AF-S single point

jguidici

New member
[FONT=&quot]I have a D7200. If I select AF-S single point, and in the menu I have AF-S Priority selection set to "focus", I cannot get the camera to take the shot in any mode except "Auto". I found that if I change to AF-S "Auto" from "Single Point" it works, or if I change to "Release" priority it will work. Why is that? What are the right settings to use for AF-S Single point?[/FONT]
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Howdy and welcome to Nikonites!!!

"Auto" mode is basically ignoring most of your settings and letting the camera decide what to do. With single point, you're telling the camera there is exactly one point that you want to be in focus. When you set priority to focus, the camera will not let you trip the shutter until that single focus point is in focus. If the camera can not achieve what it thinks is focus, you don't get a shot. With the priority set to release, you trip the shutter whether the focus point is in focus or not.

There are times when the AF on the camera can not determine whether it's achieved focus or not, or may you want to focus on an object and then move to recompose ... so that the single focus point is no longer in focus. Both settings can be "right" it ultimately depends on what you're trying to do with your camera.
 

jguidici

New member
I understand what you say, however, I can set the focus point on any object indoors or out, and in any mode, A,S,P,M and it will NOT trip the shutter (except in Auto Mode), if I have selected both AF-S single, and Priority setting "of Focus". Very strange, and I don't understand why that is. Perhaps there is another setting that is in conflict with it.
 

jguidici

New member
Try it on your camera and let me know if same happens to you. If not, there is a conflicting setting somewhere, or, I have a camera problem......which I do not believe.
 

nickt

Senior Member
Is the camera actually focusing? Check with your single point on a near object and then a far object in viewfinder mode. Put your single focus point in the center. Does the lens refocus? You should get green focus confirmation dot in the lower left viewfinder. As Charlie said, it must see focus under that point to trip the shutter. Although af-s should let you hold the shutter button half way and recompose.
 

nickt

Senior Member
Just to add, if no green dot in af-s with focus priority, the shutter won't trip. You must get the green dot. If you hold the shutter half pressed and recomposed, the dot will stay on allowing you to focus-recompose. Don't worry about that yet, just confirm you are focusing and getting the green dot.
 

jguidici

New member
I can hear the camera focus, but no trip of shutter. I get no green dot in any shooting mode, using any AF mode, nor in any meter mode. When the shutter will not trip, I get an arrow (<) pointing to the left. That arrow is to the left of the shutter speed.
 

nickt

Senior Member
I just picked up my camera, looks like a white dot not a green dot. But anyway, no dot? How about in af-c? You should get left and right arrows and see the dot frequently flash as you pan around and the camera finds focus on various things. Depending on priority, it will trip the shutter anytime or wait for focus. In af-s focus priority, you must get the white dot. Visually, does it look like you are in focus from the viewfinder? if for some reason the camera can not find focus, you will hear it hunt, but it won't lock and you won't get a dot and it probably won't look focused under the single point.
 

jguidici

New member
The lens I am having the problem with is a Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-200 VR. I have the 3 switches on the lens set to M/A, VR, Normal. But it will not display the white dot. Only occasionally a < arrow. My Tokina ATX PRO AF 11-16 F2.8 will show the white dot, and in AF-C the arrows will move left and right when I pan and will go to a white dot. However, I do not hear the camera focus motor hunt. So is the issue with the camera, or one or more of my lenses?
 

jguidici

New member
I have also found that on my Tokina lens, it also will not trip the shutter when on AF-S single. Looks like a camera auto focus issue.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
The lens I am having the problem with is a Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-200 VR. I have the 3 switches on the lens set to M/A, VR, Normal. But it will not display the white dot. Only occasionally a < arrow. My Tokina ATX PRO AF 11-16 F2.8 will show the white dot, and in AF-C the arrows will move left and right when I pan and will go to a white dot. However, I do not hear the camera focus motor hunt. So is the issue with the camera, or one or more of my lenses?
Try putting the lens into Manual focus mode by moving the M/A button to the "M" position. Now try taking some shots. If you can shoot now, with the auto-focus in "M" mode, but not in "A" mode, that would lead me to believe the focus-motor in the lens is not working or there is some kind of communication problem between the lens and the camera body.
 

nickt

Senior Member
It sounds like its the 18-200 if that is the only lens showing the problem. Hard to say for sure from here. Make sure its mounted properly, twist it both directions without pushing the lens release button. I've seen a few people that were holding the lens release button as they mounted the lens and were twisting the lens past the click stop. It caused some odd behavior because the contacts were slightly misaligned. Other than that, it sound like you have a problem. I don't know the inside details of the focus system to say for sure what is wrong, but it certainly sounds like a real problem. You did say it works in auto. I think auto remembers some settings that you change, so you can push the focus mode button and see what mode is being used.
 

Texas

Senior Member
by my read of the posts, neither lens works right on AF

two bad with the same problem would be very unusual

time for the two green dot reset, battery out for a while, short prayer
 

jguidici

New member
Took the camera and lenses to a photography shop......and the lenses worked fine on their D7200. Camera body is the problem. Thanks for all of your insight and support!
 

nickt

Senior Member
I missed the post where you said two lenses didn't work. Try the two button reset like Texas mentioned. Also go through the menus and reset the shooting menu and custom settings menu as well. The two button reset does not clear everything. Good luck.
 

jguidici

New member
Funny you should ask. I just sold a guitar that I bought 3 years ago to learn the guitar.......but never got there, and felt I never would! LOL

That being said, I have a first cousin who is one of the original STYX rock band members. His brother was the drummer until he passed on. The two of them, and Dennis DeYoung were they original founders.
 
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