kcj Loc: Seneca SC

A friend has a Nikon D3000 I haven’t had a chance to check out the camera or the lens because I will get the battery today or tomorrow What should I look at she says it is not auto focusing. besides seeing if its on auto focusing, the menu, and also checking out the lens which is a Nikon. Thank

odujim Loc: New Jersey

Was she using a lens that does not have a built-in autofocus motor? Since the D5000 does not have a built-in focus motor, it would need such lenses (Nikkor AF-S, AF-P type, for example) in order for autofocus to work.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

make sure BBF isn't engaged if this model can do that. I know the D50xx series can do BBF.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I'd start by taking it outside during daytime and seeing what happens. And...what lens is she using? Several of the lower cost lenses from the time of this camera (2009) had a reputation for failing autofocus. Focus on the lenses first. And yes...the D3000 requires lenses with built-in motors. Also...this camera won't work with the new E and P lenses.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

If by BBF you mean back button focus, the Nikons lower on the food chain don’t have that feature.

Sometimes it helps to actually spell things out. It wasn’t until a few years back that I even knew there was such a feature. It wasn’t until I got my D800 that I ever had the chance to use one.

For example, I can tell you that to set up a dumpy (level) you add the BS to the TBM to get the HI and subtract the FS from the HI to get the ELV. Confusing?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Ignore the BBF red herring. The issue for AF on this entry-level camera is either A, a broken entry-level lens; or B, a misplaced MF switch on the lens; or C, a non AF-S lens on this camera. For example, even a newer AF-P lens won't work on this camera, nor will an older non AF-S lenses.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

[quote=bikinkawboy]If by BBF you mean back button focus, the Nikons lower on the food chain don’t have that feature.
With the help from this forum, I programmed my D5300 for back button focus. But no "red fish" in evidence:)

rcarol

My D3200 does have BBF.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

D40, D50, D80, D5100 and D7000 don’t.

srt101fan

I don't think any of the cameras "have" back-button focus. You have to reassign button functions to get it. So the real question is, which cameras allow the reassignment from shutter release button focusing to back-button focusing..

Tony Groenink

hi my d5100 does have BBF

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

I did it on my D5300

delder Loc: Maryland

My Experience EXACTLY with my D3100! Especially with the 18-55 Nikkor Kit Lens it came with.
It will [Especially for Distance/Sky Shots] go into an A/F "Funk" & have to shift to Manual Focus.

After a while, the A/F comes back to life. I have tried checking the contacts,fresh batteries, etc. but issue remains.

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

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Back button focus can be and is used by people on the lower end cameras by reassigning the AE-L/AF-L button on the back to function as an Autofocus button, removing the function from the shutter release button.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

Well, my D5100 and D7000 do have back button focus (the AE-L AF-L button)! I had to google it to find it. I’ve been through the 5100 manual multiple times and nowhere does say anything about disengaging the shutter button and engaging AE L-AF L button. It mentions focusing with the shutter and depressing the button to keep the camera from refocusing but that’s all. I’ve read enough shop manuals to know how to read one but Nikon really screwed up there. Otherwise it wouldn’t have taken going on 14 years before finding that was a feature.

The D7000 manual isn’t much better. It does say pressing the button initiates auto focus and disengages the shutter button but that’s it. The cryptic 15 word, two sentence explanation doesn’t really explain things very well. Like telling a student driver to step on the gas pedal to go and the brake to stop. We all know there’s far more to it than that.

And getting the 7000 to do that is more detailed and confusing than on the 5100. You don’t do it with just one menu item change but you must change two. Otherwise you have it stuck on back button focus like I did and you can’t disengage it.

The back button on the 5100 is very difficult for me to use, probably because of my large hands. Easier on the 7000 but you better plan far ahead if you think you want to use one or the other setting. You’d miss everything while you fumbled through the menu. I do find the back button on the D800 more comfortable to use than either of the above cameras and the menu far easier to use. I doubt I will ever use the back button on the 7000 other than to lock the focus before pressing the shutter. Too confusing and time consuming to change on the spot.