D7000 Focus Lock understanding

[greg14]

I have read the manual and I understand what most features do or are capable of doing.

Having said that :
I am trying to fully understand the "focus Lock" button/feature.
Here are my questions:
(1)
Is it supposed to lock the lens from refocusing ?
(2)
Do I do it when I hold the shutter button half way or before I focus ?

Why do I ask ?
It seems to me that if I lock the focus button the lens should not refocus.

I have tried the focus lock and the lens will refocus if I reframe and change distance.
I gather I am either doing something incorrectly with the focus lock or the focus lock is not what I believe it to be, I lock of the lens refocusing.

I keep focus in the S position.
Also, if I hold the shutter button half way down, the lens does not refocus either with the focus lock on of off.
If I have the focus lock on or off, I can refocus continually.

So I still do not understand what the "focus lock" LOCKS ?
Greg

Greg

[MiniChris]

How much focus can a focus lock, lock, if a focus lock could lock focus?

Beats me...I could never figure it out either. Try interfacing with the www.nikonusa (or UK or whatever country you are in), and see if they can help. I should have, but didn't.

[Dave Humphries]

I have read the manual and I understand what most features do or are capable of doing.

Having said that :
I am trying to fully understand the "focus Lock" button/feature.
Here are my questions:
(1)
Is it supposed to lock the lens from refocusing ?
(2)
Do I do it when I hold the shutter button half way or before I focus ?

Why do I ask ?
It seems to me that if I lock the focus button the lens should not refocus.

I have tried the focus lock and the lens will refocus if I reframe and change distance.
I gather I am either doing something incorrectly with the focus lock or the focus lock is not what I believe it to be, I lock of the lens refocusing.

I keep focus in the S position.
Also, if I hold the shutter button half way down, the lens does not refocus either with the focus lock on of off.
If I have the focus lock on or off, I can refocus continually.

So I still do not understand what the "focus lock" LOCKS ?
Greg

Greg

Hi Greg,

Looking at the manual for my D5000, I make the following observations;

It seems to be an exercise in manual dexterity, let me explain

You Auto-Focus as normal using a half press of shutter button and make sure the focus circle comes on, then (with another finger) hold down the AE-L/AF-L button, recompose and take one (or more) pictures - as long as you keep that finger held on the AE-L/AF-L button, you can release the shutter button without losing the focus lock (and exposure lock too normally).

Now, the manual says that this is most effective when you're in AF-A or AF-C modes (in AF-S, there's no advantage over just half holding the shutter button down) and it doesn't work at all in AF-area mode.

Anyway, that's the D5000 (and D90) version and I'd be surprised if the D7000 is any different.

Cheers,

[JonathanC]

Page 232 of the manual describes how to set what that button does. It can hold focus and/or exposure, or can lock either/both.
The difference being, you have to keep the button pressed for a hold and press it to lock/unlock the function.

HTH