion for photography with the rest of the world. He is well known for his intensity, energy, and enthusiasm. If you participate in a workshop with him, you will be pleasantly surprised by his generosity and passion for imparting his knowledge to all participants.

Based in Washington State, USA, Mike has traveled extensively throughout the world. Travel, photography, and adventure are his passions, so youll frequently find him somewhere far away from civilization, camera in hand, having a ball in the outdoors.

Mike has worn many hats in his lifetime. He graduated from college with a degree in mechanical engineering and worked in the field of semiconductor manufacturing for 10 years. He is currently a small-business owner, freelance writer, and professional photographer. His passions are traveling, creating, writing, photography, and teaching. He is happily married and the father of two beautiful children.

Mike aspires to live life to the fullest and to help others do the same. His enthusiasm and zest for life are infectious. His devotion to God and family guides everything he does.

Mike can be reached at:

Visual Adventures

PO Box 1966

Gig Harbor, WA 98335

www.visadventures.com

It is with great pleasure that we present this book, another publication in the Nikonians Press series. These volumes are easy-to-read reference books aimed to reinforce what the Nikonians Academy teaches throughout North America and the world.

The Nikonians Academypowered by Nikonians.org, the worldwide home for Nikon photographers of all skill levelswas created to extend to a small group setting an even more intense and intimate sharing, learning, and inspiring experience than is found in the Nikonians community forums. Since its inception, the Nikonians Academy has given such experiences to over 15,000 attendees.

In early 2005, author Mike Hagen was appointed Director of the Nikonians Academy. He has led many successful workshops, and has also acquired other great instructors who share and live the same values for academic excellence, and who are at ease with both the craft and the art of photography.

Whether taking a class with Mike or with another instructor, Nikonians Academy attendees continually rave about their experiences. Mike is well known for his intensity, energy, and enthusiasm. If you have the opportunity to participate in a workshop with him, you will be pleasantly surprised by his patience and generosity, and by his infectious enthusiasm for imparting his knowledge to all participants. These virtues, along with his thorough knowledge of the subject matter, are obvious in the pages of this volume.

Mike combines his passion for the outdoors with excellence in photography. He is a skilled photography instructor, location photographer, workshop leader, and editorial writer. He started Visual Adventures in 1998 (originally named Out There Images) as a way to share his passion for photography with others.

For many years, we have taken the Nikon Autofocus System for granted, but Nikon engineers continually surprise us by adding ever more capabilities. As the System becomes further enhanced with added modes and features, we begin to wonder what each of them does and when they should be used. In this book, Mike Hagen teaches how the system works and how to best to use it for specific shooting conditions and subjects; all made easy by Mikes clear, concise, and friendly writing style.

Nikonians, through the NikoniansPress, is proud of our joint publishing venture with Rocky Nook as we continue to present new volumes to the world of Nikon users who are hungry for yet more knowledge of Nikon photographic systems.

We hope you will enjoy this book!

Bo Stahlbrandt and J. Ramn Palacios

Founders and Administrators

www.nikonians.org