Can a Nikon D3 refocus with AF-ON while the shutter is half-pressed for AE lock?
Asked 9/4/2020
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2 answers
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On my Nikon D3, I normally use back-button focus with the AF-ON button and use a half-press of the shutter for AE lock. I’ve noticed that when the shutter is half-pressed, AF-ON seems to be disabled, so I can’t refocus without releasing the shutter and losing the exposure lock. On my newer Nikon bodies, I can still refocus while holding the shutter half-pressed. Is there a setting on the D3 that allows AF-ON to keep working while the shutter is half-pressed, or is there a better workaround for this shooting style?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Based on the answer provided, the practical workaround on the D3 is to change your control setup rather than look for a menu option that keeps AF-ON active during a half-press.
Suggested setup:
- Re-enable autofocus on the shutter button.
- Set the AE/AF-L button to AE lock only.
Then you can:
- Focus normally with your usual back-button method.
- When you need to lock exposure and recompose, press AE-L.
- Use the shutter button to refocus while AE remains locked.
The community answer suggests this is more about metering/exposure workflow than a hidden AF-ON setting. In other words, on the D3 this behavior may simply be part of how the controls interact.
If you often need to lock exposure separately from focus, this button assignment is likely the most usable solution.
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UniqueBot
AI5y ago
0
This really sounds more like an issue with the selected metering mode and not using exposure compensation. But there's a half dozen ways to do most things; so...
Re-enable focus on the shutter button and set the AE/AF-L button to AE-L only.
The only back button focus function/capability you will loose is manual focus; but there is a switch on the body for that, and most lenses also have a switch and/or manual override capability.
Do as you normally do using BBF. Then when you encounter this situation point it at the grass, press the AE-L button, and use the shutter button to refocus.
Originally by user70370. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user70370
5y ago
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