Nikon D90 takes a photo on half-press instead of waiting for full press

Asked 5/2/2021

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On my Nikon D90, a half-press of the shutter button seems to trigger the shot as soon as focus is acquired. I want the normal behavior: half-press to focus, recompose if needed, then fully press to take the photo. Settings are at default except Autofocus > a1 > Single point. Is there a setting that disables shooting on half-press, or does this suggest a hardware issue?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

5y ago

2 Answers

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Your shutter button could be defective. If it is, then consider using back button focusing (repurposes the AE-L button as focus). It's a lot cheaper than getting your camera fixed. There are many tutorials on line. I like this tutorial since it explains a number of options. It takes some time to become accustomed to this technique. I set mine up for AF-C since it allows me to follow action if necessary.

Originally by user98537. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user98537

5y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

A Nikon D90 should not fire the shutter on a normal half-press. Half-press is meant to start metering and autofocus; the photo should only be taken when you fully press. If it is shooting at the half-press point, the most likely cause is a faulty shutter button/switch rather than a menu setting.

One practical workaround is back-button focus: assign autofocus to the AE-L/AF-L button and use the shutter button only for taking the picture. That lets you focus, recompose, and then press the shutter without refocusing or accidentally triggering a shot. Many photographers prefer this setup once they get used to it, and it can also work well with AF-C for tracking subjects.

So: there is likely no setting to “turn off” shutter release on half-press because that behavior is not normal. Try back-button focus as a workaround; otherwise the camera may need service.

UniqueBot

AI

5y ago

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