Refuses to shoot in AF... Why?

[Shutterdog]

I was trying to take a shot - well lit, not from a weird distance, just a park bench about ten feet away... Nothing weird. But my Nikon D3200 refused to trigger the shutter unless I hit the AE-L or placed the lens to manual focus.


My question is... Why? What causes that?
What can I do to avoid that?

Is it "OK" to just lock the settings and take the shot when that happens?

Any information welcomed... Thanks a lot.

 

[benhasajeep]

I was trying to take a shot - well lit, now from a weird distance, just a park bench about ten feet away... Nothing weird. But my Nikon D3200 refused to trigger the shutter unless I hit the AE-L or placed the lens to manual focus.


My question is... Why? What causes that?
What can I do to avoid that?

Is it "OK" to just lock the settings and take the shot when that happens?

Any information welcomed... Thanks a lot.

Sounds like it didn't have focus lock so would not trip the shutter. By hitting the AE-L your telling the camera you have what you want, take the picture. In manual focus same thing, you telling the camera to ignor it's AF system, take the picture when pressed.

 

[Shutterdog]

I was trying to take a shot - well lit, not from a weird distance, just a park bench about ten feet away... Nothing weird. But my Nikon D3200 refused to trigger the shutter unless I hit the AE-L or placed the lens to manual focus.


My question is... Why? What causes that?
What can I do to avoid that?

Is it "OK" to just lock the settings and take the shot when that happens?

Any information welcomed... Thanks a lot.

Sounds like it didn't have focus lock so would not trip the shutter. By hitting the AE-L your telling the camera you have what you want, take the picture. In manual focus same thing, you telling the camera to ignor it's AF system, take the picture when pressed.

Thanks. That's pretty much what I figured (after the initial panic thinking my shutter was blocked... Lol)



Under what circumstances does the AF fail to lock? Is there anything to do to help with that?

 

[SquarePeg]

What lens are you using? Has it auto-focused on that camera body in the past? If it doesn't have an in lens focus motor, then it won't AF on the 3200.

 

[benhasajeep]

What lens are you using? Has it auto-focused on that camera body in the past? If it doesn't have an in lens focus motor, then it won't AF on the 3200.

He bought the camera recently with the kit lenses.

 

[snowbear]

Under what circumstances does the AF fail to lock? Is there anything to do to help with that?

On the Nikons: Very low light, not enough contrast in the subject (such as a white wall), too close to the subject, and (if you ever get any "D" lenses) not having the aperture ring set to the smallest aperture - usually f/22.

 

[Shutterdog]

There's a AF focusing illuminator (not sure of the name) that I currently have set to off, would it have fixed the issue?

 

[benhasajeep]

There's a AF focusing illuminator (not sure of the name) that I currently have set to off, would it have fixed the issue?

Thats only good to about 9' or so they say.

 

[Shutterdog]

There's a AF focusing illuminator (not sure of the name) that I currently have set to off, would it have fixed the issue?

Thats only good to about 9' or so they say.

That's what I figured. I find it more annoying than anything.

Thanks [emoji4]

 

[SquarePeg]

Find some contrast in whatever you’re trying to focus on.

 

[Derrel]

Might have Focus Priority set, instead of Release priority, and the lens is struggling to focus; as mentioned, with slower-aperture and shorter-focal-length lenses, like the 18-55 kit zoom which is both slow and short-ish, if the subject is flat in tone, or does not have much contrast, the AF system might struggle to get a focus lock. If the light is low, or low-contrast, same issue.

I've experienced similar AF issues with some lower-tier Nikons; the slowish, kit zooms are nowhere near as adept at achieving focus in tricky lighting or with flat-toned subjects as are the f/1.4 or f/1.8 primes, or the f/2.8 zoom lenses.

AF (autofocus) has a slight bit of a learning curve to it, and the lower-tier cameras have somewhat weaker AF modules, and fewer AF squares, than the mid- and high-end Nikons. Reading the manual very diligently might give you some insight into what the issue could be, but I think the above issues are likely at the heart of the matter.

If hitting the AE-L button allowed a shot, it makes me think perhaps you have the AF-L and AE-L functions combined in the menu set-up; the D3200 does not have separate buttons, right?

 

[benhasajeep]

Might have Focus Priority set, instead of Release priority, and the lens is struggling to focus; as mentioned, with slower-aperture and shorter-focal-length lenses, like the 18-55 kit zoom which is both slow and short-ish, if the subject is flat in tone, or does not have much contrast, the AF system might struggle to get a focus lock. If the light is low, or low-contrast, same issue.

D3xxx series doesn't have focus or release priority choice. At least not up to D3300. I would have to check. You can assign the AE-L/AF-L for back button AF. That might allow release priority???

 

[ceemac]

The same thing happened to me with my Canon and kit lens. I was on a frozen lake last winter doing panorama shots. I coudn't get one shot. I was fixated on why the camera wouldn't take a shot facing east in portrait orientation. There was nothing in front of me except ice and snow and I had AF on. Guess my brain was frozen too.

 

[rosh4u]

If you have your priority set for the focus then things would be proper when you shot. Other than this, Mates already gave suggestions for the setting, contrast, lights, etc. which are really important to keep in mind.