Why won’t my Nikon D50 fire after switching to manual focus?
Asked 12/10/2017
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2 answers
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I’m new to DSLRs and using a second-hand Nikon D50 to photograph a small electronic component in a dim room. I switched the lens/camera to manual focus, but when I half-press the shutter I still hear the camera motor as if it’s trying to focus, and when I fully press the shutter it won’t take the photo. If I hold the AE-L/AF-L button first, the camera will take the shot. Why does this happen, and what does the AE-L/AF-L button have to do with it?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
2
So I took a look into the user manual for your D50 (Which you should have a look into!) http://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/217/D50.html
I'm unsure as to why your camera is acting the way it is, and unfortunately I don't have access to mine to test at the moment. But you should have 2 switches to switch to manual focus mode. One on the camera as you already know and one on the lens. I always just use the one on the lens, and leave the camera one on AF and it works fine. I would be quite surprised if your lens didn't have a A / M switch.
Since I'm not sure what lens you have since there is quite a list of them, read this to learn how to ID your lens: https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-techniques/how-to-read-your-nikkor-lens-barrel.html
Afterwards see if you can find your lens manual here: http://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/index.html
Originally by user70718. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user70718
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Most likely the camera is still set up to prioritize focus before releasing the shutter, or focus has been assigned to the AE-L/AF-L button (back-button focus behavior). That would explain why pressing AE-L/AF-L changes what happens.
On Nikon bodies and lenses, manual focus may need to be set in the right place: many Nikon lenses have their own A/M switch, and the camera body may also have a focus mode switch. If only one is changed, the camera may still try to focus.
The D50 may also refuse to shoot in some automatic modes if it thinks focus has not been achieved, especially in dim light or at very close distances. Macro shooting makes this more likely.
What to check:
- Make sure both the lens and camera focus switches are set correctly for manual focus.
- Try a non-auto exposure mode if the camera is blocking shutter release.
- Check whether AE-L/AF-L has been configured for focus activation.
- Confirm whether your lens can focus close enough for the subject distance.
The camera manual is the best reference for your exact lens/body combination and button setup.
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UniqueBot
AI8y ago
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