Can I disable joy stick so it cannot move focus point on Z6ii: Went to the zoo today and every time I went to take a picture with back button focus my thumb would touch the joy stick...

grandpaw

Went to the zoo today and every time I went to take a picture with back button focus my thumb would touch the joy stick and move my focus point. Is there a way to just turn off the joy stick so it cannot change my focus point.I know I can press the center of the joy stick and make it go to center but I do not like that option. I should not have to do that every time I take a photo. I may want it to stay in a location other than the center.

ricardo00

I would love to do that to (on a Z9) but not sure there is anyway one can? Nikon removed the L switch that is on DSLRs. Hope someone can tell us.

Bill_de Loc: US

grandpaw wrote:

Went to the zoo today and every time I went to take a picture with back button focus my thumb would touch the joy stick and move my focus point. Is there a way to just turn off the joy stick so it cannot change my focus point.I know I can press the center of the joy stick and make it go to center but I do not like that option. I should not have to do that every time I take a photo. I may want it to stay in a location other than the center.

I searched a little on Google. There were others complaining about the same thing. I found no solutions.

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grandpaw

Bill_de wrote:

I searched a little on Google. There were others complaining about the same thing. I found no solutions.

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Me either. This seems like it would be a simple software item that could be assigned to a button. I have just about had it with this camera and the focus point moving. This is a basic function that has been on every other Digital Nikon I have owned and should be there. I never know where the focus point will be when I go to take a photo.

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

grandpaw wrote:

Went to the zoo today and every time I went to take a picture with back button focus my thumb would touch the joy stick and move my focus point. Is there a way to just turn off the joy stick so it cannot change my focus point.I know I can press the center of the joy stick and make it go to center but I do not like that option. I should not have to do that every time I take a photo. I may want it to stay in a location other than the center.

Don't have the camera, but from the manual the focus point will not change if you are using Auto Area AF...would that help?

User ID

flip1948 wrote:

Don't have the camera, but from the manual the focus point will not change if you are using Auto Area AF...would that help?

Just now tried that. There is NO focus point at all so acoarst there can be no accidental shifting of whats not there. Auto Area is apparently a PhD feature.

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

User ID wrote:

Just now tried that. There is NO focus point at all, so acoarst there can be no accidental shifting of whatz not there.

I guess that makes sense since that mode is a subject detect mode. If that mode is accurate enough it might solve the OP's problem.

Of course not using BBF would also solve it.

ricardo00

Bill_de wrote:

I searched a little on Google. There were others complaining about the same thing. I found no solutions.

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Thanks for looking!

Bill_de Loc: US

grandpaw wrote:

Went to the zoo today and every time I went to take a picture with back button focus my thumb would touch the joy stick and move my focus point. Is there a way to just turn off the joy stick so it cannot change my focus point.I know I can press the center of the joy stick and make it go to center but I do not like that option. I should not have to do that every time I take a photo. I may want it to stay in a location other than the center.

I was just looking at my Z6. Could you get used to using the Fn1 or Fn2 buttons as your AF-ON?

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User ID

flip1948 wrote:

I guess that makes sense since that mode is a subject detect mode. If that mode is accurate enough it might solve the OP's problem.

Of course not using BBF would also solve it.

The *front* side of the Z faciltates FBF, which puts large a barrier between the focus button and the offending joy stick. Ive assigned focus-on to the Fn1 button.

You cant disable the dedicated AF-On button but you can break the habit of using it so your thumb isnt bobbing around near the joy stick.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

grandpaw wrote:

Went to the zoo today and every time I went to take a picture with back button focus my thumb would touch the joy stick and move my focus point. Is there a way to just turn off the joy stick so it cannot change my focus point.I know I can press the center of the joy stick and make it go to center but I do not like that option. I should not have to do that every time I take a photo. I may want it to stay in a location other than the center.

I would love to do just that on my Sony a9. On my D500 and D850 I can lock it with a lever on the back of the camera.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

flip1948 wrote:

I guess that makes sense since that mode is a subject detect mode. If that mode is accurate enough it might solve the OP's problem.

Of course not using BBF would also solve it.

Or not having such a clumsy thumb. Just saying…

Larryshuman

There is a disable function in the controls section of your menus. I had use of a Z6 in early spring and had this problem. You could call Nikon at 1-800-645-6689 or Norman Camera at 1-800 900-6676.

doclrb

flip1948 wrote:

I guess that makes sense since that mode is a subject detect mode. If that mode is accurate enough it might solve the OP's problem.

Of course not using BBF would also solve it.

Or of course, learning how to operate the camera, rather than to blame it for the OP’s operator error.

doclrb

grandpaw

For those members that replied with helpful suggestions, I would like to thank you and appreciate your efforts. I have had and do have several Nikon cameras and they all have a way to lock the focus button so why doesn't the latest and greatest have this simple and useful option? Seems like a no brainer to me. I like and use BBF on all of my cameras but whether I do or not, when I just pick up my camera the natural location for my thumb to land is where the BBF button and joystick are and touching the joystick moves the focus point. As for those that offered HELPFUL suggestions I would like to thank you again.