DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Is it better to leave the AUTOFOCUS shutter setting of AFC priority selection in release or focus?

I seem to have more keepers in Focus than in Release mode,but it could be me. No difference noted on tripod use.

Thoughts?

Nikon D7100/80-400 trials.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

focus. that means that if you do not have focus established, the camera will not allow the shutter to release. when in release, you may release the shutter if the photo is not in focus.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I understand that,but theoretically,at least,BBF uses AFC,continuous focus mode,and you should always be in focus....

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

not on any nikon i own

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Would you care to be more specific?

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

correct

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

it should always be searching for focus if the bbf is being held down, but not necessarily always in focus.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Yes,that's correct but does not answer my query. The BBF settings I use are the commonly used settings that include AFC focus mode,AE-L/AF-L but assigned to AF-ON,and autofocus mode to release.

So if you're holding the AE-L button in,continuous focus should be achieved.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

When setting for BBF - it is like AFC is always on because you press the BBF button to operate focus.... the release mode for the shutter is a different setting - if you set release mode to focus, then focus must be made for the shutter to release, if you set the mode for release, then the shutter can be tripped at any point, focused or not.

Setting the shutter release for release priority is like being on manual focus - the camera and shutter do not care if the image is in focus or not.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

That must be the big difference,searching and not necessarily achieving....

I guess it makes for a little faster shooting,but less keepers.

Thank you, Orrie.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Thank you. I realized that, but wrongly assumed I'd always be in focus.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

once again, afc will cause the camera/lens to continuously search for focus, it will not hold focus once it is acquired. to hold focus once it is acquired, you need to release the button you have assigned to back button focus. as an example, if you have gained focus on a bird in flight and continue to hold down the bbf button and the bird flies behind a branch, the camera will try to focus on the branch while the bird is behind it, then will try to focus on the bird once it has passed the branch. if you had released the bbf button, the last point of focus would be retained. that could cause the photo to be out of focus if the bird has flown to a point that it is not in focus any longer, but the shutter would release because it would think it is still in focus, as it had acquired focus before you released the bbf button. focus is not acquired instantly, so just because you have obtained focus, and your subject is moving and you need to regain focus, your subject will not remain continuously in focus just because you have not released the focus button. some lenses, such as the tamron 150-600 lens, while it is a great lens, is very slow to obtain focus, so if I am shooting an eagle flying, even though I have obtained focus, my next shot may need to be refocused because of the distance the eagle has flown, so my lens will need to take some time to regain focus, depending on how fast or slow my lens/camera is able to obtain focus.
a little long winded, but I hope this satisfies your concerns.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

:) I wish I could assume I would always be in focus too! :)

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

I do assume that, but I cannot get my camera to agree, it usually shows me what a fool I am.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Ah yes, I am in that club too! :)