How to set Single Point Center Auto Focus?

A

adot45

Senior Member
I am in Shutter Priority mode.
I have the focus lock lever turned to the dot.
I have AF-S set
I have "number of focus points" set to 11
When I push the shutter release half way down the book says to use the command dial to select which segment to use for focusing.
Then return the focus lock lever to the "L" position so the focus point doesn't change.
All the segments appear and none of them are highlighted. They only appear for an instant making it impossible to select anything.

I want to have my focus and my exposure based on what is seen right in the center of the viewfinder.
Any ideas where I have gone wrong?
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
adot45 said:
I am in Shutter Priority mode.
I have the focus lock lever turned to the dot.
I have AF-S set
I have "number of focus points" set to 11
When I push the shutter release half way down the book says to use the command dial to select which segment to use for focusing.
Then return the focus lock lever to the "L" position so the focus point doesn't change.
All the segments appear and none of them are highlighted. They only appear for an instant making it impossible to select anything.

I want to have my focus and my exposure based on what is seen right in the center of the viewfinder.
Any ideas where I have gone wrong?
Click to expand...
Sounds like the the Auto-focus Area Mode is set to something besides Single Point AF (such as Dynamic 9/21/51 Point, 3D Tracking, or Auto-area AF).

Once your AF-Area mode is set to Single Point, use the four-way button that surrounds the OK button to move the focus point around in the viewfinder, or press the OK button to re-center the focus point to the center-most position. Once the focus point is centered, it will stay there unless you move it, change the Auto-focus Area Mode or go into full Auto Mode.
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A

adot45

Senior Member
Yes, you were correct. The auto focus area was set to dynamic. After I set that to AF-S the center square showed up and I set the focus lock lever back to "lock", thank goodness for Metoprolol the blood pressure was steadily rising there was a while.

Thanks very much, what a load off......
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
adot45 said:
Yes, you were correct. The auto focus area was set to dynamic. After I set that to AF-S the center square showed up and I set the focus lock lever back to "lock", thank goodness for Metoprolol the blood pressure was steadily rising there was a while.

Thanks very much, what a load off......
Click to expand...
I understand how little things like that can drive a man over the edge.
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A

adot45

Senior Member
Horoscope Fish said:
I understand how little things like that can drive a man over the edge.
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Click to expand...


Well, here's the thing that really gets to me. I have the Nikon D7100 manual and I have the Digital Field Guide by Wiley. They both start off by NOT mentioning to make sure you are in the correct Area Mode......very helpful. I don't mind trying to figure things out but when I do exactly what the book says and things aren't working I just think it's way more exasperating than it has to be. Thanks again.
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
adot45 said:
Well, here's the thing that really gets to me. I have the Nikon D7100 manual and I have the Digital Field Guide by Wiley. They both start off by NOT mentioning to make sure you are in the correct Area Mode... very helpful. I don't mind trying to figure things out but when I do exactly what the book says and things aren't working I just think it's way more exasperating than it has to be. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Well you're certainly welcome... That neither of those references would mention the AF-Area Mode is definitely confounding!
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D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
The next thing you need to try is Back Button Focus. None of the focus lock or half button stuff anymore and single point lock or continues focus at the touch of a button. It is the best thing I ever learned how to do on my D7100. Just when you try it go shoot something you don't have to be in a hurry. It is a bit of a learning curve to get used to it but once you do you will never go back.

This youtube video might help you see what it is all about.

 
A

adot45

Senior Member
Don Kuykendall said:
The next thing you need to try is Back Button Focus. None of the focus lock or half button stuff anymore and single point lock or continues focus at the touch of a button. It is the best thing I ever learned how to do on my D7100. Just when you try it go shoot something you don't have to be in a hurry. It is a bit of a learning curve to get used to it but once you do you will never go back.

This youtube video might help you see what it is all about.

OK, well I have heard a lot of talk about the BBF and thought that sooner or later I would check it out. I'll admit that that once I get something set up to my liking, I tend to leave it that way. But I also want to see what all the fuss is about too. My first question about trying these different settings is can I save my current configuration under U1 so if I want to revert to how I have things now or if I completely hose everything trying to get BBF set up? And if setting up BBF is successful, can I save that configuration under U2? Thanks for everyone's patience.

edit: One thing I'd mention is that I will miss the focus "beep" (if I lose it) as I have trouble seeing the focus dot in the viewfinder
Click to expand...
 
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Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
adot45 said:
OK, well I have heard a lot of talk about the BBF and thought that sooner or later I would check it out. I'll admit that that once I get something set up to my liking, I tend to leave it that way. But I also want to see what all the fuss is about too. My first question about trying these different settings is can I save my current configuration under U1 so if I want to revert to how I have things now or if I completely hose everything trying to get BBF set up? And if setting up BBF is successful, can I save that configuration under U2? Thanks for everyone's patience.

edit: One thing I'd mention is that I will miss the focus "beep" (if I lose it) as I have trouble seeing the focus dot in the viewfinder
Click to expand...
Configuring BBF only requires you to re-assign one button so really... There's not much you can "hose". That being said, though, yes; you can can figure BBF and save that modification to U1, or U2, with the other button being configured for shutter-button half-press focus if you want.

I like to think of BBF as "AF-C On Demand"; press and hold the button to get Continuous Auto-focus and release the button to "lock" focus. Two buttons, two separate and distinct functions. It does take some getting used to, however, so I too would advise you to give it an honest work out before you make a decision. I took to it pretty quickly but there are times I switch back to shutter-button half-press focus as well.
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D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
My wife refuses to switch over to BBF with her D7000 so when I pick it up to show her something it always throws me for a loop for a minute. I think I will set her camera up on BBF on U1 and see if I can get her to try it some more. That way she can switch back it she wants easily


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