AF question on the D500

hark

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When I use BBF on all my bodies, I have the autofocus set to AF-C with release being the option instead of focus. On the D500, there are two additional options. One is release+focus and the other is focus+release. I am having trouble finding any info that explains how they work. Since I am still having AF issues with my 300mm f/4 PF and find sharp focus is fine in AF-S (with the focus option) but not in AF-C (with the release option), I'd like to see if there is an alternative in AF-C that might allow me to continue using this lens.

Can anyone please point me to some info that explains the difference between release+focus and focus+release and how they work?
 

bluzman

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Cindy,

Download the "Setting Guide (Sports AF Edition)" from the Nikon website...the file is D500_TG_AF_(En)02.pdf. Here's a link to the download page.

https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/323/D500.html


The answer to your question is on pgs 16 & 17. There are even illustrations to help explain the differences although I'm not sure of how much they actually help.

2021-10-09_185437.jpg
 
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hark

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hark

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The way the release + focus and focus + release are supposed to work is:

Release + Focus: The camera will fire the first shot whether or not it is in focus. The subsequent frame rates might slow down so the camera can achieve focus for subsequent images.

Focus + Release: The first image will be in focus while the subsequent images might not be in focus.

Would someone with a D500 please test it and let me know if it works? I tested both ways yet neither one will lock focus. Despite that, the camera continues to take photos while the two out-of-focus arrows/triangles flash in the viewfinder. :mad: Heck - I pointed it at the empty sky. The out-of-focus indicators flashed but the shutter kept firing. I even did the camera reset that Peter7100 mentioned in the past (turn off, remove memory cards and battery, turn on and hold shutter button for at least 15 seconds then turn off and reinstall cards and battery).

The only way I can get the focus to lock is to have the camera in AF-C with focus as my preferred option. At least I can still shoot in continuous as long as the subject is in focus. As soon as the out-of-focus arrows/triangles start to flash in the viewfinder, the camera stops firing the shutter.

Just wondering if anyone else runs into the same issue with those two settings. :confused:
 

nickt

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The only way I can get the focus to lock is to have the camera in AF-C with focus as my preferred option. At least I can still shoot in continuous as long as the subject is in focus. As soon as the out-of-focus arrows/triangles start to flash in the viewfinder, the camera stops firing the shutter. :confused:
Is this while using bbf? Some models force release priority for af-c when the bb is set to af-on. I just tried on my d500 all 4 selections in af-c with bbf and I can shoot with the lens cap on (nothing in focus). That is what I expected. I think my d7000 respected the focus or release priority menu in bbf, then they changed it to force release priority with the d7100.
 

hark

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Is this while using bbf? Some models force release priority for af-c when the bb is set to af-on. I just tried on my d500 all 4 selections in af-c with bbf and I can shoot with the lens cap on (nothing in focus). That is what I expected. I think my d7000 respected the focus or release priority menu in bbf, then they changed it to force release priority with the d7100.

Yes, this is when using BBF. BUT despite using AF-C, I can use focus priority which only takes pics when the focus dot is lit in the viewfinder. If something isn't in focus and the triangles are flashing, the shutter cannot be actuated. So that's how I have it set. As long as something is in focus, I can also shoot in continuous.
 

nickt

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Yes, this is when using BBF. BUT despite using AF-C, I can use focus priority which only takes pics when the focus dot is lit in the viewfinder. If something isn't in focus and the triangles are flashing, the shutter cannot be actuated. So that's how I have it set. As long as something is in focus, I can also shoot in continuous.
I can't duplicate that. I wonder what I have set differently. Mine shoots out of focus in bbf af-c even with focus priority set.
 

nickt

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Ok, I duplicated what you see. If I turn A8 ON, it waits for focus only at the 'focus' option, not the other 3 release options. But I'm thinking A8 needs to be set to off (af-on only) for bbf . Otherwise the shutter button will focus and undo what you might be trying to achieve with bbf. If you are holding the bb, then no big deal. If you are focusing/recomposing with bbf and a8 on, the shutter button will refocus if you push it slowly.

I just noticed email notifications are still not working.:(
 

hark

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Ok, I duplicated what you see. If I turn A8 ON, it waits for focus only at the 'focus' option, not the other 3 release options. But I'm thinking A8 needs to be set to off (af-on only) for bbf . Otherwise the shutter button will focus and undo what you might be trying to achieve with bbf. If you are holding the bb, then no big deal. If you are focusing/recomposing with bbf and a8 on, the shutter button will refocus if you push it slowly.

I just noticed email notifications are still not working.:(

Mine is set so the shutter button won't focus - it will only take the photos. So is that what you replicated, Nick? Yours did the same by only actuating the shutter when it was set to focus instead of release?
 

hark

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By the way, Nick, I've addressed the email notification issue a couple of times. All we can do is wait for jdeg to work on everything.
 

nickt

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Mine is set so the shutter button won't focus - it will only take the photos. So is that what you replicated, Nick? Yours did the same by only actuating the shutter when it was set to focus instead of release?
I turned A8 'on' and it behaved like you described. But when A8 is On it lets the shutter button AND the bb both focus. I'm not sure I understand why anybody would want this. There must be an situation where its useful but I can't think of one.
 

nickt

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Update. I think I was not holding the bbf continuously while I was trying this. I turned a8 back off. When I hold the bb and and cover the lens it won't shoot when focus priority is set. And like yours, the other 3 choices shoot no matter what.
 

hark

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Update. I think I was not holding the bbf continuously while I was trying this. I turned a8 back off. When I hold the bb and and cover the lens it won't shoot when focus priority is set. And like yours, the other 3 choices shoot no matter what.

Thank you, Nick!
 

nickt

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Thank you, Nick!
I just found something. Under a8, af-on only, there is a sub menu to the right to decide if focus is required for release. Not sure if that helps you.

edit: push the help button when on this sub menu. It says it only works when focus is selected on the release menu. Setting this to disable out of focus release makes it require focus whether holding the bb or releasing it.
 
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hark

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I just found something. Under a8, af-on only, there is a sub menu to the right to decide if focus is required for release. Not sure if that helps you.

edit: push the help button when on this sub menu. It says it only works when focus is selected on the release menu. Setting this to disable out of focus release makes it require focus whether holding the bb or releasing it.

Thank you! I will take a look at it tomorrow. I appreciate your help. :)
 

hark

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I just found something. Under a8, af-on only, there is a sub menu to the right to decide if focus is required for release. Not sure if that helps you.

edit: push the help button when on this sub menu. It says it only works when focus is selected on the release menu. Setting this to disable out of focus release makes it require focus whether holding the bb or releasing it.

Nick, I went in and tested the enable and disable options while using AF-C with release priority. Despite not achieving focus, the shutter still actuated in both settings. :(

So I have it set for AF-C with focus priority. That seems to be the only way the camera will fire with in-focus images.
 

hark

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I went out this afternoon and shot 100+ images of a Great Egret. Just about everything is in focus now that I have the camera set to AF-C with Focus priority. And I was able to shoot in continuous without any problem. How well it does with a moving subject is yet to be seen.

Here is a straight out of camera jpeg that is only resized for the forum.

_5DX6524 sooc low res.jpg


And here is the edited NEF. I am definitely a happy camper. Hopefully tomorrow's weather will be good because I'd like to try my 300mm f/4 PF coupled with the 1.7x TC and see how it does.

_5DX6524 low res.jpg
 
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nickt

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Nick, I went in and tested the enable and disable options while using AF-C with release priority. Despite not achieving focus, the shutter still actuated in both settings. :(

So I have it set for AF-C with focus priority. That seems to be the only way the camera will fire with in-focus images.
The enable/disable only works with af-c with focus priority set. And enable/disable really only shows a difference when the bb is held down continuously. Release the bb and camera respects the focus setting regardless of the enable/disable sub menu. Nice egret shots!
 

hark

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....edit: push the help button when on this sub menu. It says it only works when focus is selected on the release menu. Setting this to disable out of focus release makes it require focus whether holding the bb or releasing it.

The enable/disable only works with af-c with focus priority set. And enable/disable really only shows a difference when the bb is held down continuously. Release the bb and camera respects the focus setting regardless of the enable/disable sub menu. Nice egret shots!

I had to go back and reread your initial post where you described this feature. Apparently I misunderstood but think I get it now. Thanks! :)

If there were maybe 2 or 3 images where I slightly missed focus out of the 100+ today, that was it. Previously I was lucky if anything at a distance was in focus with release priority. But I still need to test this for a further distance. That's where I find most of my images miss focus. Up close was rarely ever a problem and almost always got good focus in release priority. So I can switch between focus and release priority depending on the distance. :encouragement:
 
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