D7100 back button focus

[tomtek1221]

How do I properly set up back button focus on my D7100?

 

[Mr Gadget]

How do I properly set up back button focus on my D7100?

Here is a link to an excellent article on the basics of setting up and using AF(on)

http://www.luminescentphoto.com/blog/2010/11/05/nikon-af-on-technique/

I have my D7100 setup as follows:

Custom Settings Menu

• f - Controls
• f4 - Assign AE-L/AF-L button
• Press [AF-ON]
  Press + command dials [Off]
• a - Autofocus
• a1 - AF-C priority selection [Release]
• a2 - AF-S priority selection [Focus]
• a3 - Focus tracking with lock-on [AF-1 Short]
• aa6 Number of focus points [AF51]

If I want focus tracking I hold the AE-L/AF-L button on the target when pressing the shutter

If I want to focus and recompose, I lock focus by releasing the AE-L/AF-L button, recompose then press the shutter.

I use single point focus for stationary targets and 9 point group for most everything that moves.

YMMV

 

[tomtek1221]

Thank you Mr. Gadget. Works great.

 

[sallen0412]

Hello - I have been using the back button focus, and recently had to reset my camera. Before the reset, I was able to push the AE-L/AF-L button to focus, recompose (move the red focus box to where I wanted it) and then take the shot. For some reason I am not able to do that now. Do you have any suggestions of what I might have set wrong or need to change to be able to do this again? I want to choose my focus, not the camera.

TIA!

 

[somchai]

Thank you.

 

[jowkon]

How do I properly set up back button focus on my D7100?

Here is a link to an excellent article on the basics of setting up and using AF(on)

http://www.luminescentphoto.com/blog/2010/11/05/nikon-af-on-technique/

I have my D7100 setup as follows:

Custom Settings Menu

• f - Controls
• f4 - Assign AE-L/AF-L button
• Press [AF-ON]
  Press + command dials [Off]
• a - Autofocus
• a1 - AF-C priority selection [Release]
• a2 - AF-S priority selection [Focus]
• a3 - Focus tracking with lock-on [AF-1 Short]
• aa6 Number of focus points [AF51]

If I want focus tracking I hold the AE-L/AF-L button on the target when pressing the shutter

If I want to focus and recompose, I lock focus by releasing the AE-L/AF-L button, recompose then press the shutter.

I use single point focus for stationary targets and 9 point group for most everything that moves.

YMMV

--
Conrad
---------------------------------------------------
Show Low, Arizona

I have this settings on but

• a2 - AF-S priority selection [Focus]

does not work for me no meter if its focus or release it works like set to release (in both AF s and AFc modes) Its unusable this way

Did you get this works in Focus priority way? Is there any other setting which may code this issue in my camera?

 

[Eagerbilt]

How do I properly set up back button focus on my D7100?

Here is a link to an excellent article on the basics of setting up and using AF(on)

http://www.luminescentphoto.com/blog/2010/11/05/nikon-af-on-technique/

I have my D7100 setup as follows:

Custom Settings Menu

• f - Controls
• f4 - Assign AE-L/AF-L button
• Press [AF-ON]
  Press + command dials [Off]
• a - Autofocus
• a1 - AF-C priority selection [Release]
• a2 - AF-S priority selection [Focus]
• a3 - Focus tracking with lock-on [AF-1 Short]
• aa6 Number of focus points [AF51]

If I want focus tracking I hold the AE-L/AF-L button on the target when pressing the shutter

If I want to focus and recompose, I lock focus by releasing the AE-L/AF-L button, recompose then press the shutter.

I use single point focus for stationary targets and 9 point group for most everything that moves.

YMMV

 

[Gollan]

One issue that I've encountered using back button focus is that AF Assist doesn't work with AF-C autofocus mode. This is an issue in low light situations. The D7100 manual, p. 223 off-handedly explains it. To get the AF Assist beam (either built-in or from an external flash), you have to switch to AF-S and then remember to release the back button and press again to refocus. It is not a huge issue, but in low light I've found my images are significantly better focused when I switch to AF-S.

Switching to AF-S is easy with the button-wheel combo, but holding the back button down is such a habit that I sometimes forget to release and press.

 

[jowkon]

Thanks for replay i will try to say in different words

"Prioryty focus" setting means for me that when I press realise button but frame is out of focus it will not make a picture. Mine point is that it does pictures anyway And I can't get this to work.

What do i missing?

 

[Mako2011]

Thanks for replay i will try to say in different words

"Prioryty focus" setting means for me that when I press realise button but frame is out of focus it will not make a picture.

That is correct.

If you have menu a1 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-C you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

If you have menu a2 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-S you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

Mine point is that it does pictures anyway And I can't get this to work.

I believe there is an exception with the D7100 and D7200. If you also have menu f4 set to "AF-ON" (back-button focus), then menu a1 and a2 are ignored and the camera will work as if menu a1 and a2 are set to "release". I have not confirmed but I remember reading/learning about it.

What do i missing?

You can confirm this by simply setting both menu a1 and a2 to "focus" and menu f4 to "AF-ON". Now point the camera (without pressing the AE-L/AF-L button) at a subject that is obviously out of focus (green focus indicator in viewfinder is not solid) and see if the camera takes a picture when you press the shutter release.

--
My opinions are my own and not those of DPR or its administration. They carry no 'special' value (except to me and Lacie of course)

 

[sweetgum]

Thanks for replay i will try to say in different words

"Prioryty focus" setting means for me that when I press realise button but frame is out of focus it will not make a picture.

That is correct.

If you have menu a1 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-C you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

If you have menu a2 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-S you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

Mine point is that it does pictures anyway And I can't get this to work.

I believe there is an exception with the D7100 and D7200. If you also have menu f4 set to "AF-ON" (back-button focus), then menu a1 and a2 are ignored and the camera will work as if menu a1 and a2 are set to "release". I have not confirmed but I remember reading/learning about it.

This is how it works on my D7100. It can take an out-of-focus photo with menu a1 & a2 set to "focus" with menu f4 set to "AF-ON" (BBF). It would be good to have the "focus"/"release" option for BBF but I have not been able to achieve this. It seems impossible.

What do i missing?

You can confirm this by simply setting both menu a1 and a2 to "focus" and menu f4 to "AF-ON". Now point the camera (without pressing the AE-L/AF-L button) at a subject that is obviously out of focus (green focus indicator in viewfinder is not solid) and see if the camera takes a picture when you press the shutter release.

--
My opinions are my own and not those of DPR or its administration. They carry no 'special' value (except to me and Lacie of course)

 

[sweetgum]

Thanks for replay i will try to say in different words

"Prioryty focus" setting means for me that when I press realise button but frame is out of focus it will not make a picture.

That is correct.

If you have menu a1 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-C you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

If you have menu a2 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-S you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

Mine point is that it does pictures anyway And I can't get this to work.

I believe there is an exception with the D7100 and D7200. If you also have menu f4 set to "AF-ON" (back-button focus), then menu a1 and a2 are ignored and the camera will work as if menu a1 and a2 are set to "release". I have not confirmed but I remember reading/learning about it.

This is how it works on my D7100. It can take an out-of-focus photo with menu a1 & a2 set to "focus" with menu f4 set to "AF-ON" (BBF). It would be good to have the "focus"/"release" option for BBF but I have not been able to achieve this. It seems impossible.

This explanation from another thread now explains it for me.

"It is working as designed. This is not a problem. It is same way as D800 and D600. Even Canon works that way. Once you use the back button to achieve focus and release the button the camera will continue to fire no matter where you point the camera. As long as you've achieved the initial focus and release the button the camera will continue to fire away.

Now if you press and hold down the AF and move the camera around it won't fire until focus is achieved. It is working as designed."

What do i missing?

You can confirm this by simply setting both menu a1 and a2 to "focus" and menu f4 to "AF-ON". Now point the camera (without pressing the AE-L/AF-L button) at a subject that is obviously out of focus (green focus indicator in viewfinder is not solid) and see if the camera takes a picture when you press the shutter release.

--
My opinions are my own and not those of DPR or its administration. They carry no 'special' value (except to me and Lacie of course)

 

[BirgerH]

Thanks for replay i will try to say in different words

"Prioryty focus" setting means for me that when I press realise button but frame is out of focus it will not make a picture.

That is correct.

If you have menu a1 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-C you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

If you have menu a2 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-S you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

Mine point is that it does pictures anyway And I can't get this to work.

I believe there is an exception with the D7100 and D7200. If you also have menu f4 set to "AF-ON" (back-button focus), then menu a1 and a2 are ignored and the camera will work as if menu a1 and a2 are set to "release". I have not confirmed but I remember reading/learning about it.

This is how it works on my D7100. It can take an out-of-focus photo with menu a1 & a2 set to "focus" with menu f4 set to "AF-ON" (BBF). It would be good to have the "focus"/"release" option for BBF but I have not been able to achieve this. It seems impossible.

What do i missing?

You can confirm this by simply setting both menu a1 and a2 to "focus" and menu f4 to "AF-ON". Now point the camera (without pressing the AE-L/AF-L button) at a subject that is obviously out of focus (green focus indicator in viewfinder is not solid) and see if the camera takes a picture when you press the shutter release.

 

[BirgerH]

Thanks for replay i will try to say in different words

"Prioryty focus" setting means for me that when I press realise button but frame is out of focus it will not make a picture.

That is correct.

If you have menu a1 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-C you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

If you have menu a2 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-S you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

Mine point is that it does pictures anyway And I can't get this to work.

I believe there is an exception with the D7100 and D7200. If you also have menu f4 set to "AF-ON" (back-button focus), then menu a1 and a2 are ignored and the camera will work as if menu a1 and a2 are set to "release". I have not confirmed but I remember reading/learning about it.

This is how it works on my D7100. It can take an out-of-focus photo with menu a1 & a2 set to "focus" with menu f4 set to "AF-ON" (BBF). It would be good to have the "focus"/"release" option for BBF but I have not been able to achieve this. It seems impossible.

This explanation from another thread now explains it for me.

"It is working as designed. This is not a problem. It is same way as D800 and D600. Even Canon works that way. Once you use the back button to achieve focus and release the button the camera will continue to fire no matter where you point the camera. As long as you've achieved the initial focus and release the button the camera will continue to fire away.

Now if you press and hold down the AF and move the camera around it won't fire until focus is achieved. It is working as designed."

That's a good explanation - haven't seen the thread before.

Is it explaned a little more in that thread - it raises some questions, if using AF-C/AF-S focus/release priority will make any changes to the described behavior.

What do i missing?

You can confirm this by simply setting both menu a1 and a2 to "focus" and menu f4 to "AF-ON". Now point the camera (without pressing the AE-L/AF-L button) at a subject that is obviously out of focus (green focus indicator in viewfinder is not solid) and see if the camera takes a picture when you press the shutter release.

--
My opinions are my own and not those of DPR or its administration. They carry no 'special' value (except to me and Lacie of course)

Thanks.

BirgerH.

 

[sweetgum]

Thanks for replay i will try to say in different words

"Prioryty focus" setting means for me that when I press realise button but frame is out of focus it will not make a picture.

That is correct.

If you have menu a1 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-C you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

If you have menu a2 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-S you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

Mine point is that it does pictures anyway And I can't get this to work.

I believe there is an exception with the D7100 and D7200. If you also have menu f4 set to "AF-ON" (back-button focus), then menu a1 and a2 are ignored and the camera will work as if menu a1 and a2 are set to "release". I have not confirmed but I remember reading/learning about it.

This is how it works on my D7100. It can take an out-of-focus photo with menu a1 & a2 set to "focus" with menu f4 set to "AF-ON" (BBF). It would be good to have the "focus"/"release" option for BBF but I have not been able to achieve this. It seems impossible.

This explanation from another thread now explains it for me.

"It is working as designed. This is not a problem. It is same way as D800 and D600. Even Canon works that way. Once you use the back button to achieve focus and release the button the camera will continue to fire no matter where you point the camera. As long as you've achieved the initial focus and release the button the camera will continue to fire away.

Now if you press and hold down the AF and move the camera around it won't fire until focus is achieved. It is working as designed."

That's a good explanation - haven't seen the thread before.

Is it explaned a little more in that thread - it raises some questions, if using AF-C/AF-S focus/release priority will make any changes to the described behavior.

What do i missing?

You can confirm this by simply setting both menu a1 and a2 to "focus" and menu f4 to "AF-ON". Now point the camera (without pressing the AE-L/AF-L button) at a subject that is obviously out of focus (green focus indicator in viewfinder is not solid) and see if the camera takes a picture when you press the shutter release.

--
My opinions are my own and not those of DPR or its administration. They carry no 'special' value (except to me and Lacie of course)

Thanks.

BirgerH.

This is the thread: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3482589?page=2

 

[BirgerH]

Thanks for replay i will try to say in different words

"Prioryty focus" setting means for me that when I press realise button but frame is out of focus it will not make a picture.

That is correct.

If you have menu a1 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-C you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

If you have menu a2 set to "Focus" then when you are in AF-S you can not take a picture unless the green focus indicator in the viewfinder is solid green (the subject is in focus)

Mine point is that it does pictures anyway And I can't get this to work.

I believe there is an exception with the D7100 and D7200. If you also have menu f4 set to "AF-ON" (back-button focus), then menu a1 and a2 are ignored and the camera will work as if menu a1 and a2 are set to "release". I have not confirmed but I remember reading/learning about it.

This is how it works on my D7100. It can take an out-of-focus photo with menu a1 & a2 set to "focus" with menu f4 set to "AF-ON" (BBF). It would be good to have the "focus"/"release" option for BBF but I have not been able to achieve this. It seems impossible.

This explanation from another thread now explains it for me.

"It is working as designed. This is not a problem. It is same way as D800 and D600. Even Canon works that way. Once you use the back button to achieve focus and release the button the camera will continue to fire no matter where you point the camera. As long as you've achieved the initial focus and release the button the camera will continue to fire away.

Now if you press and hold down the AF and move the camera around it won't fire until focus is achieved. It is working as designed."

That's a good explanation - haven't seen the thread before.

Is it explaned a little more in that thread - it raises some questions, if using AF-C/AF-S focus/release priority will make any changes to the described behavior.

What do i missing?

You can confirm this by simply setting both menu a1 and a2 to "focus" and menu f4 to "AF-ON". Now point the camera (without pressing the AE-L/AF-L button) at a subject that is obviously out of focus (green focus indicator in viewfinder is not solid) and see if the camera takes a picture when you press the shutter release.

 

[bluestarc2k]

Would this be the same on the D5500? I know the option is available in the menu.

--
Cheers
Colin
https://flic.kr/ps/ym2af

 

[BirgerH]

Would this be the same on the D5500? I know the option is available in the menu.

 

[jowkon]

Yes it would be nice if Nikon could explain this bug

 

[BirgerH]

Yes it would be nice if Nikon could explain this bug

Well - if you look at sweetgum's post a little higher, Nikon has actually explained it - you don't need to agree in the motives of Nikon, but it is an explanation, which mean, it's not a "bug" but an intended behavior

BirgerH.