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<blockquote data-quote="yauman" data-source="post: 291613" data-attributes="member: 15418">In the AF mode, you can select the different focusing area.&nbsp; If you set it to AF-S - spot focusing, you can put the spot (using the jogging wheel) on the birds so the auto focus will focus on the birds and not the branches.&nbsp; You must have it on AF-A mode where the autofocus will pick up the closest object -ie the branches.&nbsp; There is also the 3-D autofocus mode where the autofocus will try to track a moving focused object.&nbsp; Experiment - hold down the AF/MF button on the side of the camera, then rotate the front command and back sub-command key and watch the top LCD display - you can select the type of autofocusing and how many autofocus points you can to use. Look through the viewfinder while you hold down the AF/MF key and you'll see the cluster of focus point active - if you selected 9, you see how the 9 points are laid out; if you selected 21, it will show the 21 points etc.&nbsp; Play with it to get familiar so next time you don't miss the bird!Not all lenses allow you to over-ride the autofocus when it is switched to AF mode.&nbsp; Look at the AF/MF switch on the lens - if it reads &quot;MA&quot; and &quot;M&quot; then it can be in Manual-Auto or Manual only mode.&nbsp; In the MA mode, it can autofocus but you can still rotate the focus ring.&nbsp; If you have a lens where the switch reads &quot;A&quot; and &quot;M&quot; it may not let you turn the focus ring when you are in auto mode. The Tamrons are such lenses - you know because when you are in &quot;Auto&quot; the focus ring cannot be turned by hand easily - don't force it.So, following HF's advice above, you are just selecting the wrong autofocus mode for your bird in bush situation.&nbsp; Read the section of the manual on the various AF modes and how to select where or what your camera autofocus on.&nbsp; The D7100 is very flexible and &quot;intelligent.&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="yauman, post: 291613, member: 15418"] In the AF mode, you can select the different focusing area. If you set it to AF-S - spot focusing, you can put the spot (using the jogging wheel) on the birds so the auto focus will focus on the birds and not the branches. You must have it on AF-A mode where the autofocus will pick up the closest object -ie the branches. There is also the 3-D autofocus mode where the autofocus will try to track a moving focused object. Experiment - hold down the AF/MF button on the side of the camera, then rotate the front command and back sub-command key and watch the top LCD display - you can select the type of autofocusing and how many autofocus points you can to use. Look through the viewfinder while you hold down the AF/MF key and you'll see the cluster of focus point active - if you selected 9, you see how the 9 points are laid out; if you selected 21, it will show the 21 points etc. Play with it to get familiar so next time you don't miss the bird! Not all lenses allow you to over-ride the autofocus when it is switched to AF mode. Look at the AF/MF switch on the lens - if it reads "MA" and "M" then it can be in Manual-Auto or Manual only mode. In the MA mode, it can autofocus but you can still rotate the focus ring. If you have a lens where the switch reads "A" and "M" it may not let you turn the focus ring when you are in auto mode. The Tamrons are such lenses - you know because when you are in "Auto" the focus ring cannot be turned by hand easily - don't force it. So, following HF's advice above, you are just selecting the wrong autofocus mode for your bird in bush situation. Read the section of the manual on the various AF modes and how to select where or what your camera autofocus on. The D7100 is very flexible and "intelligent." [/QUOTE]

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