Faulty camera or faulty user?

[PhotomanJohn]

Not that this post needs to get longer but I stand corrected. The options on the D90 are more limited and I should have checked before I assumed they were similar. I don't like to pass on bum information so I will do a little more research in the future.

I would like to comment on disabling the requirement to be in focus before an exposure can be taken. First of all, I use the AE-L AF-L button on the back to control the auto focus and not the shutter release button. I like this for a number of reasons including not having my shot messed up because I adjusted the focus manually and forgot to throw the switch on the lens to manual focus. Sometimes I am doing something different with the focus for creative or composition reasons and don't want the camera to decide it doesn't agree with me. Also, occasionally in a quick moving situation a slightly out of focus image is better than none at all. Images are free so it isn't like wasting an exposure in the film days. All of this is personal preference and I only bring this up as an option.

John

[Dave Humphries]

Now, get off this forum and go out and take some pictures!

Can't got to figure how to get the camera back the way it used to be first

No seriously, I have almost stopped taking because I have such a backlog to PP, I need to change my process and/or shoot much less - I never get past the culling stage before I lose interest or decide none are good enough (which is hopefully not true)

[Dave Humphries]

Hi John,

~ I stand corrected. The options on the D90 are more limited and I should have checked before I assumed they were similar.

I may be guilty of same thing

I use the AE-L AF-L button on the back to control the auto focus and not the shutter release button. I like this for a number of reasons including not having my shot messed up because I adjusted the focus manually and forgot to throw the switch on the lens to manual focus. Sometimes I am doing something different with the focus for creative or composition reasons and don't want the camera to decide it doesn't agree with me. Also, occasionally in a quick moving situation a slightly out of focus image is better than none at all. Images are free so it isn't like wasting an exposure in the film days. All of this is personal preference and I only bring this up as an option.

I am just giving this a serious try now, although I had dabbled with it previously.

Do you get 'out of sync' between shutter and back button and end up locking/protecting the image you just took instead of refocusing on the next? Maybe the D7000 is better and avoids the 'problem' (finger & thumb trouble). I hope I'll grow out of it

Cheers,

[The Blue Boy]

Hi Stig,

I think most things have already been mentioned. All I can think of is a) is your firmware up to date and b) have you tried resetting back to factory settings? Probably not much help but this is another weird one indeed!

[GrahamH]

Hi, Not a Nikon user, nevertheless, I had a similar problem once. Turns out the camera release can be set to when the camera has focus locked in OR to when I press the shutter release. If the camera loses focus at any point (even after the first couple of shots), then the camera won't fire UNTIL focus is gained again.
In the Sony, the setting is buried in the main menu under Priority Setting. I have it set to Release so whenever I fire the trigger, the shutter goes EVEN without focus being set.
I reason that a shot of important event slightly blurred is better than no shot at all.

Graham H
(reads manuals, is there something wrong with me, doesn't seem normal).