Single Point Focus.

frtorres87

Senior Member
I have a question and I hoping you fellow Nikonites can help. I usually use auto focus and let my D7100 pick where the focus point goes, but there are some occasions where i want to pick where the focus point goes. I`ve seen this done on a D7100 but im unsure how to do it myself. I tried putting it in single point focus and I just have the single auto focus point, but am I wrong to believe that am supposed to have control over that focus point? I move the control wheel left, right, up, and down and the focus point doesn`t move. Am I doing something wrong? If so, what do I have to do to have full control over that single focus point? Thanks in advance guys.
 

Moab Man

Senior Member
You move the focus point around by the pad that encircles the OK button. Make sure you don't have the pad locked by that rotatable lever.
 

NikonVincent

Senior Member
Like you, this is often times my preferred mode of focusing as well. it seems to be the fastest and seemingly the most accurate.

​There is less guesswork involved.
 

Geoffc

Senior Member
Sometimes for things like portraits it's easier to point the single AF point at the subjects eye, half press the shutter, recompose and fire. It's the only way I ever use my AF.
 
Sometimes for things like portraits it's easier to point the single AF point at the subjects eye, half press the shutter, recompose and fire. It's the only way I ever use my AF.

That is the way I always do it. for me that is the only way I get the exact results that I want. I made the mistake the other day it putting it in another mode and when I got home and looked at the pictures they were all slightly off.
 

NVSteve

Senior Member
It's the only way I ever use my AF.

You mean there are others? :D I've tried using more than one point on various occasions, with various camera bodies. Never found any love for it whatsoever. Damned cameras are simply not in tune to my way of thinking and/or my view of what should be in focus in this world.
 

Philnz

Senior Member
When I set my New D7100 on to AF-S which I belive is (single point focus setting.) I do not see any focus point in the view finder. So am unable move anything around. If I set camera to closeup mode then I do get a single focus point that I can move around. I used single point focus on my D5100 most of the time. Am I missing something here. or does it sound like a fault.
 

Moab Man

Senior Member
Now that I have my D7100 in front of me I can properly answer you question. If you are in AF-S, which is single focus point, but in AF-S AUTO you can not move the focus icon around nor see one as it is in AUTO.

Holding the camera as if you were going to take a picture, do this:
1. Press the button in that is located just below the lens release for changing lenses.
2. On the right hand side front dial rotate the wheel. This will change you from AF-S Auto to AF-S and you have control.

Hope that helps. Still want to know what the up close mode is. LOL :)
 

Philnz

Senior Member
Now that I have my D7100 in front of me I can properly answer you question. If you are in AF-S, which is single focus point, but in AF-S AUTO you can not move the focus icon around nor see one as it is in AUTO.

Holding the camera as if you were going to take a picture, do this:
1. Press the button in that is located just below the lens release for changing lenses.
2. On the right hand side front dial rotate the wheel. This will change you from AF-S Auto to AF-S and you have control.

Hope that helps. Still want to know what the up close mode is. LOL :)

Great would you believe I found this out just before I opened your post. Just by spending a long time playing with the camera. I don't see it in the Manual anywhere Close up is flower mode in scene.
 

Moab Man

Senior Member
Now you have taught me something. I didn't know there was a scene mode or a flower for macro on the D7100. I'm never out of manual so now I will have to find it.
 

SWHD7100

Senior Member
In my experience, single point auto focus is also the only one that works consistently with most shots of say birds, macro photography and shooting anything such as a running children moving/breaking waves etc. Totally agree with Don, Geoff andNVSteve.
 

egosbar

Senior Member
im doing single point focus and moving d pad too get where i want , i was a focus half shutter and recompose all my shooting life but watching a lot of video tuts from pros they are saying moving the dpad gets more keepers , i tried the other day and bam got tack sharp shots so i just have too get out of the habit of focus and recomposing
 

bigal1000

Senior Member
It always help to take your time experiment and by all means read the owners manual page by page till you know what is going on. LOL
 

Roger3006

Senior Member
Amen on all points. When hand holding the camera, I pick a point, focus, compose, and shoot. The multiple focus point are great when shooting something dear (still) from a camera stand or tripod which I do all the time.

Roger
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I found this article some time ago, but still refer back to it from time to time because it's the best explanation of the different AF modes and settings I've yet found. It uses the D7000 as an example but the principles are the same...

Maybe someone else will find it helpful. Source is Pixel Finesse (dot) com: D7000 Autofocus Explained

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