AF-On button and VR activation

[Dieterswelten]

Hello everyone!

I'm using a D850 and focussing always only with the rear AF-On button. What I don't really know is - does it also activate the VR system or is it activated only by the release button? In other words, to take a perfect picture I press the AF-On button and also the release button half-way down before I take the picture?

Has anyone experience with this situation and can give me a good advice?

Thank you very much in advance!

 

[JANuser]

Pressing the AF-ON will turn on VR.

 

[Dieterswelten]

Thank's JANuser!

 

[DRwyoming]

Has anyone experience with this situation and can give me a good advice?

Yes, hitting the AF-ON button will activate the VR as will half pressing the shutter release even when set up in BBAF mode. The VR will continue to stay activated as long as the camera's meter stays activated and you can adjust that meter timeout in the menus.

 

[Steve]

As a side note for anyone reading this thread with an older camera (think around D3 / D300 age), VR actually would not engage with just the AF-On button, you have to keep a half-press on the shutter release. Thankfully, as noted above, that's not the case with modern cameras and BBAF activates VR.

 

[Dieterswelten]

Thank's to all for your response!
Steve - that's exactly what I had in mind when I made the post! Years ago, I owned a D300 and a D700 and I know, when pressing the shutter release half way down, it made some noise when the VR was activated.

 

[FB101]

Also if using Tamron 150-600 G2, mode 3 on the VR selector only activates when the picture is taken so it won't activate when pressing the AF- ON button, but only when pressing the shutter release. I never understood that mode (I am guessing battery preservation) as half the gain from VR is improving framing stability when hand-holding which you lose with that mode...

 

[Ralph]

Thank's JANuser!

Dieter, you should hear the motor for VR activate as you press the Backbutton auto focus.