Another Back Button Focus question

TMG1961

New member
I have set up back button focus but can not get it to work correctly. It works fine when using life view. But when i use the view finder the shutter button still keeps focusing when half pressed. Does not matter if on AF-C or AF-S. AF activation set to AF-ON Only and Assign AE-L/AF-L button pres set to AF-On as shown in tutorial video. Am i missing a setting?
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
This video should be able to walk you through the process. Double check and see if there is a setting you overlooked.

 

TMG1961

New member
What confuses me is that when i half way press the button the focus point lights up red. Made me thinking that it was still focusing when using the shutter button. Haven't found the option to turn half press of for shutter button.
 

BeegRhob

Senior Member
What confuses me is that when i half way press the button the focus point lights up red. Made me thinking that it was still focusing when using the shutter button. Haven't found the option to turn half press of for shutter button.

Is that possibly from the meter? Manually focus to the extreme opposite of where it is focused and then try the auto focus again. You should be able to tell if it is focusing then.

Rob
 

TMG1961

New member
It does not focus after doing like you said in AF mode using the shutter button. It does focus using the back button. However when i half press the shutter button the focus point still turns red briefly, and that is confusing me. Can that be turned off? Also how do i disable half press of the shutter button, when using BBF there is in my opinion no need for using half press on shutter button because it is not used for focusing.
 

TMG1961

New member
Thanks, that is what it is set too. I got a bit confused by the focus point briefly lighting up when i half press the shutter button. Back button focus does work, it just me that got a bit confused. Guess i need to stop half pressing and go straight for the full press.
 

nikonbill

Senior Member
Contributor
TMG1961 - Try switching off A5 - (Note - this will stop the focus point when you do use the back button also, so it may be hard to focus if you use single point) I believe BeegRhob nailed it, I think it is the exposure meter triggering it and its just showing where the "focus" point is in regard to the frame. Even more possibly confusing if you "recompose" (one reason to use BBF) and do a half press for exposure the light will not be on the "original" (when you first hit the back button to focus) point at all.

I have gotten used to it, I think you can as well once you know whats going on. I only worry where the box is when I "am" focusing using the back button, I ignore it any other time.

Give yourself a while to get used to back button focus, it has taken quite a while for me to "stay" with it. For me I needed to have some other settings a certain way to have maximum success with BBF.

All the best
 

TMG1961

New member
nikonbill - Thank you. I have turned off A5. i still the focus point square, but it doesn't lite up anymore. In daylight the square is visible enough, and when shooting when it is darker i can always turn it back on. Still busy finding out all the options available on the camera, it is a big step up from a fz1000. Only thing i miss is the silent shutter. When i took my first photo with the d7200 i was shocked how loud it was, used to the silent shutter of the fz1000.
 

nikonbill

Senior Member
Contributor
TMG1961 - So glad that helped - enjoy your D7200, and as you are doing set it up the way you like it. I have had mine for over a year and still learn/change items as I learn more. I have been setting up the quick menu (at the bottom) for settings I change/turn on or off frequently. Great forum here with lots of helping hands when you need it!
 

elee950021

New member
TMG1961:

I was also going to send you this link about "Back Button Focus" from Steve Perry, a landscape and wildlife photographer who also belongs to another forum that I follow. Cindy beat me to it! He also offers a free 32 page ebook on the subject:
https://backcountrygallery.com/1/BBAF-Book.pdf

Be well!

Ed
 
Top