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Camera will losses focus using Back Button Focus
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Jan 29, 2018 00:21:02   #
Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)
 
I have a Nikon D7100 that has been setup for BBF.

I've check Steve Perrys book, the internet and a few other sources as to the setup. Checked & Rechecked.
Setup: Camera in on tripod with a static item to shoot. Lighting is OK. Using a remote release to trigger shutter.

I'll compose the picture, use BBF to focus, check exposure and fire off a shot with the remote.
I can take several photos without a problem. Let the camera set idle for 20 sec. press the remote and the camera will loss focus. It does not try to refocus, it losses focus.
Press BBF again and everything works normal until the camera sets idle for a few seconds.

I've tried this with and without the remote trigger. Tried different lenses. Same results.

Is this normal?

I've tried finding the answer on the internet and in books with no luck.


thanks, Ya'll are the best

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Jan 29, 2018 00:31:25   #
jcboy3
 
What type of remote are you using?

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Jan 29, 2018 00:36:44   #
RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA
 
steve DeMott wrote:
I have a Nikon D7100 that has been setup for BBF.

I've check Steve Perrys book, the internet and a few other sources as to the setup. Checked & Rechecked.
Setup: Camera in on tripod with a static item to shoot. Lighting is OK. Using a remote release to trigger shutter.

I'll compose the picture, use BBF to focus, check exposure and fire off a shot with the remote.
I can take several photos without a problem. Let the camera set idle for 20 sec. press the remote and the camera will loss focus. It does not try to refocus, it losses focus.
Press BBF again and everything works normal until the camera sets idle for a few seconds.

I've tried this with and without the remote trigger. Tried different lenses. Same results.

Is this normal?

I've tried finding the answer on the internet and in books with no luck.


thanks, Ya'll are the best
I have a Nikon D7100 that has been setup for BBF. ... (show quote)

Sounds like BBF is cancelled when the meter shuts off. Maybe check your standby timer duration.

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Jan 29, 2018 00:42:36   #
Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.
 
RWR wrote:
Sounds like BBF is cancelled when the meter shuts off. Maybe check your standby timer duration.


That sounds like a logical explanation that is worth testing.

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Jan 29, 2018 00:45:20   #
Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)
 
jcboy3 wrote:
What type of remote are you using?


Vello shutter boss II

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Jan 29, 2018 00:49:06   #
Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)
 
RWR wrote:
Sounds like BBF is cancelled when the meter shuts off. Maybe check your standby timer duration.


Could you be a little more specific as to what meter. Is it a camera or wireless trigger meter.

Also, disconnecting the remote trigger, I get the same results using the shutter button.

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Jan 29, 2018 06:58:30   #
RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA
 
steve DeMott wrote:
Could you be a little more specific as to what meter. Is it a camera or wireless trigger meter.
Also, disconnecting the remote trigger, I get the same results using the shutter button.

I meant the camera’s exposure meter. Now I’m wondering why I tried to answer, as I only use autofocus when tracking a moving subject, using only the shutter release button and have never tried BBF. (The fact that I had just taken a whole Norco with 2 glasses of Glenfiddich may have had something to do with it.) At any rate my interest was piqued, and I just checked my Df user’s manual, which should be similar to your D7100, and see that when “AF-ON only” is selected for the “AF activation” custom setting, the camera should focus when the AF-ON button is pressed, and remain locked until the button is pressed again regardless of how many times the shutter is released. I think the type of release used is immaterial. Let us know if that works. Good luck!

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Jan 29, 2018 07:35:44   #
Jim Bob
 
steve DeMott wrote:
I have a Nikon D7100 that has been setup for BBF.

I've check Steve Perrys book, the internet and a few other sources as to the setup. Checked & Rechecked.
Setup: Camera in on tripod with a static item to shoot. Lighting is OK. Using a remote release to trigger shutter.

I'll compose the picture, use BBF to focus, check exposure and fire off a shot with the remote.
I can take several photos without a problem. Let the camera set idle for 20 sec. press the remote and the camera will loss focus. It does not try to refocus, it losses focus.
Press BBF again and everything works normal until the camera sets idle for a few seconds.

I've tried this with and without the remote trigger. Tried different lenses. Same results.

Is this normal?

I've tried finding the answer on the internet and in books with no luck.


thanks, Ya'll are the best
I have a Nikon D7100 that has been setup for BBF. ... (show quote)


Check Steve's book again. If memory serves, he made a specific reference to this issue, i.e., remote release and BBF. See page 87.

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Jan 29, 2018 09:39:20   #
Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)
 
Jim Bob wrote:
Check Steve's book again. If memory serves, he made a specific reference to this issue, i.e., remote release and BBF. See page 87.


Thanks Jim. You are right about mentioning cable release on pg. 87.

(quote) So, if you have Shutter Release AF enabled, the cable release will focus with a half-press. If you have BBAF setup, then the half-press will activate the meter and such, BUT IT WON'T FOCUS - you'll have to do that with the Back Button. (end quote)

He also mentions the AE-L on pg. 69, but I see no correlation with the camera losing focus.

I also mentioned that I get the same results without the cable release.

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Jan 29, 2018 09:45:57   #
Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)
 
RWR wrote:
I meant the camera’s exposure meter. Now I’m wondering why I tried to answer, as I only use autofocus when tracking a moving subject, using only the shutter release button and have never tried BBF. (The fact that I had just taken a whole Norco with 2 glasses of Glenfiddich may have had something to do with it.) At any rate my interest was piqued, and I just checked my Df user’s manual, which should be similar to your D7100, and see that when “AF-ON only” is selected for the “AF activation” custom setting, the camera should focus when the AF-ON button is pressed, and remain locked until the button is pressed again regardless of how many times the shutter is released. I think the type of release used is immaterial. Let us know if that works. Good luck!
I meant the camera’s exposure meter. Now I’m wonde... (show quote)


You are 100% correct about how the AF-L (AF-ON) works. I check the Shutter release "meter" or when it goes into standby. This shouldn't effect the system at all, but I couldn't find that it would not.

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Jan 29, 2018 09:50:16   #
RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA
 
steve DeMott wrote:
You are 100% correct about how the AF-L (AF-ON) works. I check the Shutter release "meter" or when it goes into standby. This shouldn't effect the system at all, but I couldn't find that it would not.

I believe I was all wet when I mentioned the exposure meter-on time. What happens when you select “AF-ON only” for the AF activation custom setting?

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Jan 29, 2018 09:58:42   #
Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)
 
RWR wrote:
I believe I was all wet when I mentioned the exposure meter-on time. What happens when you select “AF-ON only” for the AF activation custom setting?


The 7100 does not have a AF-ON button. Has a AE-L/AF-L button next to the command wheel that was reassigned for BBF.

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Jan 29, 2018 10:36:24   #
RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA
 
steve DeMott wrote:
The 7100 does not have a AF-ON button. Has a AE-L/AF-L button next to the command wheel that was reassigned for BBF.

Well, I said I wondered why I tried to answer! Someone here is bound to know, and I’ll just read and keep out of it.

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Jan 29, 2018 10:48:35   #
Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)
 
RWR wrote:
Well, I said I wondered why I tried to answer! Someone here is bound to know, and I’ll just read and keep out of it.

Thanks for helping. I'll keep you posted if I find out anything.

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Jan 29, 2018 11:46:32   #
Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)
 
I have discovered that it has nothing to do with BBF. When the viewfinder display shuts off you can press the shutter, Exposure Comp, or other buttons to re-display the veiwfinder display. This also triggers a small movement in the auto focus system.
Still trying to find out why. Back to more testing.

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