Nikon Z8 won’t autofocus (Page 2): Indeed! There are lots of knobs on modern cameras.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

jerryc41 wrote:

Too many buttons!

Indeed! There are lots of knobs on modern cameras.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

tcthome wrote:

For the first time in 8 years, I actually hit the tab on the Multi Selector that locks AF & couldn't do anything a couple /few weeks ago. Took about 10-15 minutes before got it figured out.

There is a tab on the multi selector that locks auto focus?? I better take a look at that so I know where it is!!

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

JD750 wrote:

Odd it WAS working.

I pulled it out of the drawer and swapped lenses before turning it on. Would not autofocus. Toggle M/AF switch on lens. Still won’t autofocus. Power cycled, no good. Swapped back to 24-200mm and it still won’t autofocus.
Checked menu:
A6 AF Activation is set to AF-ON only

But pressing the AF-ON button does not activate the focus system.

Anyone had this problem or have any suggestions?

Just to ask, did you check the focal point. I found on my Z9 that I bump the focal ring to move the focal center and it won’t focus jntil I recenter it.
I find this to be the biggest issue with the Z9.

BebuLamar

JD750 wrote:

Indeed! There are lots of knobs on modern cameras.

Still it's not enough! You still have to go into the menu for lots of things.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

BebuLamar wrote:

Still it's not enough! You still have to go into the menu for lots of things.

I was writing metaphorically, when I said “knobs” I meant there are lots of options including the menu items, not necessarily physical knobs. A menu item can be thought of as a software knob.

Anyway whatever you call them there are lots of them!

JD750 Loc: SoCal

coolhanduke wrote:

Just to ask, did you check the focal point. I found on my Z9 that I bump the focal ring to move the focal center and it won’t focus jntil I recenter it.
I find this to be the biggest issue with the Z9.

I did try recentering the focus point (the red square). But that did not resolve the not-focusing problem.

If you bump the Focal ring to slightly change focus it won’t subsequently auto focus? I have not noticed that behavior and boy does that does sound annoying. What the heck? I wonder if there is a setting somewhere that controls that behavior?

FYI my won’t-auto focus issue was resolved on page 1 by Orphoto.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

JD750 wrote:

I did try recentering the focus point (the red square). But that did not resolve the not-focusing problem.

If you bump the Focal ring to slightly change focus it won’t subsequently auto focus? I have not noticed that behavior and boy does that does sound annoying. What the heck? I wonder if there is a setting somewhere that controls that behavior?

FYI my won’t-auto focus issue was resolved on page 1 by Orphoto.

Very annoying!! I find that often I need to recenter the focal point.
I have asked many and no, there is no way to override this. At best, you can reprogram which button you want to use to recenter the focal point.
I don’t know why they did not put a lock on it.

photoman43

JD750 wrote:

Odd it WAS working.

I pulled it out of the drawer and swapped lenses before turning it on. Would not autofocus. Toggle M/AF switch on lens. Still won’t autofocus. Power cycled, no good. Swapped back to 24-200mm and it still won’t autofocus.
Checked menu:
A6 AF Activation is set to AF-ON only

But pressing the AF-ON button does not activate the focus system.

Anyone had this problem or have any suggestions?

The problem may be related to the lens on the camera. Make sure that the focus limiter switch on the lens is NOT set to a range you are not using. Select Full range. I have discovered on my Z9 that the limit switch on a lens often gets moved to a setting that effectively disables AF. If you are using a lens that has a Control ring, make sure the setting for it is not causing AF problem. I have disabled my Control ring settings on my Z mount 100-400mm S lens.

fantom Loc: Colorado

JD750 wrote:

I did try recentering the focus point (the red square). But that did not resolve the not-focusing problem.

If you bump the Focal ring to slightly change focus it won’t subsequently auto focus? I have not noticed that behavior and boy does that does sound annoying. What the heck? I wonder if there is a setting somewhere that controls that behavior?

FYI my won’t-auto focus issue was resolved on page 1 by Orphoto.

I sometimes accidentally nudge the focus ring and the camera goes to manual focus. I merely press the AF button and it goes right back to AF. I use BBF if that is of any help for you.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

perhaps....if future posters compelled to answer....read the thread first

b top gun

I have disabled the touch screen option on both my D850 and Z8!!!

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

JD750 wrote:

Odd it WAS working.

I pulled it out of the drawer and swapped lenses before turning it on. Would not autofocus. Toggle M/AF switch on lens. Still won’t autofocus. Power cycled, no good. Swapped back to 24-200mm and it still won’t autofocus.
Checked menu:
A6 AF Activation is set to AF-ON only

But pressing the AF-ON button does not activate the focus system.

Anyone had this problem or have any suggestions?

Besides re-seating the lens you may have dirty contacts. Clean them with a clean art gum eraser and carefully blow off any residue so as not to have it drop into the camera body.

User ID

BobHartung wrote:

Besides re-seating the lens you may have dirty contacts. Clean them with a clean art gum eraser and carefully blow off any residue so as not to have it drop into the camera body.

Or .... just read the thread, where you will find the real solution !

But credit where credit is due, congratulations for NOT even mentioning "two button reset". Good on you !

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

User ID wrote:

Or .... just read the thread, where you will find the real solution !

But credit where credit is due, congratulations for NOT even mentioning "two button reset". Good on you !

I find that following a thread on UHH is like a blind man trying to find the light. Too many dead ends and misdirections let alone completely off topic comments.

User ID

BobHartung wrote:

I find that following a thread on UHH is like a blind man trying to find the light. Too many dead ends and misdirections let alone completely off topic comments.

Thaz understandable. But some of that clutter comes from so many folks doing what you just did. Seems like a "lose-lose" bargain however you slice it :-(