Custom Setting #A5 Autofocus Initiation Method - Nikon D300 Complete Manual

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infinitely short, short, medium, and long. If focus is

shifting when you don't want it to, pick a longer setting. If

focus isn't shifting when you want it to, pick a shorter

3. Changes to the autofocus algorithms have made it more

likely that you'll want to use a shorter setting than

Normal, at least in any Continuous release shooting

method. Depending upon your other autofocus settings, a

large jump in focus distance between shots (e.g. fast

moving object) sometimes throws the camera off unless

you shorten this setting. So, if you're shooting in either

Continuous release shooting method, consider not using

the default for this function. I say "consider" because I've

experienced mixed results. Sometimes I want it short,

sometimes longer, but the results don't seem to be

perfectly predictable. In general, however, shorter seems

better to me when shooting continuously.

Custom Setting #A5 Autofocus Initiation Method

(AF activation)

Nikon bodies have long had a number of flexible and useful

autofocus customizations, and this function is one of the

classics. The default behavior of most autofocus cameras is

that autofocus begins when the shutter release is pressed

partway. That's the default on the D300, as well, although

you can also initiate autofocus by pressing the AF-ON button.

However, you can use this Custom Setting to remove

autofocus initiation from the shutter release press:

Shutter/AF-ON Shutter release triggers focus [default]

Thom Hogan's Complete Guide to the Nikon D300

Only AF-ON button triggers focus