Shutter release without AF confirm?

Hi all,

Not very active on here so I do apologies for that! I've a quick question regarding my D3100 that I hope you can help with.

I have taken to using back button focus (with the AE-AF button assigned as AF-On) and find this great 99% of the time. That other 1% of the time is usually low light scenarios where the camera is not able to get AF confirmation and as such will not allow me to release the shutter without dropping the lens to manual focus, some what defeating the point of BBF!

I have looked through the menus and manual and I can not see any option to enable shutter release without AF confirm. Is this possible with the D3100 or is this a limitation to the camera? If it is possible can someone point me in the right direction?

Many thanks in advance,

M

I'm pretty sure the d3100 does not have a release priority setting.

Thanks for the quick reply.

That is a shame! Do you know what model camera I would have to go up to in order to get this function? I assume the D7100 would offer it but is it available lower down the order, say with the D5200?

The d5x00 models have it for af-c. D7x00 models have it separately for both af-s and af-c.

Cool, thanks. I've been considering upgrading to a d5200 and this is another thing in its favour.

The D3xxx series are nice cameras, but I am of the strong opinion that they are really meant for the P&S shooter that really doesn't want to go too far down the DSLR path. The D5xxx series is something that the serious enthusiast can both learn on and use for a couple years as it provides many of the features that the 3K series doesn't, from menu options like this to exposure bracketing and others. Sure, you can learn on the 3K's, but you will grow out of them far quicker. The 5K's can stick around a while before you decide you want to go higher.

Marko said:

Hi all,

Not very active on here so I do apologies for that! I've a quick question regarding my D3100 that I hope you can help with.

I have taken to using back button focus (with the AE-AF button assigned as AF-On) and find this great 99% of the time. That other 1% of the time is usually low light scenarios where the camera is not able to get AF confirmation and as such will not allow me to release the shutter without dropping the lens to manual focus, some what defeating the point of BBF!

Click to expand...

I don't have a D3100, I am looking in the Nikon Reference Manual at
http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16910/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xMzkyMDQ3NjUyL3NpZC8qdjJhVEFNbA%3D%3D

(I am not sure if this is the manual version shipped with camera or not ? )


Page 55 is AF-C mode, if you want the shutter to activate regardless if focused or not.

Or surely better (more to the point), don't use AF mode, use manual focus mode.

BackdoorHippie said:

The D3xxx series are nice cameras, but I am of the strong opinion that they are really meant for the P&S shooter that really doesn't want to go too far down the DSLR path. The D5xxx series is something that the serious enthusiast can both learn on and use for a couple years as it provides many of the features that the 3K series doesn't, from menu options like this to exposure bracketing and others. Sure, you can learn on the 3K's, but you will grow out of them far quicker. The 5K's can stick around a while before you decide you want to go higher.

Click to expand...

That's a decent take on the 3100, but, for me anyway, it is my starting point. I plan on going to the 5100 or higher sometime later in the year. I bought the 3100 due to my utter lack of skills on DSLR. And didn't want to spend a lot of money. Yeah, that didn't happen! I already have some electrical side jobs lined up as soon as the weather breaks to fund my purchase.

It's the starting point for a lot of people - many of whom never need to move beyond it. However, with a lot of the things they've introduced to the 5K series it's almost as easy a starting point, and a lot more camera for the money. By no means am I saying someone shouldn't start with one - only that there is a section of people who do that would have been better off with the 5K's.

BackdoorHippie said:

It's the starting point for a lot of people - many of whom never need to move beyond it. However, with a lot of the things they've introduced to the 5K series it's almost as easy a starting point, and a lot more camera for the money. By no means am I saying someone shouldn't start with one - only that there is a section of people who do that would have been better off with the 5K's.

Click to expand...

I started off with the D3100 after being out of real photography for many years. It was a good place to start but I do think I would have been better starting with the D5100. As it was the D5100 did not hold me for very long since I wanted the commander mode and the better weather sealing that my D7000 has. I do not think the D7000 would be a good starter camera for very many people though. It has a much steeper learning curve.

So the 3xxx can't do shutter priority in BBF using AF-C mode. Ok that is a shame as I find BBF with af-c to be a good setup. It would be nice to be able to snap away as if in manual focus or where I have used af to achieve initial focus and manually overridden it with the lens in a/m mode.

If I upgrade I need to be sure the next camera is going to last me many many years as this summer my wife is expecting our first child so lavish expenses on my own toys will become limited!

I love the size and weight if the d3100 and d5xxx series but can see the dual sd slots and improved af system of the d7100 being worth having.

That said the additional weight and size puts me off as this is primarily my day to day shooter.

Is the d5200/5300 a significant enough upgrade to the 3100?

I had a d70 for about 5 years. I used it faithfully for pictures at school sports and other occasions. As the school activities wound down, I found myself not wanting to carry the d70 around. I saw a great deal on the d3100 and got it. Nice small size and easy to carry around. It did rekindle my photography interest. But as time went by, I missed the more advanced controls of the d70. (especially the top lcd) I also found that the smaller body on the d3100 felt a little awkward with a heavy lens installed, no room for my pinky finger. I ended up getting a d7000. Very happy with it and the slightly larger size is more comfortable to hold with a heavier lens. So you might want to stop by a shop and see how they all feel.

Marko said:

So the 3xxx can't do shutter priority in BBF using AF-C mode. Ok that is a shame as I find BBF with af-c to be a good setup. It would be nice to be able to snap away as if in manual focus or where I have used af to achieve initial focus and manually overridden it with the lens in a/m mode.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure of your terms (I don't know what BBF means). It will of course do shutter priority (camera S mode, about exposure mode), but I think the D3100 may not have a shutter Release priority menu (to change whether focus is required first, before shutter works). But AF-C (continuous focus while half press, to follow action) does not require focus to release the shutter, which is what I thought you said you wanted. You can use both camera S mode and AF-C. Focus always seems a pretty good thing though.

WayneF said:

I'm not sure of your terms (I don't know what BBF means). It will of course do shutter priority (camera S mode, about exposure mode), but I think the D3100 may not have a shutter Release priority menu (to change whether focus is required first, before shutter works). But AF-C (continuous focus while half press, to follow action) does not require focus to release the shutter, which is what I thought you said you wanted. You can use both camera S mode and AF-C. Focus always seems a pretty good thing though.

Click to expand...

Wayne, the page in the manual that you referenced above says 'shutter can only be released if camera is able to focus' for all servo modes. I've now got camera in hand and that seems to be to the case, it must achieve focus before shutter can be released even in af-c servo mode, unless i'm missing something.
bbf=back button focus

Nickt, that's how I am reading it too. It seems to simply be missing from the 3xxx series.

nickt said:

Wayne, the page in the manual that you referenced above says 'shutter can only be released if camera is able to focus' for all servo modes. I've now got camera in hand and that seems to be to the case, it must achieve focus before shutter can be released even in af-c servo mode, unless i'm missing something.
bbf=back button focus

Click to expand...

Oops! I understand now. My bad, sorry. I didn't really read the words, I just assumed I knew what they ought to say.


Still, focus really is a pretty good thing.

I didn't even know about back button focus technique when I was using the d3100 regularly. I've been trying it for a month now on my d7100, just shooting nonsense around the house. I see the usefulness of it and I liked it. In effect you get instant access to af-s and af-c. I thought I was finally comfortable with it but when a sudden great photo opportunity came up, I forgot to focus. I think that will always be the case for me. I'm a creature of habit, so back to normal it goes.

Nick, if you stick with BBF, that, too, will soon become "normal", and you'll never go back to the way you used to focus. Stay with it, bud.

Well I think I solved my problem... Just ordered a D600 with 24-85 lens for £1079 new including 2 year nikon warranty! I know of the oil issues but with two year warranty and the seller being local trusted and authorised I am not worried. Acore!

Or maybe not... Store payment system messed up three separate orders and now it's out of stock. Have filed a complaint as I've had three confirmations and three cancellations. Just my luck!