Back Button Focus (BBF) and display screen

jayw

Senior Member
Recently switched to BBF. Still having issues getting used to it, but I will continue for a while trying to get used to using it before our family gathering next month.

Here is my issue and not sure if this normal or if I have something set incorrectly.

Once I acquire focus using BBF and then press the shutter release button to take the picture, the image appears on my display screen, but will not shut off automatically to allow me to focus on my next shot. I have to half press the shutter release button to close the screen. Once I do that, I can refocus using the BBF button.

Yes I do like to "chimp" to verify all is well, but how do I get the display to close after "X" seconds so I can refocus on my next shot?

To set up BBF, I went to menu -> Controls -> Assign AE-L/AF-L -> AF On

I read Steve Perry's "The Back Button Autofocus Guide For Nikon Cameras", but this issue was not addressed as far as I was able to tell. The same for David Busch's "Nikon D5300 Guide to Digital SLR Photography".

I have a feeling I'm doing something wrong, so before I do a factory reset, hoping to get some answers.

Thanks for your insight and help.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
There is a timer value for image review that can be shortened or disabled completely. I don’t have that setting in front of me, but that might get you started.


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RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Under settings: c2 are the auto:eek:ff timers. You should be able to change the image review timer there to shorten the time it’s active.


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hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Once I acquire focus using BBF and then press the shutter release button to take the picture, the image appears on my display screen, but will not shut off automatically to allow me to focus on my next shot. I have to half press the shutter release button to close the screen. Once I do that, I can refocus using the BBF button.

What happens when you press the back button for the next image? Nothing? Is the image still being written to the card when this happens? To check for that, there is a small light on the body that turns on while the image is getting transferred to the memory card. The lights goes off when the image is finished getting written. I had that happen a few times with my D7100 when in very low light situations (drama photos in a very dark theater).
 

nickt

Senior Member
I don't have the d5300, but on the d7200, I would need to half press the shutter OR press the bbf to get the review screen to turn off sooner than the timer. Just tried it. Maybe hitting the back button does not cancel the image review on the d5300. I keep image review off normally and just review images as needed. Leaving the image review on makes for a nuisance if I want to quickly jog the focus point around, the arrows control the image when displayed instead of the focus point.
As a side note, some 3rd party lenses keep the camera awake longer and will keep image review on for a long time too. My Sigma 17-50 keeps the camera awake for 30+ seconds. Then I hear the OS turn off and then the camera display timers begin their countdown.
 

jayw

Senior Member
I'll reply to all by saying that everything suggested, with the exception of upgrading the firmware, nothing has worked.

The timer is set to 4 seconds.
Pressing the BBF button only locks or unlocks the displayed image.
I'm using a Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary lens. Not sure if that is the issue. I shut the image off after maybe 15 or so seconds using a 1/2 press of the shutter release. Don't see how the lens choice would affect this. I guess stranger things happen.

I did put in request to Nikon, so let's see if they respond and what they say.

Again, thanks to all who responded.
 

hark

Administrator
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I'm using a Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary lens. Not sure if that is the issue. I shut the image off after maybe 15 or so seconds using a 1/2 press of the shutter release. Don't see how the lens choice would affect this.

Some older non-Nikon lenses don't work 100% with Nikon bodies. Sigma lenses have been known to have issues with newer Nikon bodies. If and when you update the firmware in a Nikon body, any non-Nikon lenses may be at risk of not working perfectly. If the lens works fine on other Nikon bodies (so you'd know the lens is okay), Sigma can update the lens' firmware for free although I think you'd have to pay shipping. Unless of course it is a lens that connects to a Sigma dock. If so then you could update the lens firmware yourself.

BUT it's possible it isn't a lens issue. Does it happen with any other lens besides this one? That might help narrow down the issue.
 

jayw

Senior Member
I have an older Tamron 18-300mm non-VR lens that was used on my D70s. When I tried it on my D5300, the auto-focus didn't work. Come to learn that VR mechanism is in the body of the 70s and not in the lens like my Sigma. Still can use it, just have to manually focus, so BBF on my D5300 would be useless.
 

nickt

Senior Member
The timer is set to 4 seconds.
Pressing the BBF button only locks or unlocks the displayed image.
I'm using a Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary lens. Not sure if that is the issue. I shut the image off after maybe 15 or so seconds using a 1/2 press of the shutter release. Don't see how the lens choice would affect this. I guess stranger things happen.

I did put in request to Nikon, so let's see if they respond and what they say.

Again, thanks to all who responded.
This sounds like what my Sigma 17-50 does on my d7200. I just tried it with image review ON. The lens keeps the camera awake including image review for 65 seconds. The timer is set for 10 seconds. If you don't have a nikon lens to try, put your camera in manual mode. Take the lens off. Snap a picture of something bright. Use any settings, doesn't matter you are just going to get a blur without a lens installed. I will bet image review turns off as expected according to the timer.
Nikon likely won't have an answer other than send it in for them to look at but they won't find anything.
There is a little mention my lens instruction sheet that says something about this. It really lost A LOT in the translation, it made no sense when I read it. But when I went back looking for an answer for why my meter was staying on for such a long time, it sort of made more sense.
 

jayw

Senior Member
Some older non-Nikon lenses don't work 100% with Nikon bodies. Sigma lenses have been known to have issues with newer Nikon bodies. If and when you update the firmware in a Nikon body, any non-Nikon lenses may be at risk of not working perfectly. If the lens works fine on other Nikon bodies (so you'd know the lens is okay), Sigma can update the lens' firmware for free although I think you'd have to pay shipping. Unless of course it is a lens that connects to a Sigma dock. If so then you could update the lens firmware yourself.

BUT it's possible it isn't a lens issue. Does it happen with any other lens besides this one? That might help narrow down the issue.

I looked at the Sigma support website and saw this comment which I can't understand.

"4: The LCD monitor will turn off automatically when no operation is made after the lens’s OS (Optical Stabilization) correspondence and the camera’s focus. In that case, the button needs to be pushed several times to review and to zoom the images."

Anyone can interpret this?
 

hark

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I looked at the Sigma support website and saw this comment which I can't understand.

"4: The LCD monitor will turn off automatically when no operation is made after the lens’s OS (Optical Stabilization) correspondence and the camera’s focus. In that case, the button needs to be pushed several times to review and to zoom the images."

Anyone can interpret this?

I think what it's saying is the monitor will turn off after the OS (or VR) shuts itself off and after the AF has stopped. But this info comes from Sigma and doesn't have anything to do with how a particular body displays images. What you should do is to be aware of how long the OS is moving. You should allow the vibration to settle BEFORE you press the shutter button though. As was mentioned earlier, there is a setting you can change that will shorten the length of the image preview.

As for the rest of what's quoted, if you want to review your images, then you need to push the play button. Once you see the image you want to preview, you need to press the magnifying glass icon several times to enlarge an area. That doesn't have anything to do with your issue. Hope this helps. :encouragement:
 

nickt

Senior Member
Anyone can interpret this?
Did you see my posts #6 and 11 above?
Pretty much what I have been saying. The lens keeps things "on" until the lens OS times out.
Here's what my lens sheet says. This excerpt from my sheet and the thing you found are just horrible translations trying to say the lens OS will keep the camera awake whether or not you have OS switched on.
20180708_143952.jpg
 

jayw

Senior Member
Thanks for the info.

I do have the the monitor set to shut off at 4 sec, but even waiting for more than 15 sec, the image is still displayed. The only way to close it is to half press the shutter release button. To wait longer becomes a battery drain. Pressing the BBF button, as someone else suggested, only serves to lock/unlock an image.

I could disable the display and only open when needed or remember to half press the shutter release. Something else to remember to do and more buttons to press.

I'm waiting to hear from Nikon/Sigma and will share any messages I may get.

Again thanks
 

jayw

Senior Member
I had several suggestions from Nikon. One was to reset the Custom menu which didn't change anything. The next was to set menu C2 from Normal to Short (supposedly sets the display time to about 4 seconds). That didn't work either. Waiting to hear back from Nikon for next suggestion.

In the meantime, I'd like to ask for help from the members if they would do an test for me. Unfortunately, this needs to be done with a D5300 body to make the test valid.

I'm wondering if the problem is a lens/body compatibility issue. I don't think it is, but need to confirm.

Like I said, I have a D5300 body with a Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary lens which is my one and only lens.

What I'd like to confirm is that if you use a Nikon lens (any lens) using BBF and/or no BBF (camera default setting), how long does it take for the image to turn off based on your choice for menu C2?

Do the same but change to a non-Nikon lens (if you have a Sigma lens, all the better) and let me know if you see any changes in the time the image goes off.

I don't want to mention this to Nikon and have them come back and say the body/lens are not compatible and close my case.

Thanks for your help. So greatly appreciated.
 

georgeh

New member
To jayw,
I have been frustrated with the same problem you are having. I am using a D5300 with the Nikon kit 16-140 lens. I have set the AE-L/AE-F button to AE-ON. I like to check the histograms after I take a shot. With the image and the histogram (or any info or no info) when I press the AE-L/AE-F button again the image locks. The only work around I have found is what you have found: set the C2 timer to short which lasts for about 4 seconds OR half depress the shutter release to clear the monitor. Both a pain.

I have tried to resolve this problem on other web sites and forums and have gotten no resolution.

Has Nikon ever responded to you??
 

jayw

Senior Member
What I finally did was take my camera and lens to Hunt's Photo and had them try a new, out of the box lens to see if my lens was defective. The new lens had the same issue - after taking a picture, the screen would not shut off when programmed. Eventually it would.

Doing a little digging on the Sigma website for my 17-70mm Contemporary, I found these 2 notes:

*4: Due to the communication specification of the OS unit, the function to automatically turn off the LCD display on the camera will take about one minute longer than normal.
Moreover, to magnify the image or to move the cursor to scroll, it is necessary to press the button each time.
*7: For models released before November 2013, update(free) is required before using the OS(Optical Stabilizer) and AF function. Please contact your nearest authorized SIGMA service station for more information.

My lens is up to date, so note 7 does not apply.

So what I do now is shoot, review (chimp), press the shutter release half way to remove the image from the screen.

I'm getting used to this work around, however, had I known this before making the purchase, I may not have purchased it.

That being said, the lens does a great job and works very well for what I use it for.
 
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