Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I understand focusing and focus points. I have a D7200 and generally use a single focus point. Here’s my question, and I haven’t been able to find an anwer to it: I normally shoot in aperture priority or manual, and normally use just a single focus point. However I occasionally use auto for a quick snap of something, and when I do, I see several points in the the rear screena or viewfinder, and they seem to move whenever I move the camera. What’s with that? I never feel assured of the point of focus when I shoot. Can anyone provide and answer?

chase4 Loc: Punta Corona, California

Hey Wingpilot - Check out pages 194-196 of the D7200 owners manual for the default settings under "other settings" for autofocus in the "auto" mode". Looks to me like seen through the viewfinder it's "Auto-area AF" and live view it's "Face-priority AF".
Please take a look at you manual to confirm. chase

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

The manual is a bit hard to interpret, but that may be what it is, but I’m not sure. What confused me is that those point moved around as the camera moved. I suspect in the full auto mode, the camera considers everything. When I use S, A, or M, I can control where the focus point is by using the wheel on the back of the camera, so I know exactly what’s in focus or not. In Auto, I guess I have to just trust the camera. I’m not real comfortable with that in certain situations. I experienced this yesterday while taking a family photo using the camera’s flash. I used auto for convenience. I guess that was a mistake. Anyway, while trying to get focus, the focus points moved around as I moved the camera to compose the photo. I any case, I wasn’t sure what to make of it and decided to query UHH and capitalize on the combined experience and expertise of the good folks here. What it tells me is that auto is for quick snaps when composition and scene settings aren’t as important as capturing a moment. I believe in the future, I will us aperture priority and trust the flash function.

And thanks for your response. As confusing as the manual is, it was at least helpful.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

As chase suggested, you are using Auto Area AF. The camera is using it's "best guess" based on faces, proximity to camera etc.

https://www.everythingd7000.co.uk/autofocus-guide/

It would also help if you more accurately described your camera settings. For instance, what do you mean by "Full Auto" - exposure settings, focus settings, Auto Area AF, Auto ISO, etc - there are a few "Auto" settings, and if you set everything to auto, you'd need to set all parameters to auto, though I am pretty sure that is not what you are talking about.

Also, as far as I know, what you set the exposure mode to - S, A, M and P do not affect the focus points. Setting the focus mode to 3D Tracking will move the focus point with the action on a moving subject, and Auto Area AF will often show you several focus points (P86-94 in the manual).

Leitz Loc: Solms

Another option might be to use the focusing screen for its intended purpose.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

If the full "AUTO" setting in Nikon is anything like it is in Canon cameras (which are what I use and know better)...

That setting is more like "SUPER AUTO".... It not only fully automates exposure (i.e., "Program" mode), it overrides and automates many other settings too, such as autofocus point selection (all points/auto), autofocus method (probably an auto mode where the camera is supposed to detect whether or not the subject is moving and use the correct mode), the type of files that are saved (probably JPEGs only) and might even force the flash to work in certain situations. It's basically a "Point n shoot" mode copied from more basic, non-interchangeable lens, compact digital cameras.

If all you're trying to achieve is full auto exposure, just use Program mode instead. That will leave your other selections intact and working as you expected.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

My camera was set to auto mode, which leaves me with little else to set. The camera automatically selects the focus mode for the scene it "sees." It was set at AF-C & auto. I don't recall setting the camera to those settings as I normally have it set to AF-S & S because I rarely shoot anything moving. It was not set to 3-D tracking, and my light meter was set to matrix. As I understand it, when the full auto mode is selected, as opposed to, say aperture priority, ISO, white balance, aperture and shutter are all controlled by the camera, even the focus settings. My question was, when I pressed the BBF button, instead of a single focus point showing, as when in aperture priority, several focus points appeared, making me wonder exactly where the camera was focusing, as all the faces were basically on the same plane. I wonder if, in fact, the camera automatically select face recognition and that was what I was seeing.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I think they work the same in both brands. In this instance I was just getting a quick family photo for Thanksgiving to send on to our 2 grandsons, so all I wanted was to use auto for convenience sake. I just happened to notice the multiple focus points appear and wondered what was going on. I think I have a better idea, now.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I gather you're referring to manual focus rather than AF. Thanks to eyes that need glasses, I depend on AF more than I do manually focusing. If they would see fit to have a split image focusing screen like in the old SLR cameras, that would make manual focusing much easier for these old eyes.

HarryBinNC Loc: Blue Ridge Mtns, No.Carolina, USA

DSLRs do not have focusing screens - that is a problem for a lot of people with impaired vision, and it is the main reason I started using mirrorless cameras almost exclusively years ago. And now, with the excellent EVFs and accompanying superb image quality in the high-end mirrorless cameras, I don't understand why anyone who is serious about their photography still insists that DSLRs are the only way to go.

HarryB

Leitz Loc: Solms

You're quite the jokester, Harry.

Leitz Loc: Solms

No, I'm not referring to manual focus, but you do need to see the focusing screen clearly to know what is and what isn't in focus.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I guess I forgot to add that I was in Liveview mode, so I could see what was in focus without having to peer through the OVF.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's why I like the single point method. Cameras generally focus on the thing that is closest to it, which is not usually what you want.

I recommend this book. It's an eBook written by one of our members.

https://backcountrygallery.com/secrets-nikon-autofocus-system/

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Search YouTube for Steve Perry, he is a member here. Steve is a Nikon focusing expert who can make focusing a Nikon very clear. He has a large book that is extremely well written and is a nice guy on top of all that. Have fun.