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What am I doing wrong?? AF area selection

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Ben Lovejoy

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On several occasions, I've tried to change the AF area from the centre to one of the others.

I have:
  • Ensured I'm in a mode that supports AF area selection (including Manual)
  • Ensured that the slide switch is set to dot rather than L
  • Put the camera into Single area mode
  • Tried the rocker before pressing the shutter, and after half-pressing
Absolutely nothing happens. The focus area remains set on the centre.

'Nearest subject' mode works - it then automatically changes the focus area. But I cannot for the life of me manually select it.

Anyone else had this problem? Anyone any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Ben

--
http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/
 
I do not have that problem at all, tried to duplicate it and could not. The manual shows on page 68 that if you are set for "Closest subject" the focus area will be automatically set by the camera. could that be it?
Ben Lovejoy said:
On several occasions, I've tried to change the AF area from the
centre to one of the others.

I have:
  • Ensured I'm in a mode that supports AF area selection (including
Manual)
  • Ensured that the slide switch is set to dot rather than L
  • Put the camera into Single area mode
  • Tried the rocker before pressing the shutter, and after
half-pressing

Absolutely nothing happens. The focus area remains set on the centre.

'Nearest subject' mode works - it then automatically changes the
focus area. But I cannot for the life of me manually select it.

Anyone else had this problem? Anyone any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Ben

--
http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/megap

MP
 
I have had this happen a couple times while using the Nikon 50mm 1.8. I couldn't figure out why, but if I just press the shutter half way then release it, it seems to correct the problem.

Jon
Ben Lovejoy said:
On several occasions, I've tried to change the AF area from the
centre to one of the others.

I have:
  • Ensured I'm in a mode that supports AF area selection (including
Manual)
  • Ensured that the slide switch is set to dot rather than L
  • Put the camera into Single area mode
  • Tried the rocker before pressing the shutter, and after
half-pressing

Absolutely nothing happens. The focus area remains set on the centre.

'Nearest subject' mode works - it then automatically changes the
focus area. But I cannot for the life of me manually select it.

Anyone else had this problem? Anyone any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Ben

--
http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/
Click to expand...
 
I don't think so - see my original text
MegaPixel said:
Ben Lovejoy said:
On several occasions, I've tried to change the AF area from the
centre to one of the others.

I have:
  • Ensured I'm in a mode that supports AF area selection (including
Manual)
  • Ensured that the slide switch is set to dot rather than L
  • Put the camera into Single area mode
  • Tried the rocker before pressing the shutter, and after
half-pressing

Absolutely nothing happens. The focus area remains set on the centre.

'Nearest subject' mode works - it then automatically changes the
focus area. But I cannot for the life of me manually select it.

Anyone else had this problem? Anyone any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Ben

--
http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/megap

MP
Click to expand...
--
--
http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/
 
I had that same issue, and what I learned is that if you turn the camera off and then back on, you can then change the focus spot. However, once locked, it seems to be unchangeable until another on-ff cycle.

I hope this is helpful,

James
Ben Lovejoy said:
On several occasions, I've tried to change the AF area from the
centre to one of the others.

I have:
  • Ensured I'm in a mode that supports AF area selection (including
Manual)
  • Ensured that the slide switch is set to dot rather than L
  • Put the camera into Single area mode
  • Tried the rocker before pressing the shutter, and after
half-pressing

Absolutely nothing happens. The focus area remains set on the centre.

'Nearest subject' mode works - it then automatically changes the
focus area. But I cannot for the life of me manually select it.

Anyone else had this problem? Anyone any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Ben

--
http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/
Click to expand...
 
if it's not with your D70 then I don't know.

Once you take a shot, the image previews on the back LCD and the multi-selector is then used to flip through the images and stays that way until you half-press or allow the preview timeout to finish. This bugs the cr@p out of me and I end up having to turn Preview off if I am in a situation that I need full real-time functionality. If this is not your case then I would say you need to see if you can emulate it with other lenses and if so I would send camera to Nikon to get it fixed up. Be sure to get it calibrated and the viewfinder trued up.

JP

--
John M. Polston
Atlanta, GA
 
Have you tried resetting to factory options??
Ben Lovejoy said:
MegaPixel said:
Ben Lovejoy said:
On several occasions, I've tried to change the AF area from the
centre to one of the others.

I have:
  • Ensured I'm in a mode that supports AF area selection (including
Manual)
  • Ensured that the slide switch is set to dot rather than L
  • Put the camera into Single area mode
  • Tried the rocker before pressing the shutter, and after
half-pressing

Absolutely nothing happens. The focus area remains set on the centre.

'Nearest subject' mode works - it then automatically changes the
focus area. But I cannot for the life of me manually select it.

Anyone else had this problem? Anyone any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Ben

--
http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/megap

MP
Click to expand...
--
--
http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/megap

MP
 
Dunno, Ben. That's a head scratcher. I wonder if your slide switch is stuck on Locked.

Were you ever able to change the AF area point? Have you tried resetting the camera?

--
my gallery of so-so photos
http://www.pbase.com/kerrypierce/root
 
that you're half-pressing the shutter release first. The 2 factors are, the meter must be activated to change the focus area, and as someone mentioned, the LCD monitor needs to be off. Although you're pressing the shutter release are you sure you're adjusting the AF area while the meter is still active?
Ben Lovejoy said:
On several occasions, I've tried to change the AF area from the
centre to one of the others.

I have:
  • Ensured I'm in a mode that supports AF area selection (including
Manual)
  • Ensured that the slide switch is set to dot rather than L
  • Put the camera into Single area mode
  • Tried the rocker before pressing the shutter, and after
half-pressing

Absolutely nothing happens. The focus area remains set on the centre.

'Nearest subject' mode works - it then automatically changes the
focus area. But I cannot for the life of me manually select it.

Anyone else had this problem? Anyone any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Ben

--
http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/
Click to expand...
 
The only time it happens to me is if the meter is off. The factory setting is have the meter turn off pretty fast. Somewhere in the custom settings you can make it stay on longer. I think I set mine to stay on a bit longer.

If you still can't move the focussing bracket after the meter is activated and before it turns off again soemthing is not working properly. Try half-pressing and then moving the bracket and see.

--
Just my nickels worth.
Happy Snappin'!

Ron
----------------------------------------------------
http://www.pbase.com/recalcitrantron
FCAS Member No. 68
pbase supporter
D Seventy
 
it seems my posts are invisible :). Like, I just said in the reply prior to this, you can only change the focus area when the meter is still active. I mentioned that although he says he is pressing the shutter release, he should be sure the meter is still active when he tries to change the focus area.
RecalcitrantRon said:
The only time it happens to me is if the meter is off. The factory
setting is have the meter turn off pretty fast. Somewhere in the
custom settings you can make it stay on longer. I think I set mine
to stay on a bit longer.

If you still can't move the focussing bracket after the meter is
activated and before it turns off again soemthing is not working
properly. Try half-pressing and then moving the bracket and see.

--
Just my nickels worth.
Happy Snappin'!

Ron
----------------------------------------------------
http://www.pbase.com/recalcitrantron
FCAS Member No. 68
pbase supporter
D Seventy
Click to expand...
 
Make sure that the slider switch on the back of the camera is set to the Dot and not "L".

The L position locks the focus point
Ben Lovejoy said:
On several occasions, I've tried to change the AF area from the
centre to one of the others.

I have:
  • Ensured I'm in a mode that supports AF area selection (including
Manual)
  • Ensured that the slide switch is set to dot rather than L
  • Put the camera into Single area mode
  • Tried the rocker before pressing the shutter, and after
half-pressing

Absolutely nothing happens. The focus area remains set on the centre.

'Nearest subject' mode works - it then automatically changes the
focus area. But I cannot for the life of me manually select it.

Anyone else had this problem? Anyone any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Ben

--
http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/
Click to expand...
--
http://bradm.photopoints.com ,
http://www.usefilm.com/browse.php?mode=port&data=13628
 
In his original thread, he mentions the switch was set to the "dot", not the "L".
Brad Morris said:
The L position locks the focus point
Ben Lovejoy said:
On several occasions, I've tried to change the AF area from the
centre to one of the others.

I have:
  • Ensured I'm in a mode that supports AF area selection (including
Manual)
  • Ensured that the slide switch is set to dot rather than L
  • Put the camera into Single area mode
  • Tried the rocker before pressing the shutter, and after
half-pressing

Absolutely nothing happens. The focus area remains set on the centre.

'Nearest subject' mode works - it then automatically changes the
focus area. But I cannot for the life of me manually select it.

Anyone else had this problem? Anyone any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Ben

--
http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/
Click to expand...
--
http://bradm.photopoints.com ,
http://www.usefilm.com/browse.php?mode=port&data=13628
Click to expand...
 
BayouFella said:
I had that same issue, and what I learned is that if you turn the
camera off and then back on, you can then change the focus spot.
However, once locked, it seems to be unchangeable until another
on-ff cycle.
Click to expand...
I tend to leave the camera on all the time when it's in use (ie. for a period of a few hours at a time), so I'll try that this evening.

Ben

--
http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/
 
since the ON/OFF switch is more like a stand-by then a real 'OFF'... you won't notice any time-lag to switch it back ON. I recommend you use it and save battery power

Unless you keep your face 'glued' to the viewfinder and your right index on the trigger, the time it takes to rise to camera to eye level is longer then it takes the D70 to power up
Ben Lovejoy said:
Ben Lovejoy said:
I tend to leave the camera on all the time when it's in use (ie.
Click to expand...
for a period of a few hours at a time), so I'll try that this
evening.

Ben
Click to expand...
 
John M. Polston said:
Once you take a shot, the image previews on the back LCD and the
multi-selector is then used to flip through the images and stays
that way until you half-press or allow the preview timeout to
finish. This bugs the cr@p out of me and I end up having to turn
Preview off if I am in a situation that I need full real-time
functionality.
Click to expand...
That's not the problem here, and personally I love the way the display works - I habitually do a visual check on every image, check the histogram if in doubt and zoom in on some. Once I'm done, I just half-press the shutter. I find that totally intuitive.
John M. Polston said:
If this is not your case then I would say you need
to see if you can emulate it with other lenses and if so I would
send camera to Nikon to get it fixed up.
Click to expand...
I will try it with a Sigma lens I have.
John M. Polston said:
Be sure to get it calibrated and the viewfinder trued up.
Click to expand...
My camera doesn't have BF or viewfinder tilt problems. If it does turn out to be a fault, I'll opt for repair rather than replacement so that I don't end up with one that does!

Ben

--
http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/
 
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