Sub Selector Button and Focus

[Rainbow One]

Does anyone know a way to stop the sub selector moving left or right, when I use it for my five focus points with back button focus?

this is my mode for flight shots, but I find if I haven’t pressed the button square on, my starting point can be off to the left or right and not in the centre.

Im using the D500, hopefully I have explained what I mean

Thanks

Jim

 

[Manglo]

Hello Rainbow One,
I also use the D500 with BBF and use Dynamic with 25 af points as my standard on the AF-On buttom for moving subjects.
I us the upper front buttom for group af, which is useful for birds in flight in front of a cluttered background, because it prefers the nearest object.

Like you, I use the sub selector to fokus. It's combined with a single af point, which I mainly use for staticsubjects like a bird on a perch.
There is no real solution for the problem, with which I also confronted with. You could use the lock switch to stop the point from moving around, which isn't really convenient, if you suddenly want to move the afcpoint around. The only solution is to practice, practice, practice to press the center of the sub selector. If anybody knows a better solution, olease let me know. I already missed a good lot of shots, due to the floating af point.

Greetings from Germany
Manuel

 

[Rainbow One]

Thanks Manglo for your reply, I have tried using the PV button, but I find it isn’t as comfortable, practice is the key

 

[gbodave]

The sub selector or joystick as it's popularly known is very sensitive to any kind of pressure and if that isn't dead square on to the button it will move all over the place. Why not assign BBAF to the AF-ON button.

 

[DRwyoming]

I tried using a direct press on the joystick control to trigger a third focusing mode (primary camera mode via AF-ON, secondary mode by holding in Fn1 on the front and third mode with straight press of the joystick). I didn't have great luck in terms of consistently getting a straight press and more often than not ended up sliding the focus point across the viewfinder. I know some folks who have mastered the muscle memory to get just a straight press on the joystick but personally I went back to two AF Area Modes and I now only use the joystick to move the focusing point.

 

[Butlerkid]

Using the AF-On button for BBAF is the easiest and safest.....at least for me. It just works and doesn't cause other problems.

FWIW - for wildlife I usually have the camera set in focusing mode group or D25. I use the PV button to quickly switch to single point focus for a stationary subject. As soon as the subjects moves I release the PV button and am right back to my basic focusing mode.

 

[Rainbow One]

Thanks for everyone’s advice, I do you BBAF with the AF on button for single point, and then I use BBAF with the joystick for Group AF (5points). It’s the joystick that causes the issue as some have pointed out. I think the solution is practice more with using the joystick, or assign PV button. Keep Safe

 

[gbodave]

Is it not possible for you to assign group AF to one of the "stable" buttons and just use the AF-ON button in conjunction with it.

 

[Robin]

Interesting how you guys have set up your D500.
My set up is to AF-on as single point BBaf, Pv as Group focus and func as multiple points af.
This leaves the joystick to move all focus areas /points only and central button on multi selector to centralise focus point/area if needed.
Using 3 fingers gives me very quick access to Af areas.