Weird MB-D15 and D7100 issue

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TheCROW

New member
Hey All,Long time reader but this is my first post :) Hope you can help me.I have noticed a strange behavior on my D7100+ MB-D15 original grip:If i set the grip AE-Lock button to focus, the half-press on the shutter button on the grip does not engage focus anymore, the button does. If I set that button to any other function, the half press shutter focuses normally. On the camera it works as it ahould but not on the grip. I even tried it on my D90+ Grip and D800+ Grip and D7200+Grip, all work fine.Anyone has this issue? Can you please test it?Thank you kindly.
 
Spottydumplings

Spottydumplings

Senior Member
TheCROW said:
Hey All,Long time reader but this is my first post :) Hope you can help me.I have noticed a strange behavior on my D7100+ MB-D15 original grip:If i set the grip AE-Lock button to focus, the half-press on the shutter button on the grip does not engage focus anymore, the button does. If I set that button to any other function, the half press shutter focuses normally. On the camera it works as it ahould but not on the grip. I even tried it on my D90+ Grip and D800+ Grip and D7200+Grip, all work fine.Anyone has this issue? Can you please test it?Thank you kindly.
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Firstly welcome; from someone who hasn't been here too long:cheerful:.

I believe that what you are describing is normal behaviour; setting the AE-Lock button to focus is known as "Back Button Focus" and it does indeed stop 1/2 pressure on the shutter from focussing. It also has to be set independently for both the normal and grip buttons; if not one set will focus one way and the other the opposite.

Pages 256 & 259 in the manual.
 
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T

TheCROW

New member
Spottydumplings said:
Firstly welcome; from someone who hasn't been here too long:cheerful:.

I believe that what you are describing is normal behaviour; setting the AE-Lock button to focus is known as "Back Button Focus" and it does indeed stop 1/2 pressure on the shutter from focussing. It also has to be set independently for both the normal and grip buttons; if not one set will focus one way and the other the opposite.

Pages 256 & 259 in the manual.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply,
As I mentioned in my first post, this is not happening with my other 4 cam bodies.
When you usually set the back focus button to ON, the half press shutter focus continues to function as well. This is what happens on all my other camera bodies AND their grips except the MB-D15 attached to my D7100. I tried that same grip on my D7200 and it functions normally. So the problem is from the camera.
 
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PapaST

Senior Member
Are you talking about the "f9 assign MB-D15 button" to "AF-ON"?

When I have that set to "AF-ON" the shutter half-press for focus does not work (on the grip). If I move OFF of "AF-ON" and onto something like "AF lock only" then the grip shutter half press works and the AE button for focus does not.

Is that what you're experiencing?
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
TheCROW said:
Thank you for your reply,
As I mentioned in my first post, this is not happening with my other 4 cam bodies.
When you usually set the back focus button to ON, the half press shutter focus continues to function as well. This is what happens on all my other camera bodies AND their grips except the MB-D15 attached to my D7100. I tried that same grip on my D7200 and it functions normally. So the problem is from the camera.
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The manual for the D7100 clearly states if you enable back-button focus using the AE-L button on the MB-D15 battery grip, half-pressing the shutter button no longer initiates auto-focus.
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TheCROW

New member
PapaST said:
Are you talking about the "f9 assign MB-D15 button" to "AF-ON"?

When I have that set to "AF-ON" the shutter half-press for focus does not work (on the grip). If I move OFF of "AF-ON" and onto something like "AF lock only" then the grip shutter half press works and the AE button for focus does not.

Is that what you're experiencing?
Click to expand...

Yes exactly! This only happens on my D7100+Grip but not on my D7200+Grip, D90+Grip nor D800+Grip; on these cameras, If I set the the Grip AE-L Button to AF-ON, focus works on both the grip's shutter button (half-press) and on the grip's AE-L Button at the same time.
 
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deltablue

deltablue

New member
Hi, I am joining this thread after a search for "FOCUS". I'm having a trouble with the focus and setting on the 7100 [i upgraded from 5300] The lens and camera are set to AF. First I dont get why I have to press an additional button to AF e.g. AE-L/AF-L but anyway. Through custom settings I have tried to set the camera to AE-L AF-L LOCK but when I do that I cannot see the focus circle and in fact have to manually focus which doesn't make sense.

The only setting that gives me the in focus circle is if I set the AE-L AF-L to AF-ON. So I am confused as to how these different settings work and which one I should be using ?

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong and would appreciate any help.
Thanks
 
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TheCROW

New member
deltablue said:
Hi, I am joining this thread after a search for "FOCUS". I'm having a trouble with the focus and setting on the 7100 [i upgraded from 5300] The lens and camera are set to AF. First I dont get why I have to press an additional button to AF e.g. AE-L/AF-L but anyway. Through custom settings I have tried to set the camera to AE-L AF-L LOCK but when I do that I cannot see the focus circle and in fact have to manually focus which doesn't make sense.

The only setting that gives me the in focus circle is if I set the AE-L AF-L to AF-ON. So I am confused as to how these different settings work and which one I should be using ?

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong and would appreciate any help.
Thanks
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When you set the AE-L button to AF-ON, that button will behave the same as when you half-press the shutter button, ie: focus acquisition. This is normally used for sports photography when shooting burst shots so the camera keeps focusing in AF-C mode during shots.
When you set the AE-L button to AF LOCK, when pressed, this button will hold the focus acquired by the camera and prevent it from refocusing before shooting. This can be used when focusing and recomposing before shooting.
Hope this helps.
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
I'd try putting in my two cents, but I just got started with the D7100! ;)

Well I mean started with this model nikon, and it seems Nikon likes to through a quirk in here or there to make each model different even when not needed! Lol :)

Thanks for the heads up [MENTION=13090]Horoscope Fish[/MENTION] my friend! I had better skim this manual to see if any other quirks pop up on functions or controls I use! lol :)
 
deltablue

deltablue

New member
Hi but when I set to the AE-L to AF-L LOCK I have to use manual focus, I dont get why. All the options I have to use manual focus except AE-ON which gives me auto focus when I have press the shutter button.

Thanks
 
deltablue

deltablue

New member
I mean the whole point is not using manual focus - so how do I not have to use manual focus because none of the settings are using AF?
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
deltablue said:
I mean the whole point is not using manual focus - so how do I not have to use manual focus because none of the settings are using AF?
Click to expand...
I've read your posts but I'm confused about what you're trying to accomplish... Do you want to enable Back Button Focus using the AE-L/AF-L button on your D7100?
....
 
deltablue

deltablue

New member
Hi Horiscope Fish

Thanks, I am trying to auto focus via 'back button' Right now I am not able to get an 'auto focus' using the back button settings except for AF_ON [custom settings >Controls]. Having said that I dont get the point of assigning a 'back button' - if I can just focus by half pressing the shutter button UNLESS it is to LOCK the focus in which case this is not working with the back button.

thanks
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
deltablue said:
Hi Horiscope Fish

Thanks, I am trying to auto focus via 'back button' Right now I am not able to get an 'auto focus' using the back button settings except for AF_ON [custom settings >Controls]. Having said that I dont get the point of assigning a 'back button' - if I can just focus by half pressing the shutter button UNLESS it is to LOCK the focus in which case this is not working with the back button.

thanks
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Well I don't know that this will help but here goes...

The reason I use back button focus is because it separates the action of focusing from the action of shooting. Two buttons, two separate functions; I just like it that way. It gives me more control over how I compose my shots. I also use AF-C so the the AE-L/AF-L button now gives me what I call "continuous focus on demand". I press and release the back button once and I get focus on my subject. That focus remains unchanged until I decide to change the focus by pressing that same button again. If my subject is moving, or starts to move, I can press and hold the AE-L/AF-L button and AF-C kicks in so I can maintain focus on a moving target or stop and "lock" my focus simply by letting go of the AE-L/AF-L button. I can do all of this without having to "half press" the shutter button.
...
 
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deltablue

deltablue

New member
Hi, yes I now understand the purpose of using the back button focus, thanks. I finally got this to work so will keep practicing using both as you suggest rather than either or.

Appreciate you help and patience.
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
Normally I'd be ready to give my grip DSLR combo a test! But this is the first time I'm having to go gripless for a while, while I take so long to get together the money for the grip.
But I thought HF's explanation solved this riddle? Just a quirk with just this particular model Nikon ?

TheCROW said:
Back to my OP, anyone cares to test the issue on their camera and grip?
Thanks.
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