Shoot before focus?

[kairo]

Howdy all.

Is there a setting on the camera (Nikon D60) that will allow you to take a picture before the auto focus has locked onto a target? Reason I ask, is I wanted to shoot some pictures of the smoke that filled the valley in Reno yesterday, and the autofocus couldn't lock on exactly the way I wanted it. It kept hunting back and forth. I put it into manual mode and focused myself eventually.

What I'd like to find (if it exists) is a way to take a picture whether the camera is focused or not.

 

[asfixiate]

turn off autofocus and you can take unfocused pics all day long.

 

[reg]

turn off autofocus and you can take unfocused pics all day long.

:hail:

 

[Rachelsne]

There really is no point to shoot unfocussed pictures, use manual just like you did already

 

[Big Mike]

On my Canon camera, if I take it out of 'one shot' AF mode...then I can fire the shutter at any time. If I put it into one shot mode, it waits until the AF has locked onto something.

I would assume your Nikon is similar.

 

[asfixiate]

There really is no point to shoot unfocussed pictures, use manual just like you did already

Rachel wins the prize.

Why oh why do you want to take unfocused pictures?

 

[Village Idiot]

Rachel wins the prize.

Why oh why do you want to take unfocused pictures?

He means using a mode like AI Servo that lets you fire without the focus lock so he can attempt to shoot when he thinks it's in focus while it's hunting. He is probably setup now to where the camera has to lock on a focus point before the shutter triggers, no matter how far down he's pushing the button.

I'm sure there's a way to do it, but manually focusing is the best way to do it in that situation.

 

[asfixiate]

Servo doesn't use the AF points right?

 

[Big Mike]

Servo doesn't use the AF points right?

Sure it does...it has to, there is no AF at all, without the AF point.

The OP's problem was the the AF would not pick up the smoke that they wanted to focus on...they did not want an OOF image.

In this case, manually focusing would be the way to go, as mentioned.

 

[djrichie28]

Howdy all.

Is there a setting on the camera (Nikon D60) that will allow you to take a picture before the auto focus has locked onto a target? Reason I ask, is I wanted to shoot some pictures of the smoke that filled the valley in Reno yesterday, and the auto focus couldn't lock on exactly the way I wanted it. It kept hunting back and forth. I put it into manual mode and focused myself eventually.

What I'd like to find (if it exists) is a way to take a picture whether the camera is focused or not.

I'm guessing you have the focus mode set to "S" or Single. This mode usually doesn't allow you to fire your shot until it is locked. Try switching to "C" continuous. This mode should lets you fire away whenever you want. It will also keep focusing on your subject while you have the shutter half pressed. Helpful when your subject, or yourself is moving. I usually keep my camera set to 'C'