Disabling AF on Nikon 70-300mm VR

[Mike Buckley]

The only thing that matters, Michael, is that you've now got it sorted out and can use the lens effectively.

As for me, I had never heard of the AF-P product category, so your thread was quite helpful and educational for me. Indeed, a rental Nikon 28-300mm lens is on its way to me as I write this and your thread motivated me to double check to make sure I ordered an AF-S rather than an AF-P lens.

[george013]

Hello all,

I am going to do something rare in Internet forums - I will admit that I am wrong - I made a mistake (I think).

Out of respect to Grahame's question I pulled out my camera and tested the AF/AE button. Two findings:

1. Try as I might, I was unable to get my camera to recreate the malfunction that I reported in my original post. Either the AF/M switch malfunctioned on Saturday and now works fine or I made an error, trying to switch the camera into manual focus and somehow failed to do so. Today the 70-300mm AF-P lens did not refocus when the D7100 body AF/M selector is set to M; and

2. The AF/AE button on the D7100 does not disable AF when used with the 70-300mm AF-P lens. When I put the camera into AF continuous, depressed the shutter half way to focus, depressed and held the AF/AE button (with the shutter still depressed halfway) and shifted my focus point. The lens auto refocussed. Depressing the AF/AP button does nothing.

Well, this is a bit embarrassing.

Thanks all.

Michael

I don't have a D7100 and I don't do that kind of shooting you want, so it never bothered me. Reading the link of Thom again

The following cameras have no way to set VR and may change focus position if the camera’s meter goes inactive (requiring you to re-obtain focus)

it says 1) you don't have VR and 2) the camera may change focus position when the camera goes inactive.
The first one you don't need on a tripod. Concerning the second one you might look for some setting that changes the time the camera stays active, if that's the same. Just a thought.

George

[paintingwithlight]

...your thread motivated me to double check to make sure I ordered an AF-S rather than an AF-P lens.

Hi Mike,

The AF-P is silent and nearly instantaneous. The focus speed of my AF-P lens is noticeably superior to my AF-S lenses.

Michael

[Mike Buckley]

The AF-P is silent

That's good to know. My concern was that Nikon describes the AF-P system as "near-silent" and the AF-S system as "ultra-quiet." I took that to mean that Nikon feels the AF-S system is slightly quieter than the AF-P system, though my interpretation of their intention may be incorrect. The reason for my concern was that the rental lens is for use at a burial service, so the quieter, the better.

As it turns out, it's a moot point regarding the rental lens I ordered, as it is manufactured only in the AF-S version, not the AF-P version.

[paintingwithlight]

I took that to mean that Nikon feels the AF-S system is slightly quieter than the AF-P system

Mike

AF-P is more quiet on my one lens that AF-S on my other lenses. On a D7100 the focus is a tiny fraction of the noise of the shutter actuations. To my mind the benefit of AF-P is in the speed of the AF, not in its "silence."

AF silence?! Really?! Compared to shutter actuation? Dave is right. B&H (and Nikon) save silver tongued salespeople.

Michael

[Mike Buckley]

AF silence?! Really?! Compared to shutter actuation?

My camera (D7000) can't control the loudness of the auto focus but it does have a a quiet shutter release mode. Part of my frame of reference is that I have an old AF (not AF-S) lens that has a really loud focus mechanism.

[Dave Humphries]

I'd suggest the prime benefit of quieter AF is for video capture, not so much stills these days (e.g. AF-S vs AF-P).

However, there are times, as Mike mentions, when having the whole thing working as quietly as possible is useful, even when shooting stills.

[george013]

I'd suggest the prime benefit of quieter AF is for video capture, not so much stills these days (e.g. AF-S vs AF-P).

However, there are times, as Mike mentions, when having the whole thing working as quietly as possible is useful, even when shooting stills.

What's the idea behind the choice of loud and quite and how is it gained?

George

[Dave Humphries]

What's the idea behind the choice of loud and quite and how is it gained?

For the Shutter of most Nikon DSLRs released in the last oooh, probably 10 years, they have had a "Quiet" shutter mode which when engaged seems to muffle the shutter and mirror slap noises, mostly by spacing them out from each other.

Test Case on my D7100: if the shutter speed is say 1/100s, but you keep your finger on the shutter release for one whole second (bear with me) ...
a) In normal "S" mode, you get the typical rapid "mirror up, first curtain, second curtain, mirror down, shutter re-cock" all in quick succession
b) In "Q" or "Quiet" mode, you get mirror up, followed by first and second curtains, but the mirror doesn't go down and shutter re-cock, until you let go of the release shutter. So it also gives you more control over when to make some of the noise, if you see what I mean. According to the manual, which I read after my test, it also disables any beeps ('AF success' I assume they mean).

I don't use it often, but it can be useful on occasion, although as you can tell, it has limitations.

Dave

[george013]

For the Shutter of most Nikon DSLRs released in the last oooh, probably 10 years, they have had a "Quiet" shutter mode which when engaged seems to muffle the shutter and mirror slap noises, mostly by spacing them out from each other.

Test Case on my D7100: if the shutter speed is say 1/100s, but you keep your finger on the shutter release for one whole second (bear with me) ...
a) In normal "S" mode, you get the typical rapid "mirror up, first curtain, second curtain, mirror down, shutter re-cock" all in quick succession
b) In "Q" or "Quiet" mode, you get mirror up, followed by first and second curtains, but the mirror doesn't go down and shutter re-cock, until you let go of the release shutter. So it also gives you more control over when to make some of the noise, if you see what I mean. According to the manual, which I read after my test, it also disables any beeps ('AF success' I assume they mean).

I don't use it often, but it can be useful on occasion, although as you can tell, it has limitations.

When I do understand, the sound is the same but spread in a longer time?

George

[Dave Humphries]

When I do understand, the sound is the same but spread in a longer time?

In a word; Yes George.

(mostly anyway)

[Mike Buckley]

The manual for my Nikon camera states that the sound made by the mirror is quieter in Quiet mode than in Single frame mode.

[paintingwithlight]

For the Shutter of most Nikon DSLRs released in the last oooh, probably 10 years, they have had a "Quiet" shutter mode which when engaged seems to muffle the shutter and mirror slap noises, mostly by spacing them out from each other.

When I first used "quiet" mode on my D7100 I was quite disappointed. I was expecting noise reduction akin to "whisper mode" on the old tv series "Blue Thunder." My expectations were too high and my hopes were dashed. The amount of noise reduction was so small that, to my mind, it didn't warrant the space on the dial marked "Q."

Michael

[Mike Buckley]

I remember doing some photography during a ballet performance and being very glad that the camera has a Quiet mode. It's noticeably less noisy than when not using it.

[Manfred M]

I agree with people who suggest that Nikon's Q mode isn't particularly effective. The best way to get a quiet shot is to switch to LiveView which takes the mirror out of the picture.

[Mike Buckley]

The best way to get a quiet shot is to switch to LiveView which takes the mirror out of the picture.

If the camera has Live View, using it will always be the way to get the most quiet shot but not necessarily the way to get the best shot, depending on the situation. And if the camera doesn't have Live View, Quiet mode is the only way to reduce the noise other than not taking the shot.

EDIT: Actually, that's wrong. To clarify that, on my camera using Live View and not using Quiet mode is noticeably louder than using Live View and Quiet mode. Similarly, using Single Frame mode (not Live View) is louder than using Quiet mode whether with or without Live View. Using Quiet mode without using Live View is the same loudness as using it with Live View. To say that using Live View takes the mirror out of the picture doesn't ring true for me, at least not for my camera; using Live View affects only when the mirror is raised and lowered whereas using Quiet mode affects how loud the mirror is, as explained in the camera's manual.

[george013]

If the camera has Live View, using it will always be the way to get the most quiet shot but not necessarily the way to get the best shot, depending on the situation. And if the camera doesn't have Live View, Quiet mode is the only way to reduce the noise other than not taking the shot.

EDIT: Actually, that's wrong. To clarify that, on my camera using Live View and not using Quiet mode is noticeably louder than using Live View and Quiet mode. Similarly, using Single Frame mode (not Live View) is louder than using Quiet mode whether with or without Live View. Using Quiet mode without using Live View is the same loudness as using it with Live View. To say that using Live View takes the mirror out of the picture doesn't ring true for me, at least not for my camera; using Live View affects only when the mirror is raised and lowered whereas using Quiet mode affects how loud the mirror is, as explained in the camera's manual.

As far I've checked out the quite mode controls the time the mirror slaps back to start position. Normally it's one actionress button,mirror up, curtains open(exposure),mirror down, release button. In quite mode it's press button,mirror up,curtains open(exposure),release button,mirror downn.
If nothing else is changing, then the sound is exactly the same, it only takes a longer time before the mirror goes down. And an eventual beep is disabled. If this is true, than it's mostly suggestion.

I never use life view, I just hate screens. But I think to remember that with life view the sequence was mirror up,framing based on screen,press button, mirror down,metering,mirror up,exposure,mirror down,release button.

George

[Mike Buckley]

In quite mode it's press button,mirror up,curtains open(exposure),release button,mirror downn. If nothing else is changing, then the sound is exactly the same

I could ignore that the manual explicitly states that the click of the mirror is not as loud in Quiet mode. I could also ignore that indeed the click of the mirror is noticeably not as loud in Quiet mode. On the other hand, why would I ignore both facts?

[george013]

I could ignore that the manual explicitly states that the click of the mirror is not as loud in Quiet mode. I could also ignore that indeed the click of the mirror is noticeably not as loud in Quiet mode. On the other hand, why would I ignore both facts?

What to say? Just don't and be happy. My "facts" are from the same manual. Technical it might be possible to slow down the mirror down movement. The manual says "which is also quieter as in single frame mode".
I just wonder how it's archived, I don't have the feature.

George

[Manfred M]

Mike - I don't know the specifics of quiet mode on your camera, but with the D800, there is no discernible difference between the sound level in Quiet mode and normal single shot mode. This was pretty well universally jumped on by the reviewers when the camera came out.

If I shoot Mirror Up mode, the noise is spread out and the sound of the shutter release going is much quieter than normal mode. The same thing can be said when I shoot in LiveView (and I do appreciate that this is not always the best mode to shoot in), my camera is noticeably quieter than in single shot mode. I can only assume that there are model to model differences in the cameras. I suspect in part that the larger shutter and mirror are more challenging to damp out than in a crop frame and that may be part of what is happening with my camera.

With my mirrorless mFT Panasonic GX7, the shutter is tiny and quite quiet when compared to the FF D800. If I shoot in electronic shutter mode, there is no noise at all.