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Nikon DSLR Cameras
D3400
Using B, T and long speeds for star trails and comet Neowise
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<blockquote data-quote="nickt" data-source="post: 739454" data-attributes="member: 4923"><p>Nikon is roundabout in documenting how some things work. There are 2 sets of books for the d3400, the reference manual and the user manual. I just searched the reference pdf and found a small mention under autofocus tips that the shutter might be disabled under some conditions. But the message in the viewfinder did not give you enough info to know it was an autofocus problem.</p><p></p><p>Anyway, you are better off in manual focus for very dark shooting. In most cases focus will be on infinity. Something to try is live view. You should be able to zoom in on a distant point of light in LV and then manually focus till its sharp. It doesn't have to be a star, it could be a very distant street light just to find infinity. When I say zoom in, I don't mean with the lens. I mean with the screen controls so you can see your focus better on the screen. Use magnifier and arrow buttons. It does not zoom your shot like a digital zoom, its just a method to examine focus. You can take the picture from LV, or switch back to viewfinder. As long as you stay in manual focus it won't change going back to viewfinder. This method is good for macro too. Other than special focus situations, I'm not a fan of live view. Its a battery suck and lots of extra motions to snap the picture.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="nickt, post: 739454, member: 4923"] Nikon is roundabout in documenting how some things work. There are 2 sets of books for the d3400, the reference manual and the user manual. I just searched the reference pdf and found a small mention under autofocus tips that the shutter might be disabled under some conditions. But the message in the viewfinder did not give you enough info to know it was an autofocus problem. Anyway, you are better off in manual focus for very dark shooting. In most cases focus will be on infinity. Something to try is live view. You should be able to zoom in on a distant point of light in LV and then manually focus till its sharp. It doesn't have to be a star, it could be a very distant street light just to find infinity. When I say zoom in, I don't mean with the lens. I mean with the screen controls so you can see your focus better on the screen. Use magnifier and arrow buttons. It does not zoom your shot like a digital zoom, its just a method to examine focus. You can take the picture from LV, or switch back to viewfinder. As long as you stay in manual focus it won't change going back to viewfinder. This method is good for macro too. Other than special focus situations, I'm not a fan of live view. Its a battery suck and lots of extra motions to snap the picture. [/QUOTE]
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Nikon DSLR Cameras
D3400
Using B, T and long speeds for star trails and comet Neowise
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