forgive my ignorance, in the D3s menu a5, AF Activation, I have Shutter/AF-ON (ok'ed). In that configuration, the AF-ON button on upper right side of the camera, when pressed, locks the autofocus. So, are you talking about the same thing when you say "I use AF-ON only". That button does not autofocus. I press the shutter halfway to autofocus and the I can lock that focus by pressing the AF-ON button.
OK, I can see that, but ouch that hurts my brain with focus control on two buttons. It has more control than just half-press, but still doesn't have quite the flexibility of straight AF-ON for focus and it seems more complicated since you've now got focus control on two separate buttons.
Not really...
Only one thumb, two operations. Can't do both at the same time.
You mean allow push of the stick to focus after selecting the focus point? But that function is already assigned to the centering of the focus point.
Plus, no one has mentioned the autofocus confirmation beep only in AF-S mode. Call me superstitious, but I like to hear that beep before I fire, whenever I can. I too use the AF-On button with AF-C when things are moving around a lot.
+1. It's true.
Yet using the AF-on, you have to operate two buttons for every shot you take.
I just find it more intuitive to use AF-C (+ focus lock if needed) or simply set to AF-S beforehand if I know that is the AF type most likely I would use for that shoot.In this scenario, on a tripod with plans to use MLU and a cable release, I'd be using live view zoomed in and manual focus to setup the shot anyway, and likely manual exposure using a hand held incidence meter.
That's what focus lock does. I setup a function button for it, but I don't use AF-C + focus lock if all I plan to do is focus/recompose every shot. I am of the school to move focus points rather than recompose yet if I know every shot is too dynamic/fast paced to move focus points, I just use AF-S knowing I am going to have some miss focused shots if shooting at large apertures. If I'm shooting with a fairly large DOF, this won't be a problem.'
That depends upon your viewpoint. We have two separate operations (focus and shutter) and I appreciate having them on completely separate buttons and being able to control each 100% independently of the other. It offers the most flexibility. I also think that, when your brain gets used to this, then it actually becomes an advantage because you are more trained to think about each operation. How/when do I want to acquire focus is a very separate thought and operation from when do I want to trigger the shutter. Having them never be related to one another trains me to consider each separately as part of taking a shot. If I want to do them nearly simultaneously as with a press of the shutter, that is no more difficult than pressing the shutter (once you are trained).Yet using the AF-on, you have to operate two buttons for every shot you take.
Having focus lock set to a button, allows the use of only use one button for camera operation for 90% of my shooting. In the rare case (for me) I want to focus and recompose while in AF-C, I press one button to lock focus.
The other issue with the AF-on for me is: one of my camera bodies doesn't even have that button (and the AF/AE lock button that can be assigned to it is too far out of the reach of my smaller hands) but all of them allow the function button under my pinky finger to be set to focus lock. I can then have all 3 camera bodies set to operate the same way.
I understand you like this way of shooting and because "pro's do it" it must be the way mere mortals should as well
I would like to change the push the stick to af, rather then to centre focus point
It is true that using the AF-ON needs some practice and discipline, but...
...this is not entirely true. If you set the camera to AF-C and 3-D tracking then you can do focus/recompose using the half press, but even this needs some practice.
...this is not entirely true.If the focus ring is turned the camera stops tracking and you can focus manually.
...you can pre-focus manually using the focus ring. Tracking starts if you push the button.
...you can use the focus ring, it stops tracking, take the shots you want, release the button and push again to start tracking again.
Maybe it was not mentioned because most people don't use it. Mine is switched off and I don't see any use for it since the focus confirmation LED, the green dot, is having the same function and that's in the view finder. Additionally, there is the left/right arrow if you interrupt the auto focus, which indicates the need of left/right turn for the focus ring. There is no sound indication for that.
Does anyone really want to use their camera in 3D mode all the time? It seems to me that you're gambling that the camera will figure out what you want it to do rather than taking control yourself and commanding it what to do.
So you're going to press the shutter halfway and carefully hold it halfway and then do manual focus and then, the whole time without losing the half press and without pressing the shutter while your other hand is manually focusing, then you're finally going to take the shot. I'm sure it can be done, but it sure seems like the hard way to me. With the AF-ON trigger for focus, you just manually focus and take the shot.
Same comment above.
Same comment above. There's a reason you separate the two operations - many things get simpler because you don't have to overcome the focus trigger on half-press when you don't want it to AF at that exact moment. You become in 100% control of when it focuses and when it doesn't.
