Tiny Tim Loc: Forest of the Pacific Northwest

I came out of the dark ages of film photography with a good practical background & a degree in photo tech. I wanted to get back into photography, so I bought a D7100 with the 18-105 kit lens. That was all I could not really afford at the time, so it's the only lens I've got. I think I'll be happy with it if I can figure out the autofocus issue I'm having. I have my AF on my back button, altho it happens on the shutter button as well.

"Back in the day" all I had to do to focus, was aim at my subject and use the manual ring until it was in focus. Easy. Now, it doesn't seem like the camera has a clue of what the subject is, shows numerous rectangles in the viewfinder until it settles on one. Going thru the same motions with the same subject can get a different number of rectangles and the single rectangle always settles in a different spot. And never on the subject matter. Maybe close, but usually several inches off. Sometimes you can hear the AF motor working and when it stops, there's nothing but blur.

To get your subject in focus, how do you tell the camera what the subject is so it can autofocus on it? So who has the adjustment problem: the lens or me? Somebody, HELP!!

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Go to Menu/Custom Setting Menu... then look under "a"....

What do you have the autofocus set at?

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is the camera. You have the camera using multiple focus points and in some instances the camera will hunt for focus. The best way to control the jumping focus is to set the camera for single point focus. I am not sure how it works with the D7100. On the D90 you go to menu item A in the custom settings menu click ok then choose either single point, dynamic area or 3d tracking. Single point is the one to choose. Then on the back of the camera you move the focus selector lock switch to the dot and you can use the little round wheel around the ok button to choose which of the focus points you want to use. I am sure it is similar on the D7100.

Tiny Tim Loc: Forest of the Pacific Northwest

a1 AF-C priority selection: focus
a2 AF-S priority selection: focus

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

OK Now go down to a6. If you select 51 point, you will cover a larger area for AF. Bt selecting "focus" above your shutter will only release when focus has been attained....

Good luck!

photon56 Loc: North America

Like jethro779 said, you want to set your AF to single focus. This will only focus where the square box in the viewfinder pointed. It would be good to experiment with all the AF settings to see how they behave. You now know how the auto AF setting behaves.

Tiny Tim Loc: Forest of the Pacific Northwest

Seems like its me and not the camera. The camera doesn't seem to be "broken," but rather that there are so many buttons, dials, menus and choices to learn, that I haven't done my job in understanding, learning, and memorizing them. :shock: This ain't like my old SLR! :roll: :(

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

You can always use manual focus. There is a switch on the left side of the camera near where the lens attaches. Switch to "M" and you have turned off AF. You can also leave it on AF and use the manual switch on the lense. It's on the left side of the lens. Move it to "M" (the setting closer to the camera body) and you are good to go.

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

Of course it is not like the old slr's it's cheaper on film.... :lol: :lol:

Seriously, You need to get David Busch's Nikon D7100 guide to Digital SLR Photography or his Compact Field guide to the Nikon D7100. I have his books for the D 80, D90, & D3000 and find them all useful.

Tiny Tim Loc: Forest of the Pacific Northwest

Sentence #1: Did that.
Sentence #2: That's a relief!
Sentence #3: Good idea.
Sentence #4: Maybe. It's still needs to all sink in. :shock: :-D
Thanks for responding.

Tiny Tim Loc: Forest of the Pacific Northwest

I've got Darrell Young's book "Mastering the Nikon D7100," which I really like, but obviously, I haven't read the whole book. :-D Thanks for responding.

Tiny Tim Loc: Forest of the Pacific Northwest

Gonna have to try that too. Thanks for responding. I'm finally getting my nerves back together over this. :lol:

Coyote9269 Loc: USA

I will not give the redundant good advice that was already given. I will add that you can either book mark or download the manual from Nikon onto your phone. There are other sights also. It works well in the field as a quick cheat until you get home and back to the book.

https://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/18247/~/users-manual---nikon-d7100

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d7100.htm

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Once you get the hang of the D7100, you will love what you can do with it. I have Daryl Young's books on both the D300 & D7100. I really like his format.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Mark, if you are making the jump from the old days of completely manual cameras to the ever evolving world of digital photography I can commiserate with you. Everything you know about exposure and composition will still be valid but the abundance of controls that the new cameras have can be perplexing, to say the least. You have had some good suggestions about using single point focus and finding an aftermarket manual about your camera model. The camera manual that the manufacturer gives you tells you what each button does, the aftermarket book tells you the why, how and when part of it.

One thing I would suggest is that you choose to use either back button autofocus or shutter button AF and not have both active at the same time. If you use the BBF to tell the camera what you want to focus on, reframe and then press the shutter button the lens will refocus on whatever is covered by the focus point.

The more you know about the autofocus and exposure systems of you new camera the better off you will be. Coming from a totally manual system you will need time to learn what you can safely allow the camera to make decisions about and what you need to control yourself. Relax and have fun!