can I assign the fn button to single point focus as well as continuous focus?

tea2085

Senior Member
In other words flip back and forth between the 2? I have the d7100 and have read and watched videos about the fn button but am still lost, if it can be done, could I please get someone to gently walk me through the steps?
thanks, paul
 

tea2085

Senior Member
Fred I have been using bb focus for the last 2 years! I don't know why that would help me with my question. I would like to assign a button for a quick change to settings!
Thanks, Paul
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Well, Continuous Focus is already assigned to the BackButton... or should be if your BB is setup correctly...

I just checked my D600, and None of the Focus mode/settings are available to be assigned to the Fn button, or the Preview button...
 

nickt

Senior Member
Your question is not clear exactly what you want to switch between.

Single Point Focus is an AF Area Mode. The choices are: Single Point, Dynamic 9, 21 or 51pt, 3d tracking and Auto Area.

AF-C is a Focus Servo Mode. The choices are AF-C, AF-S, and AF-A. That means continuous servo autofocus, single servo auto focus or automatic switching.

Back button focus (when set up correctly) gives you af-c and a psuedo af-s mode depending how you use the button. Is that what you want? Hold the button and get continuous focus. Let the button go and in effect you have af-s mode even though you are still technically in af-c. The downside is you do not get to choose focus priority, you are always in release priority.

If you are looking to change the AF Area Mode from single to one of the multipoint modes, no, you can't do that with the fn button. You can do that fairly quickly from the button in the middle of the af/m lever on the front of the camera though. Press button and use front wheel to change area modes.

On the d7100, I don't think you can do what is shown in the d500 video above.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Back button focus (when set up correctly) gives you af-c and a psuedo af-s mode depending how you use the button. Is that what you want? Hold the button and get continuous focus. Let the button go and in effect you have af-s mode even though you are still technically in af-c. The downside is you do not get to choose focus priority, you are always in release priority.

I'm having trouble understanding what Paul wants, too.

As Nick explained, if you want to switch between AF-C and AF-S, all it requires is to focus with the back button, remove your thumb from the back button, and recompose if desired. Then just press the shutter button to take the photo. That replicates AF-S.

Another alternative is to set up U1 or U2 with whatever change you want. My U1 is set up for BBF in Aperture Priority, AF-C. U2 is set up for BBF in Manual Mode, AF-C. My regular Aperture Priority is set for AF-S, and so are Manual Mode and Shutter Priority. All I need to do is to switch between U1, U2, or A (since I mostly shoot in Aperture Priority without BBF). I can quickly switch between BBF and no BBF.

All of my options are set for single point focus, but you can program U1 or U2 to use multiple focus points if desired.
 
Last edited:

tea2085

Senior Member
You guys have answered my question (I think) I just want to quickly change from continuous A/F to single point A/F focus very quickly (without having to go to menu) You guys probably answered my question- thank you. I just need some time to digest the replies- busy today. Thank you- Paul
 

nickt

Senior Member
You guys have answered my question (I think) I just want to quickly change from continuous A/F to single point A/F focus very quickly (without having to go to menu) You guys probably answered my question- thank you. I just need some time to digest the replies- busy today. Thank you- Paul
If you mean switching from af-c to af-s, then you have that already at your fingertips with bbf as Cindy explained. Just let go of the back button after you focus. This is good for focus/recomposing. However, if you need to be able to lock focus before the shutter will fire, like for birds in flight see my next post below.
 

nickt

Senior Member
I'm having trouble understanding what Paul wants, too.

As Nick explained, if you want to switch between AF-C and AF-S, all it requires is to focus with the back button, remove your thumb from the back button, and recompose if desired. Then just press the shutter button to take the photo. That replicates AF-S.

Another alternative is to set up U1 or U2 with whatever change you want. My U1 is set up for BBF in Aperture Priority, AF-C. U2 is set up for BBF in Manual Mode, AF-C. My regular Aperture Priority is set for AF-S, and so are Manual Mode and Shutter Priority. All I need to do is to switch between U1, U2, or A (since I mostly shoot in Aperture Priority without BBF). I can quickly switch between BBF and no BBF.

All of my options are set for single point focus, but you can program U1 or U2 to use multiple focus points if desired.

The U's are a good idea if Paul is looking for af-c or af-s with focus priority but still wants to mostly use bbf. After we were talking about U settings last week, I updated one of my U's for shutter button focus, af-c with focus priority. I love bbf and what it does for me 99% of the time. The one area where it falls short for me is birds in flight. It is much like skeet shooting trying to catch a bird in flight with af-c and release priority. So I want to try something that won't fire unless focus is locked. The d7100 and d7200 override the af priority menus a1 and a2 once you set the back button to af-on. You are stuck with release priority when using bbf no matter what you set in a1 and a2. I think the d7000 respected the a1 and a2 priority menus with bbf set. No idea on how other Nikon's handle priority with the bb set for focus. I don't think the manuals explain this detail.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Just to simplify what @nickt has already pointed out...

Auto-focus Continuous, or AF-C, is an Auto-focus SERVO mode; while "Single Point" refers an Auto-focus AREA mode. This being the case your question, as you've asked it, doesn't really make sense because the Area-mode (Single Point, D9, Group, etc.) and the Servo-mode (Single Servo, Continuous, Auto) are two entirely different beasts.
 

tea2085

Senior Member
I'm trying different settings suggested, now have another problem in that it's not beeping when it gets focus- like it did before . tried to backtrack and find what I did-no luck, HELP please. Paul
 

nickt

Senior Member
I'm trying different settings suggested, now have another problem in that it's not beeping when it gets focus- like it did before . tried to backtrack and find what I did-no luck, HELP please. Paul
You will only get the beep in some modes even though the beep is turned on. af-s with focus priority, for sure you will get the beep. And for sure you will not get a beep with bbf set up in the usual way, af-c with release priority. Not sure off hand if af-c with focus priority will beep. I know it won't with bbf set up.
 

nickt

Senior Member
Nick, I had bbf beep before I tried different settings. Wonder what I did?
You might have not had bbf set up 'correctly'. I say 'correctly', but there is no right or wrong. The textbook technique though is af-c with release priority and that won't beep because there is never a confirmed focus with that setup. I'll see if I can figure out what you might have set.
 

nickt

Senior Member
Nick, I had bbf beep before I tried different settings. Wonder what I did? I got it-thanks
Tried it. I think you must have had bbf set for af-s with focus priority. That will beep focusing with the back button. It won't really work right though. The bbf technique will not perform as you may have read about it set that way. Also, due to the behavior I described in a post above, setting the back button will override menu a1 and a2 so you will not really get focus priority even though you set it.
 

tea2085

Senior Member
thank you guys- getting the focus i want now with cfocus/release and letting up to lock it. I love this forum- you guys have been SO patient with me. And Fred, I did'nt think you got it when you told me to learn bb focus but you really did know how to help-thank you. Thanks to all you fellow nikonites. I'm good now, Paul
 

FMB

New member
Did you ever get your answer. I understand what you are talking about and was wondering if you got your answer. Even if you use BBF, you are either in AF-S or AF-C mode and you still have select one or the other with the AF button on the side and if you are in a "fly by" situation, you can lose the shot by the time you switch AF modes.
 

nickt

Senior Member
Even if you use BBF, you are either in AF-S or AF-C mode and you still have select one or the other with the AF button on the side
Not if you are using the "bbf technique" correctly. To use this as most people do, you need to be in AF-C with menu A1 set to release. Not af-s.
To use this properly, you hold down the back button if you want continuous focus. You are in af-c and it is activated by the back button. Hold it as long as you want and shoot when you want. Focus will track as you hold the button. If you have an immediate need for af-s, you simply release the back button. It is not really af-s, but that is the effect you get. You press the back button, and release it when you are happy with focus. Recompose if you wish. This is why people use the bbf technique, you get both focus modes. You get regular af-c and a simulated af-s mode. For this to work though you must be in af-c with release priority.
 
Top