Jaguar240
Member
If possible to assign Pv or Fn buttons to switch from Single Point to 9 point Dynamic , I think I read this somewhere but cant find it now, maybe I'm dreaming
Single Point to 9 point Dynamic
- Thread starter Jaguar240
- Start date
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Depends on the camera. In the D5/6, D500 and D850 you can, on everything else it's a no-go.
If you have one of the above cameras, head to the custom setting menu > Controls > Custom Control Assignment (or something to that effect - it varies a bit by camera). That should open a screen that allows you to program your buttons.
Also, note that it's a not a press and swap operation. Your camera will be in say, single point AF as your regular focus mode (the one you select using the focus mode button at the base of the lens mount). When you press the assigned button, it'll be in D9 for as long as you continue to press.
Hope that helps
If you have one of the above cameras, head to the custom setting menu > Controls > Custom Control Assignment (or something to that effect - it varies a bit by camera). That should open a screen that allows you to program your buttons.
Also, note that it's a not a press and swap operation. Your camera will be in say, single point AF as your regular focus mode (the one you select using the focus mode button at the base of the lens mount). When you press the assigned button, it'll be in D9 for as long as you continue to press.
Hope that helps
What Steve said.
My D500 has default AF for shutter half-press set to 9 pt Dynamic, the AF-ON button is Single pt AF, and the Preview button is Grp. Choices are good.
My D500 has default AF for shutter half-press set to 9 pt Dynamic, the AF-ON button is Single pt AF, and the Preview button is Grp. Choices are good.
Jaguar240
Member
Forgot to say I have a D810 & D610
Jaguar240
Member
Thanks Steve & NA4M
FB101
Well-known member
You can also set pushing the joystick in as a different AF mode, which is what I do as I find it easy since my thumb is either on the AF-on button or on the joystick. It takes a bit of practice to not move the AF point while you press down but it’s an easily acquired skill. I find it easier than pressing 3 things (function button, af-on and trigger button) to have continuous AF in a different mode. It just turns the joystick into another AF on button (with a different mode), under your thumb but with the possible downside of moving the AF point. I wish pushing it in would disable moving the AF point, then it would be perfect.
fcotterill
Well-known member
Subject to the camera's capabilities, you can also assign a custom command to the Fn button on a telephoto lens, if it has such.
There's been past discussion about AF modes and Custom settings. incl. these threads:
bcgforums.com
bcgforums.com
bcgforums.com
There's been past discussion about AF modes and Custom settings. incl. these threads:
3-D Tracking with birds and birds in flight (BIF)
For Nikon users: Have you found the "3D Tracking" function helpful when photographing birds, and birds in flight (BIF)?
bcgforums.com
Focus Mode for BIF
Making a trip to Conowingo MD. A mecca for eagles in the Northeast this time of year. I Programmed my D500 focus mode as single point default and Grp assigned to the Pv button. Although its almost second nature to me to press the Pv when a bird flies, I'm wondering if making Grp the default...
bcgforums.com
Custom Settings (Nikon DSLRs) for (Fleeting) Wildlife Subjects
I have refined the following Custom setups linking menus with control buttons on a D500 and latterly D850. These have proven to work rather well, particularly captures of fleeting animals and birds. However, Nikon has designed these features primarily to help Pro sports photographers capture...
bcgforums.com
Don McCracken
New member
I use the custom function button on my 500mm pf for this and it is very useful. It allows me to shift from group to single without distraction.
FB101
Well-known member
Good point; I have not tried that yet but I need to give it a shot. I typically use it to recall a focus distance (usually about 15 to 20m) to help with BIF acquisition when the AF gets lost but I can see that setting it up as another AF area + AF-on could be convenient - that button is right under my left thumb when I hand-hold that lens.
fcotterill
Well-known member
I've been shooting BBAF exclusively for some years. It can be useful to gain 1 extra hotkey for an AF Mode by enabling setting a8 to 'Shutter/AFOn'; on my D850 I set Pv to Single-point; AFOn to Group; Lens Fn to Auto-mode (useful for erratic subjects).
And so in this example the Shutter-release could switch to one of the Dynamic AF modes.
Subject to muscle memory, you can switch almost instantly between 4 AF modes I have Fn1 assigned to Point exposure for backlit subjects etc. And you can play all keys (expect lens-Fn) with the right hand only.
And so in this example the Shutter-release could switch to one of the Dynamic AF modes.
Subject to muscle memory, you can switch almost instantly between 4 AF modes
I have Fn1 assigned to Point exposure for backlit subjects etc. And you can play all keys (expect lens-Fn) with the right hand only.
Last edited:
Jaguar240
Member
I have a lots of ideas to try, some sound complicated. I have the center button set to recall 100% view other than scroll by pressing the + /- button.
Thanks to all for the advice
Thanks to all for the advice
Capturingtheunseen.com
Well-known member
I didn't know you could program the half-press, that should be helpful. Thanks!
Perhaps my statement was a bit misleading. I have my D500's default AF mode set to d 25 (viewfinder displays 9 focus points) using the AF selection button on side of the body - that makes the shutter-button half-press AF d 25. Then assign the AF-ON and Preview buttons to different AF modes.
Calson
Well-known member
With the D850 I use the "orientation" feature (Custom Setting a7) to use SP when the camera is vertical and DAF when the camera is horizontal. Bird on a branch vertical shot works best most of the time and when the bird takes off I want the camera horizontal as I track it.
Very useful setting. Pv button on my D850s is set to d9 or Grp depending on situation. Between that, BBF, Fn1 set to Spot metering and shutter release the fingers on right hand get a workout with only the pinkie idle. Rarely use all four functions at the same time but there if needed.Depends on the camera. In the D5/6, D500 and D850 you can, on everything else it's a no-go.
If you have one of the above cameras, head to the custom setting menu > Controls > Custom Control Assignment (or something to that effect - it varies a bit by camera). That should open a screen that allows you to program your buttons.
Also, note that it's a not a press and swap operation. Your camera will be in say, single point AF as your regular focus mode (the one you select using the focus mode button at the base of the lens mount). When you press the assigned button, it'll be in D9 for as long as you continue to press.
Hope that helps
Capturingtheunseen.com
Well-known member
I get it now. I use my AF-ON button for back button focus only, and the only two AF modes that work for me are single point and group. I use group as the default, and programmed the PV button to single point. I find the other dynamic modes useless as they keep losing focus while tracking.
BIF setting. Mapped the Pv button in both my D500 and D850 to Spot meter. FN1 set for single point AF. Set the camera to Group AF. I find Spot metering helps keep the critters’ head/face/eye properly exposed. I find this to be important in high distortion settings. Group AF is good for BIF. High atmospheric distortion fools Group AF making Single Point AF the better choice.
My AF-ON button is for Single-point BBF and Preview button is Grp. Recently began using the default shutter-button d 25 mostly for slightly easier/quicker grabbing of static subject AF where I don't feel the need for Single-point precision typically used for bird's eyes, etc. Grp on Preview button for BIF.
That’s what I do, but your right it takes a bit of getting used to as when I started using the joystick for Group I kept moving the focus point, for about two weeks I was coming home, downloading my files & spending the next hour deleting out of focus images but perfectly focused birds testicles!
