catterar Loc: Angier, NC

I am using BBF on a Nikon D5300 and the display shuts down after about 5 seconds. What version Firmware do you have in the camera? Current is C 1.03 and L 2.016. To check go to Setup Menu Firmware version. I'm not sure if it will make any difference, but may be worth checking.

jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH

I guess I'm way out of date. I'm still at Ver 1.0. Read the notes which didn't mention my issue, but will update anyway to get current then see if that helps. - Thanks

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Let me make sure I understand the problem....

Your camera is set up to do BBF with continuous focus. This is working, however...

The camera is also set to review each image after it's shot (or the last taken in a series, when shooting on continuous mode). The image review on the rear screen is cancelled (i.e., turned off or "closed") when you half-prss the shutter release button... but it is not cancelled, it remains on the screen when you only press the BBF.

Is all that correct?

Now, I shoot all the time with BBF and have used it for around 15 years or so... but I use Canon gear. I suspect it's pretty much the same on Nikon, though.

Possible solutions....

1. Simply make a point of half-pressing the shutter release.
2. Disable image playback. I've done this on all my cameras for years. It's just a distraction to me for the camera to constantly be displaying images after every shot. It also drains the batteries a lot faster, using the rear LCD monitor draws a lot of power. Instead I manually call up review images every so often by pressing the playback button (and when I'm done checking the image, I use the half-press of the shutter release to clear the screen). In fact, I have a second button on my cameras assigned to also activate image playback, so that I can call up the review with either thumb... This makes makes it quick and easy, regardless which hand I'm holding the camera with or the orientation of the camera. I don't know if that's possible w/Nikon. If you don't want to completely disable image review, most cameras have means of setting the duration of the image review. Maybe you can shorten that. If interested in trying any of these "tricks", you'll have to check your manual to see what's possible with your particular camera. (From their response earlier, it appears srt101fan is doing the same as me... has disabled auto image playback completely... solving the problem.)
3. Something else that may help... not sure about Nikon, but my Canon have several settings for BBF. I use the second one, which leaves all the other functions alone... merely removes the focus start function from the shutter release button half-press.

On my Canon BBF does all the same things as a half-press of the shutter release. It cancels image review, starts metering and starts image stabilization, as well as starting focus. BBF set up on most recent Canon models actually only disables the focus start function from the shutter release half-press. BBF is actually already set up on many current Canon models... all those that have an "AF-On" button. On models that don't have that button, instead the * button (AE-Lock) is assigned to start focus, etc. (This means no AE-Lock button.... but an easy workaround is to simply switch camera to M exposure mode and get virtually the same effect as AE-Lock.)

Hope this helps.

TucsonDave Loc: Tucson, Arizona

I have the same Nikon D5300 and use BBF and had the same issue. That is, I will take a photograph and preview it the view screen on the back. I must clear that view before I can take another photograph. I then turned OFF the "Image Review" in the Playback Menu. I use Aperture priority most of the time but I can now take the next photograph without having to push another button to clear the view screen regardless of which mode I am in.

Hope this helps.

markj51 Loc: Fairfax, VA

I have a D5500. You can change the auto-off timer to reduce the time (down to 4 seconds) that the image remains for "auto-chimping". When I press the AE-L/AF-L that has been set to BBF before the image is cleared by time-out or shutter half-press the image is Protected. I do not see any way to turn this Protect function off. The only good solution I have found is to turn off auto Image Review and use the Review button as needed.

srt101fan

Ouch! Guilty of not updating..... Thanks for the reminder.

jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH

To answer your questions:

When I 1/2 press the shutter release, the image does go away and I can refocus on the next image.
I have the image review set for 4 seconds, but after that time, the image is still on the screen.

I suppose, if there is no solution, I'll either have to abandon BBF or deal with the 1/2 press method. Not sure what I'll do.

jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH

It's an option, so we'll see if someone comes up with a solution or says the D5300 can't do what I want.

Thanks for your reply.

jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH

I'm getting sense that the D5500 had this feature added.

srt101fan

As I said before, I have the same issue with my D5300. But no way am I going to abandon BBF. I turned off auto review. When I want to check the image, I press the playback button, and press it again when I'm done. When compared to the advantages of BBF, I would categorize this approach a minor inconvenience.

jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH

I had several suggestions from Nikon. One was to reset the Custom menu which didn't change anything. The next was to set menu C2 from Normal to Short (supposedly sets the display time to about 4 seconds). That didn't work either. Waiting to hear back from Nikon for next suggestion.

In the meantime, I'd like to ask for help from you UHH members if they would do an test for me. Unfortunately, this needs to be done with a D5300 body to make the test valid.

I'm wondering if the problem is a lens/body compatibility issue. I don't think it is, but need to confirm.

Like I said, I have a D5300 body with a Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary lens which is my one and only lens.

What I'd like to confirm is that if you use a Nikon lens (any lens) using BBF and/or no BBF (camera default setting), how long does it take for the image to turn off based on your choice for menu C2?

Do the same but change to a non-Nikon lens (if you have a Sigma lens, all the better) and let me know if you see any changes in the time the image goes off.

I don't want to mention this to Nikon and have them come back and say the body/lens are not compatible and close my case.

Thanks for your help. So greatly appreciated.

srt101fan

Jayw - My D5300 acts the same way, that is, the auto shutdown of the review image takes about 15-20 secs, regardless of the lens.

I would still suggest you turn off autoplayback and use the playback button and just turn the monitor on and off when you want to "chimp".

jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH

Follow up to my lens issue...

Did all the things Nikon suggested none of which worked.

While a lot of UHH members suggested it might be a lens/body issue, I didn't pay much attention to that. But I started to think maybe they were right. So while I was in Manchester, NH yesterday, I stopped in to Hunt's Photo and Video and spoke to Len. He swapped out my Sigma lens and placed a Nikon lens on the body. It worked as intended. Tried a Tamron and another Sigma lens and they both worked as intended. Len then cleaned the contacts on my lens, put it back on the body snapped a test shot and it failed - image not clearing the review screen and having to press the shutter release button to clear screen and reset the focus function. So I guess it is the lens after all.

Contacted Sigma and they said to return for evaluation which I will do hopefully Monday.

Thanks to all who responded and followed this thread.

jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH

Sigma lens & Nikon D5300 display update...

Never received an answer from Nikon.

So what I did was to take my gear back to Hunt's Photo as at the time I didn't have another lens to try. They tried a Nikon, Tamron and another Sigma lens. The display shut off as programmed (in my case, 4 secs.). Put my Sigma lens (17-70mm Contemporary) back on. Display would not shut off in BBF mode, but would shut off when BBF was disabled. Cleaned the contacts, reset Custom to default and set again to BBF. Still didn't work.

Hunt's told me to send to Sigma as it is still under warranty which I did.

Sigma told me they updated the firmware, cleaned it up and tested or compared to other lens and all checked out. BTW, I just sent the lens back w/o the camera body.

Got the lens back yesterday, placed it back on the body and now I have an additional issue. Not only will the display screen not shut off in BBF mode, but now the display will not shut off when BBF is disabled. Not a happy camper.

To be sure it's not the body, I connected my daughter's Nikon lens and everything works as it's supposed to, so I'm convinced it's the lens that is the problem.

Sent a message to Sigma explaining the current situation and an waiting for an answer on what to do.

Worse case, I'll take my gear to Hunt's for help. They said they would get in touch with their Sigma rep. for help in getting resolution.

Stay tuned for updates.

srt101fan

Thanks for the update, jayw. Are you aware of the other thread started on this same issue?
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-544154-1.html