BACK BUTTON FOCUS: I AM LEARNING THE BACK BUTTON FOCUS ON MY NIKON D90 AND IT IS TAKING SOME TIME BUT I AM STARTING TO LIKE. LAST NIGHT I WAS RECORDING AN EVENT WITH MY GRANDSONS...

PHOTOAL

I AM LEARNING THE BACK BUTTON FOCUS ON MY NIKON D90 AND IT IS TAKING SOME TIME BUT I AM STARTING TO LIKE. LAST NIGHT I WAS RECORDING AN EVENT WITH MY GRANDSONS BIRTHDAY PARTY. IT WAS NEAR DUSK, INCREASED THE ISO TO 400 TO HELP ON THE EXPOSURE, HIT THE BACK FOCUS BUTTON, ZOOMED OUT A LITTLE AND THE SHUTTER WOULDN'T RELEASE. THE BATTERY HAD LOTS OF CHARGE AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING OKAY. SOMETIMES I SHUT THE CAMERA OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN AND IT WORKS BUT LAST NIGHT IT WOULD NOT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE USING THE BACK FOCUS BUTTON AND HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE I STARTED EXPERIMENTING WITH THIS. MIGHT ANYBODY HAVE ANY INSIGHT TO WHAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

PHOTOAL wrote:

... LAST NIGHT I WAS RECORDING AN EVENT ... IT WAS NEAR DUSK, INCREASED THE ISO TO 400 TO HELP ON THE EXPOSURE, HIT THE BACK FOCUS BUTTON, ZOOMED OUT A LITTLE AND THE SHUTTER WOULDN'T RELEASE. ...

Do you have your shutter set to release only when focused?

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

oldtigger wrote:

Do you have your shutter set to release only when focused?

What oldtigger is saying is that there is a setting in the menus that tells the camera not to take the shot if the subject isn't in perfect focus. If the light is less that optimum then your camera may not allow the shutter to release because it's can't achieve a perfect focus. Fool with your settings and then try again. Also, Please don't type messages with CAPS LOCK on. It's hard to read and it's considered shouting in internet circles.

PHOTOAL wrote:

I AM LEARNING THE BACK BUTTON FOCUS ON MY NIKON D9... (show quote)

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

PHOTOAL wrote:

I AM LEARNING THE BACK BUTTON FOCUS ON MY NIKON D9... (show quote)

Hello Photoal
The first thing about posting here is turn off the CAPs key on you keyboard. It indicates that you are shouting. It also makes the post more difficult to read.

As for the focusing not working, there is a setting in the camera that tells the camera not to release the shutter if the camera isn't in focus. In low light conditions, the camera will sometimes not find a really good subject area to focus on, and won't let the shutter release work. This might be what is causing the issue. You can look in your manual under autofocusing, and you will probably find it. It has been a while since I had my D90, so I can't tell you where it is in your menu at the moment. Some others here might be able to.
Good luck.

PHOTOAL

Thank You for the information and sorry about the CAPS. I will assume at this point that the shutter was not releasing due to the lighting conditions. I will keep an eye on that and see if it continues to happen under those circumstances.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Al, first, PLEASE turn of your CAPS!!!
Thanks
Tigger might have it right.
On a Canon the camera won't Fire if it does not achieve focus lock unless the lens is on manual focus.
On Auto mode, I believe not just focus but exposure as well will cause it to it not fire.
Good luck with bbf. ;-)

PhotoshooterNJ Loc: NJ

PHOTOAL wrote:

I AM LEARNING THE BACK BUTTON FOCUS ON MY NIKON D9... (show quote)

If you can multitask shut the caps key off TOO.....

:thumbup:

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

oldtigger wrote:

Do you have your shutter set to release only when focused?

That's one of the first things I change on a new camera. I want it to take a picture when I press the button. I also set it so it can't take a picture without an SD card.

CO

I have a D90 and D7000. The D90 doesn't have the focus and release priority menu selections but the D7000 does have it. With the D90 in single servo mode it will use focus priority and the shutter won't release until proper focus is achieved. With the D90 in continuous servo mode it will use release priority and release the shutter even when not properly focused. With the D7000 you can set those options in the menus.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

SharpShooter wrote:

Al, first, PLEASE turn of your CAPS!!!
Thanks
Tigger might have it right.
On a Canon the camera won't Fire if it does not achieve focus lock unless the lens is on manual focus.
On Auto mode, I believe not just focus but exposure as well will cause it to it not fire.
Good luck with bbf. ;-)

I have never understood why people get so upset about CAPS. I use CAPS sometimes to EMPHASIZE. They don't bother me.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

There's a huge difference between using CAPS sometimes to EMPHASIZE and using all caps all the time. One is considered emphasizing, the other is considered yelling at everyone. Yelling's not necessary unless one is insecure.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Bozsik wrote:

Hello Photoal br The first thing about posting her... (show quote)

I wish my 7d wouldn't shoot when not in focus. That way I woudn't ever have a blurry picture. My delete switch is wearing out.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

russelray wrote:

There's a huge difference between using CAPS sometimes to EMPHASIZE and using all caps all the time. One is considered emphasizing, the other is considered yelling at everyone. Yelling's not necessary unless one is insecure.

Do you ACTUALLY believe that the guy is yelling at you???? He probably forgot he pushed the CAPS LOCK key.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

PHOTOAL wrote:

I AM LEARNING THE BACK BUTTON FOCUS ON MY NIKON D9... (show quote)

If what you are focusing on does not have a distinguishing edge a camera is going to perhaps struggle with it to focus. Just yesterday, at noon my D800E would not focus on plain blue sky at mid-day. (I was just doing some sensor testing). Just find something 1/3 into the frame to focus and hold. Your problem is not uncommon.

PhotoshooterNJ Loc: NJ

foathog wrote:

Do you ACTUALLY believe that the guy is yelling at you???? He probably forgot he pushed the CAPS LOCK key.

No...... Don't think he is ACTUALLY yelling at anyone. So then if he probably forgot to push the cap key. Does that mean he if blind or doesn't look at his monitor while typing. :roll: