Back-Button Focus on the D600

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
There's a discussion in the D800 forum about using the back button for focusing and I didn't want to derail that discussion so I'm posting this here. I love the ability of the D800 to use both the shutter release and the back button to focus before shooting. I'm used to the half-press, but there are situations (like shooting in the cold with gloves) where the feel aspect of using the shutter release is highly compromised, and I'd much prefer having a back button available. Now I know the AE-L/AF-L button can be assigned as an auto-focus button, and I've done that on many occasions. I never use AE-L and would like to permanently assign the back button, but unfortunately I cannot find a way to get both buttons to act as AF buttons simultaneously. Is this possible on the D600? If so, I can't find it.

I hate traipsing thru menus and will likely assign one of my User settings (which I also don't use) for back-button focusing, but would much prefer to have it available all the time. Help!!
 

GeoWes

Senior Member
Hey, Backdoor.... I don't think you can set both the AE-L/AF-L and the shutter button for auto focus at the same time. I had to load it into U1 so I could free up the shutter button again for AF. Seems to be either on or the other.
 

Krs_2007

Senior Member
I like where you are going with that Jake, but I dont think its possible, at least from the menus I have been exploring lately.
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Thanks, guys. I've been through the menus SO many times and couldn't find a way. I also couldn't find anything in the manual (which you know I read) or online anywhere, so I figured it was impossible but just wanted to check with others who might have tried.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
When I had AF problems with my D600, I used the AF-L button, but didn't really know how it worked. I just tried doing the same thing on my D610, and it functions the same way: first I pressed the shutter halfway to lock the focus then pressed and held the AF-L button. The AF locked on. I can release the shutter button and recompose, but the shutter release no longer will focus the shot while the AF-L button is being held in. I can even totally switch to viewing something else, and the focus won't change as long as the AF-L button is held in.

I always thought its purpose was simply to lock the focus...not to be the primary source of focusing. :rolleyes: I never went into the menu and reassigned the AF-L/AF-E button for this. When the AF-L button is released, the shutter now works as the primary source of AF.

That's why I started that other thread asking about it because I didn't know the shutter release could be reassigned and lose its AF capability until I saw the video.
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Hark, I'm not talking about AF-lock but actually engaging the autofocus. It's a setting you need to change in the custom menus for how the AE-L/AF-L button functions and I want it to function the same way the shutter button functions when you press it half way. In doing so you lose the locking function, but that's OK as I shoot in AF-S mode more times than not when I'd want to use it. What I want is the option to use either at any time rather than having to change the menu option or turning to a user setting, though it seems the latter is the easiest since I've yet to really implement one. Still, having that ability, as I do on the D800, is nice.
 

jrleo33

Senior Member
This problem of providing a back-button for focusing might be presented to Nikon, and "maybe," they would include this option in their next firmware update.
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
And maybe pigs will fly. ;)

Seriously, though, they have provided the functionality, which would be considered justification enough by them not to be bothered by it. And when you get down to it, a I ponder this more and more, what they're doing is a reassignment of the function from 1 button to another, which is likely 1000 times easier to do in the firmware than a replication of a function to a second, parallel button. Every other assignable function can only be in one place at a time, so this is consistent with that pattern. On the D800 it's a function of 2 permanently assigned buttons for it, so it's not like it's even a firmware improvement.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Hark, I'm not talking about AF-lock but actually engaging the autofocus. It's a setting you need to change in the custom menus for how the AE-L/AF-L button functions and I want it to function the same way the shutter button functions when you press it half way. In doing so you lose the locking function, but that's OK as I shoot in AF-S mode more times than not when I'd want to use it. What I want is the option to use either at any time rather than having to change the menu option or turning to a user setting, though it seems the latter is the easiest since I've yet to really implement one. Still, having that ability, as I do on the D800, is nice.

I did understand what you were asking--in the back of my mind, I am wondering if the AF-L button would track if in Continuous mode. Probably not without making the menu change to disable the shutter release button and having the camera in back-button focus.

In any case, I decided to call Nikon and ask if both buttons could work the AF at the same time like the D800's ability. The young woman was very nice, and after putting me on hold a couple of times, she had a D600 in had to check it out. The final answer: No. :( Only the D800 has the ability because it has an extra button on its back.

So when I asked if it could be considered as a future firmware update, she told me I'd have to log in online and go to their web site where questions can be asked. She said that was the only way to offer suggestions.
 

GeoWes

Senior Member
I did understand what you were asking--in the back of my mind, I am wondering if the AF-L button would track if in Continuous mode. Probably not without making the menu change to disable the shutter release button and having the camera in back-button focus.

In any case, I decided to call Nikon and ask if both buttons could work the AF at the same time like the D800's ability. The young woman was very nice, and after putting me on hold a couple of times, she had a D600 in had to check it out. The final answer: No. :( Only the D800 has the ability because it has an extra button on its back.

So when I asked if it could be considered as a future firmware update, she told me I'd have to log in online and go to their web site where questions can be asked. She said that was the only way to offer suggestions.

The AF-L will track in continuous mode if you press and hold. Press and release will lock the focus in. Turning off a3 focus tracking with lock-on will speed up af-c.
 
Top