TrishV Loc: Now living on Whidbey Island, WA

I too had a problem with the Z6 in the beginning and was told to do a factory reset and it fixed the problem immediately - so have you tried a factory reset? Good luck.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

It's all perfectly clear to me now! I think I'll finally read my Z7 manual today.

Bill_de Loc: US

If you uncheck Auto Area in A8 it will not show up if you use the front command dial to scroll through the options. It is still available if you use the i button and select from the rear screen.

Out shooting today I confirmed that in AUTO AREA the focus point moves on its own.
It actually makes sense that the focus point would move in the mode. It automatically selects the area. Probably good for birds in flight against a nice blue sky.

--

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

It's not a bug.

The box turning green is "focus confirmation" (along with an audible "beep" if you have that enabled). Confirmation is only possible in AF-S mode where once focus is achieved it stops and locks.

In continuous focus mode AF-C there's nothing to confirm because the focus doesn't stop. It "continues" to update and reset itself to the subject distance as long as you continue pressing the button. This is so the focus can track moving subjects. AF-S is for stationary subjects. AF-C if for moving ones. If you use Back Button Focusing you can more easily use AF-C for everything and be ready if a stationary subject suddenly starts moving, without need to stop and make any changes to camera settings. But you won't have focus confirmation while the camera is in AF-C mode and will just have to become accustomed to that.

Some cameras also have other visual confirmation of focus... but only in single shot/stationary subject focus mode. If you need confirmation for some reason, you'll have to use that mode. But one nice thing is that confirmation also works well with manual focus lenses.

BTW: Canon are the same way with their AI Servo continuous/moving subject mode versus their One Shot single shot/stationary subject focus mode. Focus confirmation works in One Shot, but not in AI Servo. Initially I turned off the "beep".... but later I turned it back on because it reminds me if I'm shooting moving subjects (which I do a lot) and have the wrong focus mode set. Shooting sporting events I hear other peoples' cameras "beeping" all the time... and can pretty much guarantee that many of their shots will miss focus.... and they'll blame the camera for it.

None of this helps with the selected AF point (red box) moving around, though. I really don't know why that's happening in this case. However, I do see similar at times with my Canon cameras.... Pretty sure it's only because I bump the "joystick" while shooting or carrying the camera. I often shoot with two cameras, switching back and forth between them quickly, so one is at my side and various settings get bumped from time to time. I've set my joystick to work the way Steve suggested, so that pressing it re-centers the AF point instantly. And I just keep an eye on where the AF point is and correct it when needed. I always have to "put" that AF point right the subject, where I want the camera and lens to focus anyway, so this is no problem. I suspect as you become more comfortable and familiar with the camera, this will be less of a problem for you too.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

I'll can confirm Auto Area AF can be useful with birds against a blue sky Really helpful for the quicker more erratic birds.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Focus might be a problem after a few of those umbrella drinks, no matter how good the focus system!!

IDguy Loc: Idaho

[quote=amfoto1]It's not a bug.

The box turning green is "focus confirmation" (along with an audible "beep" if you have that enabled). Confirmation is only possible in AF-S mode where once focus is achieved it stops and locks.

In continuous focus mode AF-C there's nothing to confirm because the focus doesn't stop. It "continues" to update and reset itself to the subject distance as long as you continue pressing the button. This is so the focus can track moving subjects. AF-S is for stationary subjects. AF-C if for moving ones. If you use Back Button Focusing you can more easily use AF-C for everything and be ready if a stationary subject suddenly starts moving, without need to stop and make any changes to camera settings. But you won't have focus confirmation while the camera is in AF-C mode and will just have to become accustomed to that.

Some cameras also have other visual confirmation of focus... but only in single shot/stationary subject focus mode. If you need confirmation for some reason, you'll have to use that mode. But one nice thing is that confirmation also works well with manual focus lenses.

BTW: Canon are the same way with their AI Servo continuous/moving subject mode versus their One Shot single shot/stationary subject focus mode. Focus confirmation works in One Shot, but not in AI Servo. Initially I turned off the "beep".... but later I turned it back on because it reminds me if I'm shooting moving subjects (which I do a lot) and have the wrong focus mode set. Shooting sporting events I hear other peoples' cameras "beeping" all the time... and can pretty much guarantee that many of their shots will miss focus.... and they'll blame the camera for it.

None of this helps with the selected AF point (red box) moving around, though. I really don't know why that's happening in this case. However, I do see similar at times with my Canon cameras.... Pretty sure it's only because I bump the "joystick" while shooting or carrying the camera. I often shoot with two cameras, switching back and forth between them quickly, so one is at my side and various settings get bumped from time to time. I've set my joystick to work the way Steve suggested, so that pressing it re-centers the AF point instantly. And I just keep an eye on where the AF point is and correct it when needed. I always have to "put" that AF point right the subject, where I want the camera and lens to focus anyway, so this is no problem. I suspect as you become more comfortable and familiar with the camera, this will be less of a problem for you too.[/]

Well the missing green dot lights in AF-C on my D5600.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

Yup! Had mine out the other day at a surf spot, just playing around and hooked it to my 200-400 f4 and it was a cartoon! LOL, got some nice shots but proved to myself that I'll never use it for serious sports...it's more of a walk-around, but I *like* it the more I get used to it. I'm a back button focus guy, so with all that activity with my thumb I jog the joystick and have to re-center...and *that's* getting better as my thumb learns where it has to go. All in all, no complaints and it will definitely do what I bought it for: shoot silently, in full frame, and take dynamite video...

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Mine was checked. I unchecked it and time will tell if it tamed the wandering focus box.

Bill_de Loc: US

Also confirm that you don't have Auto Area selected in the i menu. That's where you will still see and be able to select any the focusing modes.

--

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Will do. Thanks.