jkm757 Loc: San Diego, Ca.

I'm trying to set the shutter to only release when the subject is in focus. According to page 292 of the users manual this is done by selecting "Focus" in A1 of the custom settings menu. I selected "Focus" but the shutter will still release when the subject is out of focus.

My second problem is getting the focus point to show in image playback. Currently the focus point is not shown during image playback and the manual isn't much help.

Any help will be appreciated.

Edit: Went back through the manual and found how to show the focus point.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I'm a Canon guys so I can't help. Sorry. But may I suggest that you sit down on your couch and slowly look through all your menu settings. This is the best way to familiarize yourself with the settings. Sometimes I forget how to change something and it's really a bitch when you are out in the field and have to try and find out how to change something.

Personally, I don't like it when the camera won't fire because the subject isn't in focus. It always makes me feel that something is wrong with the camera. Good luck getting it to fire at all in low light conditions.

MtnMan Loc: ID

I think it is under "Release priority". It is a2 on a D800.

jkm757 Loc: San Diego, Ca.

Thanks jeep_daddy. The first thing I did when I got home with the camera was to sit down and read through the manual and set up the camera to my liking. Unfortunately camera user manuals are not always the easiest to interpret.

jkm757 Loc: San Diego, Ca.

Thanks MtnMan. After more digging I found it under a8 "AF activation".

Both problems are now solved

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Don't delay. Many Hoggs got this and have made positive remarks. Also check other free videos on Steve's site, some really good stuff!

http://backcountrygallery.com/secrets-nikon-autofocus-system/

jkm757 Loc: San Diego, Ca.

Thanks for the link, Dave. I picked up a copy. Now I'll be spending the rest of the afternoon reading it.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I think I went through through the first 130 pages or so and "rested' and re-read certain portions before proceeding. I still use it for reference. Check out some of the other links on the site as well. No, I am not a paid advocate! I just find a lot of good stuff!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Are you sure?

The a8 setting controls AF activation. Default is On, so that when you press the shutter halfway, it focuses. If you turn it off, the shutter will not activate AF and you'll have to use the AF On button on the back of the camera. I don't think it affects focus point display while reviewing, or release/focus priority when shooting.

The correct setting for focus or release priority depends on what focus mode you are in - AF-C or AF-S (P116), selectable by turning the dial on the top left of the camera.

If you are in AF-C (continuous servo), you can use Custom Setting a1 to decide what the camera does when you press the shutter - Release will fire the shutter regardless of focus.

Focus+Release applies when you are in burst mode - it will Focus the first frame and care about the rest, and all pictures will be taken at the full frame rate or whatever you have selected for maximum frame rate.

Using Release+Focus is also a burst mode focus mode - in this case the first frame will be taken regardless of focus, but the subsequent frames will only be taken if they are in focus, and the frame rate may slow down a bit.

Lastly, the Focus mode will only allow the picture to be taken if "something" is in focus.

For AF-S - Single Servo - you only have two choices in Custom Setting a2 - Release or Focus.

If you have your focus mode set to Auto Area - there is a good chance that it will find "something" in focus which may not necessarily be your subject - and it will allow you to take the picture anyway even if you have Focus priority set for either AF-S or AF-C.

This may help:

http://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d500_tips/af/custom_settings/

On the back of the camera you have a button called Playback (P281). Pressing it will show a list of options of things you can display when you review your image. The Focus Point is one of those options.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

OH...I guarantee that a thorough reading will take longer than an afternoon. This book is excellent, IMHO! Best of luck.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Without a doubt, this is one of the best books written regarding Nikon's and the menu system.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Tell me that ain't true!
Among other stuff, the Army publishes technical manuals and field manuals. Technical manuals, like the owner's manual tell you what button to push. Field manuals explain why you want to do that. Camera manufacturers leave it to folks like Steve Perry, David Busch, et al, to provide the field manual info.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Have you considered going back to the camera store where you bought the camera and asking for help?

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Thanks for yours!