Z8 pre-release option

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According to Steve’s book, you start the the capture by pressing the shutter release button half way. So I am confused, which is not uncommon, do I have to set the focus option back to the shutter release button?
 
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Levi said:
According to Steve’s book, you start the the capture by pressing the shutter release button half way. So I am confused, which is not uncommon, do I have to set the focus option back to the shutter release button?
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There’s AF activation and then there’s capture. If you use BBAF you’ll want to keep that back button depressed to keep the AF system activated regardless of capture mode.

While running in precapture mode you’ll also want to have the shutter release half pressed to start pre capturing frames and then do a full press when you see action you want. But to have AF operational with the camera set up for BBAF that back button (or other alternate button like a front Fn button set up to activate the AF system) has to be pressed the whole time.

Basically if you’re set up for BBAF and don’t hold down that back button but do the rest of the precapture steps you won’t have AF but you’ll still precapture frames that will almost certainly be out of focus.
 
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DRwyoming said:
There’s AF activation and then there’s capture. If you use BBAF you’ll want to keep that back button depressed to keep the AF system activated regardless of capture mode.

While running in precapture mode you’ll also want to have the shutter release half pressed to start pre capturing frames and then do a full press when you see action you want. But to have AF operational with the camera set up for BBAF that back button (or other alternate button like a front Fn button set up to activate the AF system) has to be pressed the whole time.

Basically if you’re set up for BBAF and don’t hold down that back button but do the rest of the precapture steps you won’t have AF but you’ll still precapture frames that will almost certainly be out of focus.
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Thanks Dave,

I understand now.

Levi
 
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DRwyoming said:
There’s AF activation and then there’s capture. If you use BBAF you’ll want to keep that back button depressed to keep the AF system activated regardless of capture mode.

While running in precapture mode you’ll also want to have the shutter release half pressed to start pre capturing frames and then do a full press when you see action you want. But to have AF operational with the camera set up for BBAF that back button (or other alternate button like a front Fn button set up to activate the AF system) has to be pressed the whole time.

Basically if you’re set up for BBAF and don’t hold down that back button but do the rest of the precapture steps you won’t have AF but you’ll still precapture frames that will almost certainly be out of focus.
Click to expand...
So BBAF button alone won't activate precapture? If not, that is the same way Canon implemented the feature. Sony allows you to choose between only the AF-ON button activating precapture, only the shutter or both.
 
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arbitrage said:
So BBAF button alone won't activate precapture? ...
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Not that I'm aware of. Nikon's reference guide only refers to using a half press on the shutter release to activate pre capture. I also don't know of any custom control settings that allow an arbitrary button to take on that function. Sure it's easy to program other buttons for AF activation but unless it's an undocumented or lightly documented feature I don't see a way to assign other buttons to initiate the pre capture function.
 
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CJCrawford said:
How did you do that? Appreciate the info!
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Basically, set up BBAF normally (disable shutter release AF) then choose your pre capture options in the menu particularly the pre shot timing.

Select an extended high frame rate like 30 or 60 FPS.

Then pretty much use the camera with normal BBAF but while you’re activating the AF system with the alternative button you’ll be pre recording frames and when you do a shutter release full press you’ll capture the most recent frames to your memory card.

When pre capture is set up and you’re in one of the extended high frame rate modes you’ll see a small PRE icon near the bottom of the viewfinder to remind you that pre capture is active.
 
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DRwyoming said:
Basically, set up BBAF normally (disable shutter release AF) then choose your pre capture options in the menu particularly the pre shot timing.

Select an extended high frame rate like 30 or 60 FPS.

Then pretty much use the camera with normal BBAF but while you’re activating the AF system with the alternative button you’ll be pre recording frames and when you do a shutter release full press you’ll capture the most recent frames to your memory card.

When pre capture is set up and you’re in one of the extended high frame rate modes you’ll see a small PRE icon near the bottom of the viewfinder to remind you that pre capture is active.
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Thank you! Will try. Have not used pre-release yet but love BBAF.
 
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CJCrawford said:
How did you do that? Appreciate the info!
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CJ,

I am sorry it has taken me so long to reply, but I was on the road.

Here is what I did to use pre-release with BBAF. I went to the custom setting menu and selected D3 (PRE-release capture options). I then set pre-release burst to 0.3s and post release burst to max. I then set my release mode to C30. After that I could see the little pre-release icon in the view finder was on and green. You can set the pre-lease and post release to whatever you want. I will post a photo of a Harris Sparrow that I got using my settings.

Levi
Harris Sparrow in Flight BCG.jpg
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DRwyoming said:
There’s AF activation and then there’s capture. If you use BBAF you’ll want to keep that back button depressed to keep the AF system activated regardless of capture mode.

While running in precapture mode you’ll also want to have the shutter release half pressed to start pre capturing frames and then do a full press when you see action you want. But to have AF operational with the camera set up for BBAF that back button (or other alternate button like a front Fn button set up to activate the AF system) has to be pressed the whole time.

Basically if you’re set up for BBAF and don’t hold down that back button but do the rest of the precapture steps you won’t have AF but you’ll still precapture frames that will almost certainly be out of focus.
Click to expand...
Very clear and concise explanation. Thanks
 
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