Mastering the Nikon D7200, Focus Modes?

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leeinla

Senior Member
I am reading the book Mastering the Nikon D7200 by Darrell Young. I have an issue with selecting focusing modes by holding the AF-L button. When I press the AF-L/AE-L button it only changes the shutter speed or the aperture. What settings do I need to change so I can change Focus Modes on the fly? I am referring to page 479 in the book, section: Autofocus Modes in Detail. Thanks a lot.

Lee
 
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Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
leeinla said:
I am reading the book Mastering the Nikon D7200 by Darrell Young. I have an issue with selecting focusing modes by holding the AF-L button. When I press the AF-L/AE-L button it only changes the shutter speed or the aperture. What settings do I need to change so I can change Focus Modes on the fly? I am referring to page 479 in the book, section: Autofocus Modes in Detail. Thanks a lot.

Lee
Click to expand...

One thing you might want to do IT you want to change from Single to continuous focus is to switch to Back Button Focus. It is a good idea to switch to it anyway.

Back Button Focus is a great tool for so many photographers and is something I think everyone should try at least once. Below are a few sites that talk about the how and why of Back Button Focus.

Benefits of Using the AF-ON Button for Autofocus by Nikon USA


BACK BUTTON FOCUSING – EASIER THAN YOU THINK! by Improve Photography


Here is a good YouTube video that goes over the why and how of Back Button Focusing.

You can do a search of the forum on "Back Button Focus" or BBF and see the many threads that have been created on this subject.

Try it, You will like it.






 
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pforsell

Senior Member
leeinla said:
I am reading the book Mastering the Nikon D7200 by Darrell Young. I have an issue with selecting focusing modes by holding the AF-L button. When I press the AF-L/AE-L button it only changes the shutter speed or the aperture. What settings do I need to change so I can change Focus Modes on the fly? I am referring to page 479 in the book, section: Autofocus Modes in Detail. Thanks a lot.

Lee
Click to expand...

Hi,
I don't have the book, but I'd like to offer some help, if you'd elaborate a little of what you are trying to do. Are you shooting stills? Using LiveView? Shooting video?

Nikon D7200 user manual p. 83 describes the three Autofocus Modes of the D7200 and shows how you need to press the Autofocus Mode button and rotate the main (normally back) command dial to change between AF-S, AF-C and AF-A in the fly. It is 100% identical to my D4S.

Without having the D7200, but reading its manual it looks like there are several options in the Controls menu to assign to the AF-L/AE-L button, but none of them is for changing Autofocus modes. Could you re-read the book and verify that there isn't a typo? Or that maybe a diagram has some print error pointing to a wrong button?

Sorry, as I don't have the book nor the camera, I have to rely on the user manual and my other cameras. It looks like what you are describing cannot be done. And if I am wrong I'll be the first to admit it. :)
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
leeinla said:
I am reading the book Mastering the Nikon D7200 by Darrell Young. I have an issue with selecting focusing modes by holding the AF-L button. When I press the AF-L/AE-L button it only changes the shutter speed or the aperture. What settings do I need to change so I can change Focus Modes on the fly? I am referring to page 479 in the book, section: Autofocus Modes in Detail. Thanks a lot.

Lee
Click to expand...
To change the AF Mode on the fly, you press the AF Mode button and turn the command wheel.

The AF Mode button is on the front of the camera body down at the bottom by the lens release button.
.....
 
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nickt

Senior Member
By luck, I was able to view page 479 on Amazon in their book preview feature. I think you misunderstood what you read, the book looks correct. You need to push and hold the af-mode button which is on the camera front as Paul said. Its in the center of the af/m lever. Turn front and rear command wheels while holding the button to change focus point modes and focus servo modes.
 
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nickt

Senior Member
leeinla said:
Thanks a lot nickt. I wish you can assign that function to the AE-L/AF-L button.
Click to expand...
You will get used to it as it is. The ae/af button would not be a good match since you need use the wheels along with the button. And someday you might like to try back button focus like the guys above mentioned. That is the most popular alternate use for the ae/af-l button. But don't worry about that now, just get comfortable with your camera as is.
If you really hate holding the button while turning the wheel, menu f6 - release button to use dial, will help a little. That will let you press the af mode button and then release it. The camera will then wait for you to use the wheel to complete the function. It saves you from needing to continue pressing the button. This f6 setting affects all the buttons that normally need to be held while turning a wheel. It is useful if you have a heavy lens mounted since your left hand may be supporting the lens and unavailable for button holding.
 
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Danino

Senior Member
While exploring setting up the D7200 some other tips worth checking out:


The best ones for me were, top ISO button (Video record), Playback/review scrolling (command wheels) and magnify view at focusing point (pressing OK).
 
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