fotofanish
New member
I'm posting this solution because I'm aware from my hundreds of Google searches that are many other straw-clutching D3100 users out there with focus issues.
Background: I bought this camera early 2014. The price had been reduced fairly drastically and I've since read it was about that time that Nikon had allowed retailers to special-off this by-then superseded model.
Seemed a good deal to me, though. My first digital SLR with features similar to the many film SLRs I'd owned in the 60's and 70's.
Only trouble was, I couldn't get it to take sharp pictures. I tried everything I could think of, plus heaps of things other people were suggesting online, including Auto Mode, Scene Modes, manual P, A, S and M modes, Autofocus, Manual Focus, focus charts etc etc etc. Several complainers suggested turning OFF Vibration Reduction, but that didn't help. One very expert guy who I won't name said that if all else failed to send the camera back and get another. I even did that but the replacement was no better. No arguments from the retailer, this obviously wasn't the first complaint they'd dealt with.
18 months later I was no further ahead. I'd finally given up and resorted to using my wife's little point-and-shoot Canon A1200.
But then, a genuine light-bulb moment.
I'd downloaded yet another how-to video, this one about a focusing trick for Nikon cameras. It wasn't specifically for the D3100, but I thought I'd watch it anyway. 'Wow' is all I'll say. I followed the guy's recommendations (modified for my model) and Voila. Everything works! Suddenly I'm getting the sort of photos I'd always hoped the D3100 would deliver.
Here are the adjustments to make: (NOTE: I now use Aperture Priority for most shots and compose through the Viewfinder, not Live View)
Additional notes:
AF-Assist Illuminator: Set to ON in Shooting Menu. It's Automatic only in low light. Be aware that, regardless of what I've said above, Auto-focus can still have occasional problems when (according to the Nikon manual) these conditions exist: Poor contrast between subject and background. Subject half in shade. Subject inside a cage (animal). Building in frame behind subject. Subject contains many fine details.
That's pretty much it. PM me if you'd like full details of my Menu settings. A month ago I had absolutely no idea what to set everything at (except defaults!) but I've since studied lots of online recommendations and I think I have it sussed well enough to be workable. Good luck!
PS: Yell if anything is obscure (or obviously screwy!)
Edit: If you'd like to see the Light-Bulb video for yourself, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzqQskGoURE
Background: I bought this camera early 2014. The price had been reduced fairly drastically and I've since read it was about that time that Nikon had allowed retailers to special-off this by-then superseded model.
Seemed a good deal to me, though. My first digital SLR with features similar to the many film SLRs I'd owned in the 60's and 70's.
Only trouble was, I couldn't get it to take sharp pictures. I tried everything I could think of, plus heaps of things other people were suggesting online, including Auto Mode, Scene Modes, manual P, A, S and M modes, Autofocus, Manual Focus, focus charts etc etc etc. Several complainers suggested turning OFF Vibration Reduction, but that didn't help. One very expert guy who I won't name said that if all else failed to send the camera back and get another. I even did that but the replacement was no better. No arguments from the retailer, this obviously wasn't the first complaint they'd dealt with.
18 months later I was no further ahead. I'd finally given up and resorted to using my wife's little point-and-shoot Canon A1200.
But then, a genuine light-bulb moment.
I'd downloaded yet another how-to video, this one about a focusing trick for Nikon cameras. It wasn't specifically for the D3100, but I thought I'd watch it anyway. 'Wow' is all I'll say. I followed the guy's recommendations (modified for my model) and Voila. Everything works! Suddenly I'm getting the sort of photos I'd always hoped the D3100 would deliver.
Here are the adjustments to make: (NOTE: I now use Aperture Priority for most shots and compose through the Viewfinder, not Live View)
- Press the ‘i’button at bottom left of display screen, then press again.
- Scroll across to the right side - Focus mode. Set to AF-C (This is only available in P, S, A or M modes)
- Scroll down to AF-area mode. Set to Single-Point AF. (This can also be set in Shooting Menu)
- Go to Buttons in the Setup Menu and dedicate AE-L\AF-L to AF-ON.
- Now, to take a photo, adjust exposure in the Viewfinder, then thumb the AE-L\AF-L button before shooting.
- You should see the focus center Single-Point illuminate briefly. If point has moved from center, adjust with Multi-Selector arrow dial.
- Flash: In P, S, A and M modes, the Flash will pop up if you press its button (above the FN button).
- I've dedicated the FN button to ISO control. ISO is set at 100 with Auto-ISO Sensitivity to OFF.
Additional notes:
AF-Assist Illuminator: Set to ON in Shooting Menu. It's Automatic only in low light. Be aware that, regardless of what I've said above, Auto-focus can still have occasional problems when (according to the Nikon manual) these conditions exist: Poor contrast between subject and background. Subject half in shade. Subject inside a cage (animal). Building in frame behind subject. Subject contains many fine details.
That's pretty much it. PM me if you'd like full details of my Menu settings. A month ago I had absolutely no idea what to set everything at (except defaults!) but I've since studied lots of online recommendations and I think I have it sussed well enough to be workable. Good luck!
PS: Yell if anything is obscure (or obviously screwy!
)Edit: If you'd like to see the Light-Bulb video for yourself, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzqQskGoURE
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