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Back Button Focus by Accident

d5500 back button focus half shutter focus

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3 replies to this topic

#1
Laurie in Maine

Laurie in Maine

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Nikon D5500: How do you switch "back button focus" BACK to half-shutter release?

 

I finally figured out WHY my camera wouldn't focus recently - I touched settings randomly practicing "out of auto". Finally realized it was in Back Button Focus mode. I had to use it for the day - and may actually like it after all! (Tried it once before but really struggled to get out of the habit of trying to focus with the half shutter.)

 

BUT I can't figure out what settings return camera to half-shutter focus. Just in case...!

Laurie in Maine

 

 



#2
Laurie in Maine

Laurie in Maine

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LLW_0621.JPG

Note to self: most of my questions on this forum begin "Help... I touched random buttons..."!

 

I remember touching a reset button at some point. But wouldn't that reset to half shutter release focus?

Is there a reset "to previous settings"?

...Or I touched more buttons after hitting reset :/

 

At any rate my day of enforced BB Focus had some wonderful/lucky shots.

Zoomed in to 400mm and then cropped for a closer look at the duck and snorkeling moose :)



#3
krag96

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My D700 will focus either half shutter button or the back button focus.  On my D750 I had to assign the button for back button focus, and it won't focus at half shutter button, but I left it that way and am mostly used to it now, (newer isn't always better in all respects, give a little/take a little I guess). 

 

Okay, your question, simply go to your menu,on the left select the pencil icon, shift right select Reset Custom Controls at the top, select yes and you should be back to shutter button focus.  To get back button focus again, select Custom Settings Menu again, scroll all the way down to the purple f Controls, select Assign AE-L/AF-L button, select AF-ON to get your back button focus back if you wish.  It's really simple and quick.

 

I bought my D5500 lightly used with no print manual and didn't like the CD that it came with.  This is a good tutorial on You Tube, Tony and Chelsea Northrop do a good job with their videos.  https://youtu.be/Hf_aqeeQ8jY



#4
Laurie in Maine

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Thank you!

 

I had changed focus control once before - a couple years ago at least - when I tried back-button focus and declared NOPE. Not for me... 

 

I liked using BBF better this time around. It's been a rough year and my camera has been in it's bag far too long.

The long pause might have helped learn this new thing.

 

I had been having occasional trouble with focus zooming in on blades of grass or branches and making the subject behind blurry so bbf might be a good alternative.

 

BUT was a bit afraid of touching more buttons until I got this step figured out. Knowing how to move back seemed rather important, too. Thanks again!

 

(And I can't find my manual! Where did I put it? Downloaded a PDF this morning but I like the book in hand! It'll turn up...)







Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: d5500, back button focus, half shutter focus