not, because it is afaik more far for those which small hands...
but to the OP question: if you are in fast working pace (say a wedding) you want dedicated button for each function.
You can AF with AF-ON, recompose, AE lock with half press and shoot with full press. AFing without changing of exposure, etc.
Sure it takes time to get used to it, but once you do, you will never go back.
Not so much. The AE-L button is in a different location, is something of a reach and doesn't fall naturally under the right thumb. Not saying it won't work - it just isn't great, either.
nicbet wrote:
Reprogramming AE-L to AF-ON does the trick.
These explanations of what the point of the Af-on button is for come up every now and then, and I have to admit none of the explanations for it ever make any real sense.
Exposure lock, "tracking" and "trigger" separation and orgasms. WTF?
Zebrabot wrote:
These explanations of what the point of the Af-on button is for come up every now and then, and I have to admit none of the explanations for it ever make any real sense.
Exposure lock, "tracking" and "trigger" separation and orgasms. WTF?
Very well, then supply your own explanation that makes sense. And stop trolling.
Mattski1 wrote:
Not so much. The AE-L button is in a different location, is something of a reach and doesn't fall naturally under the right thumb. Not saying it won't work - it just isn't great, either.
That argument goes both ways - I've heard from people with smaller hands that the AF-ON button on the pro bodies is too far out for their small thumbs to reach comfortably. So, if your hands are too large for your fingers to fall "naturally" on buttons, it might not be the camera bodies fault ;-) If Nikon had written AF-ON on that button and put the AE-L somewhere else, I bet nobody would complain.
I have Custom Menu B set for AF ON: a3 51 3D, a5 Off, a8 AF5, a9 AF ON, and c1 ON. These settings work for when shooting things like surfing and events. I can understand those who don't like AF ON. It is something that requires getting use to.
AF-ON is fantastic, as long as you remove the AF function from the halfway shutter release.
1. It separates focusing from taking a picture. Releasing the shutter will never mess up your carefully set focus. And you never have to keep halfway pressing for seconds just to lock the focus.
2. You decide when to focus, and how long. On a Tamron 17-50 you need more time to focus than on a 200 f/2. For sports you can do continuous focus.
3. If you don't touch the AF-ON, you essentially have a MF lens. Modern AF-S lenses can be manual focused at any time, without flipping a switch. The shutter release won't interfere with that.
4. The only exception is when you need an AF assist beam, which doesn't work in AF-C mode. In that case you need to put the camera in AF-S.
5. You still use the halfway shutter release for turning on the meter and VR.
cppguy wrote:
AF-ON is fantastic, as long as you remove the AF function from the halfway shutter release.
1. It separates focusing from taking a picture. Releasing the shutter will never mess up your carefully set focus. And you never have to keep halfway pressing for seconds just to lock the focus.
2. You decide when to focus, and how long. On a Tamron 17-50 you need more time to focus than on a 200 f/2. For sports you can do continuous focus.
3. If you don't touch the AF-ON, you essentially have a MF lens. Modern AF-S lenses can be manual focused at any time, without flipping a switch. The shutter release won't interfere with that.
4. The only exception is when you need an AF assist beam, which doesn't work in AF-C mode. In that case you need to put the camera in AF-S.
5. You still use the halfway shutter release for turning on the meter and VR....Show more →
So what's these need for 1 through 6? I'm seriously not grasping any of these scenarios and when they come into play.
cppguy wrote:
5. You still use the halfway shutter release for turning on the meter and VR.
That right there is a big reason to use the AF-ON button. When I got my 70-200VR I couldn't stand the whirring and jumpy image being displayed in the viewfinder while I sat there trying to focus on the subject. When the focus is hunting all over the place and the VR is going, you really have no idea what the hell is going on. Using the AF-ON button sets up your focus so you know you have the correct subject locked on, and half pressing the shutter sets up the metering and VR. Fully press the shutter when you have everything good to go.
I like the AF-ON button, but I leave the half shutter AF set to on as well since I pass the camera to my fiance, and friends. They wouldn't know what the hell is going on if they half press the shutter and the camera doesn't focus. I never notice any problems, and it works out nicely for portrait oriented shots. The AF-ON button is uncomfortable to reach in portrait orientation, so the half shutter AF is nice to have active for those times.
Tommy_D wrote:
......I like the AF-ON button, but I leave the half shutter AF set to on as well ....
That negates the advantage of having the AF-ON as a separate feature!
honorerdieu wrote:
As a former Canon user, the AF-ON button the the AF-C is so orgasmic. When I used it for the first time, it was like I lost my virginity.
Zebrabot wrote:
These explanations of what the point of the Af-on button is for come up every now and then, and I have to admit none of the explanations for it ever make any real sense.
Exposure lock, "tracking" and "trigger" separation and orgasms. WTF?
just because its there doesnt mean you have to use it. same goes for the fact that others use it. good for you that you dont see a need for it.
i myself, cant shoot without separating the focusing activation from the shutter release. its unnatural for me having the shutter button control two totally different aspects of the camera. its like having one pedal for both acceleration and braking.
Avi B wrote:
Very well, then supply your own explanation that makes sense. And stop trolling.
How can he supply his own explanation if he doesn't understand the underlying concept? I think that's what he's getting at... these explanations have not adequately explained the process.
Roland Jenkins wrote:
That negates the advantage of having the AF-ON as a separate feature!
No it doesn't. I hold down the AF-ON button while I press the shutter, so the fact that the shutter button can focus doesn't affect anything with the focusing mechanism. If I wanted to focus and recompose, I have 51 AF points spread out over the majority of the frame. I just move the AF point and focus. No need to focus and recompose.
I also find myself hitting that AF-ON button a lot. Tapping it here and there to make sure the focus is correct. Its not fun for the VR in the lenses, or the metering system flashing in the viewfinder. Separating the focus from the metering and VR systems is a nice feature, but this doesn't mean you have to separate the focus from the shutter.
actually, it does. well, it negates one of the main reasons why some shooters prefer using AF-ON, which is the ability to use characteristics of both AF-S or AF-C, without having to flip a switch between the two.
but of course, there is no right and wrong with the AF-ON button, if you use it, wonderful. if you dont, wonderful as well. and how you use it is up to you. as long as you are happy with your shooting, who cares what anyone else has to say. no one ever says "wow, thats an awesome picture, i wonder whether they used AF-ON or not??"
static808 wrote:
actually, it does. well, it negates one of the main reasons why some shooters prefer using AF-ON, which is the ability to use characteristics of both AF-S or AF-C, without having to flip a switch between the two.
but of course, there is no right and wrong with the AF-ON button, if you use it, wonderful. if you dont, wonderful as well. and how you use it is up to you. as long as you are happy with your shooting, who cares what anyone else has to say. no one ever says "wow, thats an awesome picture, i wonder whether they used AF-ON or not??"...Show more →
Got to disagree with your last point. When Jimmie Johnson wins a race, we don't ask how the race car was setup. But, I assure you that in NASCAR garages that is what they talk about. On this forum we do discuss the nuts and bolts of our gear. Some are more detailed that other. And there is a percentage of discussions that revolve around images--but, it isn't all about the image, though that is ultimate goal--just like winning is the goal of NASCAR race teams.
James R wrote:
Got to disagree with your last point. When Jimmie Johnson wins a race, we don't ask how the race car was setup. But, I assure you that in NASCAR garages that is what they talk about. On this forum we do discuss the nuts and bolts of our gear. Some are more detailed that other. And there is a percentage of discussions that revolve around images--but, it isn't all about the image, though that is ultimate goal--just like winning is the goal of NASCAR race teams.
point taken. i too am guilty of asking fellow shooters of setups, such as questions about lighting and post processing. i constantly look at remarkable images and do question/analyze various elements such as composition/lighting/post processing and gear used to capture the image. however, this topic centers around use of the AF-ON button, and as anal as i am about taking pictures, i have yet to look at an image and wonder whether the AF-ON button was used or not. but you do have a point, and in a forum such as this one, we do often see that no stone is left unturned in the quest for perfecting our passion...
