Nikon Freeze Focus - Bring it Back

[Risky]

What ever happened to Nikon’s Freeze Focus? With Freeze Focus, the camera waits until subject is at a prefocused distance and the shutter is automatically released the moment the subject is in focus (providing you have the shutter release pressed). It was a function added to cameras such as the F90 (N90), F5 and F100 when the command backs for these cameras were fitted.

To me, this function was very useful in situations where you know where the subject will be, but it appears too quickly even for auto-focus to pick up and track. A rally car suddenly appearing over a jump was where I used it most, as there was no reference point in mid-air to know when to shoot. It is also a great tool for the wildlife photographer.

One advantage of this function was the ability to use manual focus lenses, as the focus was not being changed; the camera was merely using the auto-focus sensor to trigger the shutter. To my knowledge, no other camera manufacturer had a similar system, but I stand to be corrected.

Sadly, Freeze Focus has been dropped from the digital range of cameras. Please Nikon, bring it back.

 

[au007225]

I can't believe Nikon would be that stupid to drop this feature. I was going to go digital but I rely on this freeze focus function in my wildlife shoots when using the camera remotely. Surely the digitals cameras have this function, does anyone know?

What ever happened to Nikon’s Freeze Focus? With Freeze Focus, the
camera waits until subject is at a prefocused distance and the
shutter is automatically released the moment the subject is in
focus (providing you have the shutter release pressed). It was a
function added to cameras such as the F90 (N90), F5 and F100 when
the command backs for these cameras were fitted.

To me, this function was very useful in situations where you know
where the subject will be, but it appears too quickly even for
auto-focus to pick up and track. A rally car suddenly appearing
over a jump was where I used it most, as there was no reference
point in mid-air to know when to shoot. It is also a great tool for
the wildlife photographer.

One advantage of this function was the ability to use manual focus
lenses, as the focus was not being changed; the camera was merely
using the auto-focus sensor to trigger the shutter. To my
knowledge, no other camera manufacturer had a similar system, but I
stand to be corrected.

Sadly, Freeze Focus has been dropped from the digital range of
cameras. Please Nikon, bring it back.

 

[Juuso]

it existed. How odd if it is dropped.

juuso

What ever happened to Nikon’s Freeze Focus? With Freeze Focus, the
camera waits until subject is at a prefocused distance and the
shutter is automatically released the moment the subject is in
focus (providing you have the shutter release pressed). It was a
function added to cameras such as the F90 (N90), F5 and F100 when
the command backs for these cameras were fitted.

To me, this function was very useful in situations where you know
where the subject will be, but it appears too quickly even for
auto-focus to pick up and track. A rally car suddenly appearing
over a jump was where I used it most, as there was no reference
point in mid-air to know when to shoot. It is also a great tool for
the wildlife photographer.

One advantage of this function was the ability to use manual focus
lenses, as the focus was not being changed; the camera was merely
using the auto-focus sensor to trigger the shutter. To my
knowledge, no other camera manufacturer had a similar system, but I
stand to be corrected.

Sadly, Freeze Focus has been dropped from the digital range of
cameras. Please Nikon, bring it back.

--
http://www.pbase.com/juuso

 

[Jim Doyle]

--This is the very reason I have kept my F4's with the MF-23 backs. It's one of the few things I can't do with the D1x. Have been hoping it would show up in the digital line.
jdoyle

 

[Sebastian Szyszka]

Although the freeze focus feature has been eliminated, it is still possible to do the very same thing.

By using custom functions, you can disable the AF from being tied to the shutter release, but instead to only function upon pressing the AF-ON button. Switch the camera to Single Servo AF with focus priority. Now, use the AF-ON button to prefocus on a subject at the desired distance. Now reframe to point the focus area at the spot where the wanted subject will appear in focus. Then, once the image is reframed, just press down the shutter and wait for the subject to hit your selected focus area. When something under that focus area snaps into place, the shutter is released because the camera found focus.

If your camera can store multiple banks of custom functions, this becomes real easy to switch back and forth from.

-Seb
http://www.crescentmooncreative.com

 

[herbet50979]

What ever happened to Nikon’s Freeze Focus? With Freeze Focus, the
camera waits until subject is at a prefocused distance and the
shutter is automatically released the moment the subject is in
focus (providing you have the shutter release pressed). It was a
function added to cameras such as the F90 (N90), F5 and F100 when
the command backs for these cameras were fitted.

To me, this function was very useful in situations where you know
where the subject will be, but it appears too quickly even for
auto-focus to pick up and track. A rally car suddenly appearing
over a jump was where I used it most, as there was no reference
point in mid-air to know when to shoot. It is also a great tool for
the wildlife photographer.

One advantage of this function was the ability to use manual focus
lenses, as the focus was not being changed; the camera was merely
using the auto-focus sensor to trigger the shutter. To my
knowledge, no other camera manufacturer had a similar system, but I
stand to be corrected.

Sadly, Freeze Focus has been dropped from the digital range of
cameras. Please Nikon, bring it back.

 

[Hooper]

What camera are you doing this with, I have the D100 and cannot seem to get this to work. Can you give a detailed set of instructions on what you did to accomplish this, like give me the settings for dummies version :O) I just cannot seem to get the camera to not take a picture if it is out of focus when the shutter is depressed.

Although the freeze focus feature has been eliminated, it is still
possible to do the very same thing.

By using custom functions, you can disable the AF from being tied
to the shutter release, but instead to only function upon pressing
the AF-ON button. Switch the camera to Single Servo AF with focus
priority. Now, use the AF-ON button to prefocus on a subject at
the desired distance. Now reframe to point the focus area at the
spot where the wanted subject will appear in focus. Then, once the
image is reframed, just press down the shutter and wait for the
subject to hit your selected focus area. When something under that
focus area snaps into place, the shutter is released because the
camera found focus.

If your camera can store multiple banks of custom functions, this
becomes real easy to switch back and forth from.

-Seb
http://www.crescentmooncreative.com

--
CP4500

 

[Sebastian Szyszka]

It works with my old F100 and my N80, have yet to try it with the D100, but the settings are the same. I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, you'll have to figur that out yourself.

First, disable the shutter release from focusing, only have it fire.

Second, bind the AF-EL button to only focus, effectively making it into the AF-ON button on the F100.

Prefocus using the AF-EL button, reframe, and hold down the shutter.

MAKE SURE you are set on Single Serve AF with FOCUS PRIORITY.

-Seb
http://www.crescentmooncreative.com

 

[Sebastian Szyszka]

-Seb
http://www.crescentmooncreative.com

 

[Thom Hogan]

It works with my old F100 and my N80, have yet to try it with the
D100, but the settings are the same. I don't have the exact
numbers in front of me, you'll have to figur that out yourself.

First, disable the shutter release from focusing, only have it fire.

Second, bind the AF-EL button to only focus, effectively making it
into the AF-ON button on the F100.

Prefocus using the AF-EL button, reframe, and hold down the shutter.

MAKE SURE you are set on Single Serve AF with FOCUS PRIORITY.

Here's the D1 version:

To create a “freeze focus” feature:
a. Set Custom Setting #4 to 1 (or OFF).
b. Set the Autofocus Mode switch on the front of the camera
to S (Single Servo).
c. Set the Autofocus Area mode to Single Area (not
Dynamic).
d. If the lens has a focus switch on it, set it to A (Autofocus).
e. Pre-focus the lens to a particular distance. The camera
fires when the selected focus bracket is in focus.

D100 version substitute CSM #14 to AF-ON. Also note that because of the difference in sensors, this works best with the central AF sensor on a D100.

--
Thom Hogan
author, Nikon Field Guide & Nikon Flash Guide
author, Complete Guides to the Nikon D100, D1, D1h, & D1x and Fujifilm S2
http://www.bythom.com

 

[Hooper]

Thanks Thom, the directions worked great, I got it to work. This will work great for the Dog Agility photos I want to take.

It works with my old F100 and my N80, have yet to try it with the
D100, but the settings are the same. I don't have the exact
numbers in front of me, you'll have to figur that out yourself.

First, disable the shutter release from focusing, only have it fire.

Second, bind the AF-EL button to only focus, effectively making it
into the AF-ON button on the F100.

Prefocus using the AF-EL button, reframe, and hold down the shutter.

MAKE SURE you are set on Single Serve AF with FOCUS PRIORITY.

Here's the D1 version:

To create a “freeze focus” feature:
a. Set Custom Setting #4 to 1 (or OFF).
b. Set the Autofocus Mode switch on the front of the camera
to S (Single Servo).
c. Set the Autofocus Area mode to Single Area (not
Dynamic).
d. If the lens has a focus switch on it, set it to A (Autofocus).
e. Pre-focus the lens to a particular distance. The camera
fires when the selected focus bracket is in focus.

D100 version substitute CSM #14 to AF-ON. Also note that because of
the difference in sensors, this works best with the central AF
sensor on a D100.

--
Thom Hogan
author, Nikon Field Guide & Nikon Flash Guide
author, Complete Guides to the Nikon D100, D1, D1h, & D1x and
Fujifilm S2
http://www.bythom.com

--
CP4500

 

[Risky]

Thanks Thom. This works fine on my D1h. I tried just about everything else before posting this tread… holding AF-Lock, switching lens to manual only etc. The Focus Priority is disabled when you try this and the camera fires whether it is focused or not. Obviously I didn't think of disabling the AF on the shutter button.

It would be nice if there was a “Freeze Focus” custom function (hands up all those who knew there digital camera could do this).

Freeze Focus was one of the guiding factors which pointed me to Nikon when switching from the Canon FD system 8 years ago. Please Nikon, don't hide these features away. Maybe if they were more widely know, more people would make the decision I did and opt for the Nikon system.

Sounds like I'd better order Thom's book to find some more hidden treasures.

Here's the D1 version:

To create a “freeze focus” feature:
a. Set Custom Setting #4 to 1 (or OFF).
b. Set the Autofocus Mode switch on the front of the camera
to S (Single Servo).
c. Set the Autofocus Area mode to Single Area (not
Dynamic).
d. If the lens has a focus switch on it, set it to A (Autofocus).
e. Pre-focus the lens to a particular distance. The camera
fires when the selected focus bracket is in focus.

D100 version substitute CSM #14 to AF-ON. Also note that because of
the difference in sensors, this works best with the central AF
sensor on a D100.

--
Thom Hogan
author, Nikon Field Guide & Nikon Flash Guide
author, Complete Guides to the Nikon D100, D1, D1h, & D1x and
Fujifilm S2
http://www.bythom.com