This is a really random question, and most likely a stupid one, but why do Canon users constantly complain about the lack of a dedicated AF-ON button on Nikons? Is there an advantage of using a dedicated button or is it just something many are used to? I personally haven't had a problem not having the button, and when I tried to make the AF/AE button into the dedicated AF-ON, I felt it was more of a pain.
There are advantages, I have learned to use it, using the separate button instead of the half press will be just as subconscious as the half press, for sports it provides the fast effortless and again subconscious ability to not focus on something if you want your focus to stay where it was, say a goalie when you know shooters are going to run between you and the subject, so it provides some flexibility not previously availability
It's not more of a pain. It's a godsend. In a nutshell, you are separating out the AF function from the picture taking function on the shutter button.
You set up the camera to be always on AF-C (continuous focussing) and use the AF-ON button to achieve focus where you want it (and assuming your camera has AF settings so that it is release priority and not focus priority) the camera will take the shot. The previous method is a good way to focus/recompose too. For actual continuous shooting, you can simply keep pressing the AF-ON button to track your subject while you fire away.
You should really try it out. BTW the dedicated AF-ON button on higher-end bodies are the better ones. The AE/AF-lock just confuses the issue because sometimes you want AE lock somewhere other than where the focus is.
Some Canon guys are on crack...
The "good" Nikons all have one D3x/D3s/D3/D700/D300s/D300/D2Xs/D2X/D200
Reasons for using it too numerous to mention, I sure couldn't shoot w/o it.
Justin Huffman wrote:
im not a canon user, but all my nikons have an AF-ON button.... maybe ask in the canon forum >>>
Err, I guess I meant the low ends? Haha, sorry for my ignorance, but as it's not something I use, I honestly haven't looked much into it. A better question would probably be what are the advantages of the AF-ON button, which looks like it is answered below...
ishootsports3 wrote:
There are advantages, I have learned to use it, using the separate button instead of the half press will be just as subconscious as the half press, for sports it provides the fast effortless and again subconscious ability to not focus on something if you want your focus to stay where it was, say a goalie when you know shooters are going to run between you and the subject, so it provides some flexibility not previously availability
Good explanation for something real world that I would use. Thanks!
Both Nikon and Canon have had AF-On buttons in their better cameras for years. I think this problem has been fixed, not to mention the multiple custom functions that allow for various button reasignments. Which camera is not working for you?
EB-1 wrote:
Both Nikon and Canon have had AF-On buttons in their better cameras for years. I think this problem has been fixed, not to mention the multiple custom functions that allow for various button reasignments. Which camera is not working for you?
EBH
Oh, I'm fine gear wise. It was really just a curious question since I haven't really messed around with it much and I always see that statement coming around when comparing some bodies.
Anyway, thanks for the quick responses everyone. I'll try it out for a quarter or two for the next game I shoot and see how I like it.
thursdaylsr wrote:
Anyway, thanks for the quick responses everyone. I'll try it out for a quarter or two for the next game I shoot and see how I like it.
It's pretty much of a necessity if you want to switch rapidly between tracking and stationary subjects and use recomposition. I've been using the rear button focus function for over 10 years and immediately set up the cameras that way. It's hard for me to think of not using it.
I love the AF-ON button and while I could still likely get by with a model not having it, I sure wouldn't WANT to. As others mentioned, tracking a subject with it sure seems to work great and separating the "trigger" from the "tracker" button sure works well for me.
It will probably take you more than a couple of quarters to get used to it. It is a really strange concept at first and it takes time for it to become a habit. Once it does though, you'll love it.
maybe ask in the canon forum >>>
D3x/D3s/D3/D700/D300s/D300/D2Xs/D2X/D200 
