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| D3100 Single Focus Point keeps reseting. | Rate Topic |
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| Posted by Adco: Sat Nov 4th, 2017 10:18 | 1st Post |
| I like to use the single point focus on my camera. When I first turn the camera on, it is set for auto-focus area and I then set it to single point. Every now and again it jumps out of that mode back to auto-focus area. Why? Is there a "lock" setting that will keep the focus setting where I want it? I want to make single point focus the default and my camera isn't playing with. Perhaps it needs a factory reset? Is there such a function on the camera?
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| Posted by Eric: Sat Nov 4th, 2017 11:23 | 2nd Post |
Adco wrote:I like to use the single point focus on my camera. When I first turn the camera on, it is set for auto-focus area and I then set it to single point. Every now and again it jumps out of that mode back to auto-focus area. Why? Is there a "lock" setting that will keep the focus setting where I want it? I want to make single point focus the default and my camera isn't playing with. Are you changing your shooting modes? By that I mean changing from P, S,A,M to Auto? I was wondering if you go into Auto mode ...whether that resets the focus mode back to auto focus area? There used to be a Two button reset option on Nikon DSLRs .....press8ng two of the button with a similar coloured mark alongside them. Not knowing the D3100 I don't know if that model has this option. I wonder if you have updated your cameras firmware to the latest version? This might flush out any gremlins. Welcome to the forum. 
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Sat Nov 4th, 2017 12:43 | 3rd Post |
| I just took a look at my D3300, not a lot different from the D3100. You have both a 'Shooting' menu and a 'Settings' menu, on my 3300 you can reset both menus with the first item on the menu, "Reset Settings" Or "Reset Shooting". I tend not to move the D3300 off of fully auto because my younger son, Christopher uses it mainly and it's easier that way. You can select single point AF in Aperture mode and presumably Manual and Shutter modes. If you inadvertently select Auto mode it will probably revert to multi. I will dig out a D3100 manual later and check that it is similar to the D3300 in this respect. There does not appear to be a 'Two Button Reset' on the D3300. On most Nikon cameras there are usually two buttons marked with green identifiers which when held down together for a second or two will put the camera back almost to factory settings.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Sat Nov 4th, 2017 15:30 | 4th Post |
| If you still have problems, make sure the firmware installed is the latest for your camera..... http://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/21/D3300.html
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by jk: Sun Nov 5th, 2017 07:25 | 5th Post |
| I only shoot in Manual mode, or Aperture Priority mode for 99% of my images. I dont think that the exposure mode shanges the AF mode excpt possibly on P mode. I dont have a D3100 so I cannot comment how this behaves.
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| Posted by jk: Sun Nov 5th, 2017 08:48 | 6th Post |
| Nikon D3100/3200 reset to factory. Press 'Menu' button on the back near the LCD display. Select the Shooting Menu or Setup Menu. Scroll through the options until 'Reset Shooting Options' is highlighted. Press OK and then highlight 'Yes' Press Ok again.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Adco: Mon Nov 6th, 2017 01:41 | 7th Post |
jk wrote:Nikon D3100/3200 reset to factory.Thanks for that. I will give it a bash.
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| Posted by Robert: Mon Nov 6th, 2017 04:04 | 8th Post |
Adco wrote:Thanks for that. I will give it a bash.  That's what Christopher did with my D3300 yesterday, The AF doesn't work at all anymore. Sigh. 
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Adco: Mon Nov 6th, 2017 04:11 | 9th Post |
Robert wrote:Adco wrote:Oops!
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| Posted by Adco: Mon Nov 6th, 2017 04:13 | 10th Post |
| Anyway, I spoke to the local Nikon agents who suggested I try the "P" mode. Apparently, in Auto mode, the camera will select what it thinks is the best settings and that includes the focus points! Not good for me. I'll give it another bash and see what happens.
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| Posted by Eric: Mon Nov 6th, 2017 12:19 | 11th Post |
Adco wrote:Anyway, I spoke to the local Nikon agents who suggested I try the "P" mode. Apparently, in Auto mode, the camera will select what it thinks is the best settings and that includes the focus points! Not good for me. I'll give it another bash and see what happens. That's exactly what I was eluding to in my post. Auto is just TOO auto including focus behaviour. I never want my camera to decide on what IT thinks should be in focus! Switching to Program lets YOU decide WHERE to focus ....the camera chooses the exposure settings (which it's quite good at). The only thing to be wary of in this P mode is that the camera doesn't know if the subject is moving ....or how fast. So if you have a moving subject the camera may not select a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the movement. That's when Shutter mode comes in. YOU select a fast shutter speed that will freeze the action....the camera makes changes to the aperture and ISO to get the right exposure again.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Adco: Mon Nov 6th, 2017 12:51 | 12th Post |
Eric wrote:Adco wrote:Thanks for that. Imagine if all the worlds problems could be solved so easily.
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| Posted by Eric: Mon Nov 6th, 2017 14:34 | 13th Post |
Adco wrote:Eric wrote: They could! If they let us photographers make all the decisions. 
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Adco: Tue Nov 7th, 2017 05:34 | 14th Post |
| So, this morning I took a few shots in the garden with the camera on "P" mode. On viewing on my PC I noticed that the focus was improved but the pictures looked pixelated as if I was using a low res camera. I could be an exposure issue but I'm not sure. Oh, the moving focus point issue didn't arise so maybe that has been resolved. Seems like auto mode does it's own thing and "P" mode stays where you set it.
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| Posted by Robert: Tue Nov 7th, 2017 06:36 | 15th Post |
| With the D3100-D3400 the Auto mode does just what it says. It's fully automatic. For most of the time, for me, that's fine - wonderful even. Nikon's fully auto mode usually produces excellent images. On the rare occasions I need something more, I find these cameras extremely frustrating. Almost all settings have to be made through the menu system, with which I am far from familiar. With my D200's, D300S and D3 I can access all the vital exposure controls without resorting to the menu hierarchy. BUT that comes at a cost. The D3xxx range is an interchangeable lens body aimed at people who prefer to be insulated from the technical aspects of photography. I bought mine so I could photograph at reasonable quality in my workshop/garage to document car building without exposing my more expensive cameras to the rigours of grinding and welding with no worries. It has also doubled as a 'family' camera so my son can get into photography without having to understand the technical side, which sends him to sleep! LOL He still managed to get soil or something into the pentaprism, which together with some bashing, seems to have killed the AF. You may consider getting something like a D200 or D300 both of which produce excellent images and are perfect for photographing bugs, these days they can be had for really cheap prices and represent a cost effective entry to photography where you have control. Close up photography benefits from manual settings, you need to manually control the aperture and focus particularly, that's key to maximising depth of focus and controlling sharpness.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Tue Nov 7th, 2017 08:31 | 16th Post |
Adco wrote:So, this morning I took a few shots in the garden with the camera on "P" mode. On viewing on my PC I noticed that the focus was improved but the pictures looked pixelated as if I was using a low res camera. I could be an exposure issue but I'm not sure. Factory Reset will change the JPG size to BASIC (tiny), you need to change to Fine (large size jpgs).
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by highlander: Tue Nov 7th, 2017 09:46 | 17th Post |
jk wrote:Adco wrote: Definitely check your image size. I have never worked out why the default it always the last one most people would ever use.
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| Posted by Eric: Tue Nov 7th, 2017 11:32 | 18th Post |
| As my friends above have said...you need to check the setting for photo quality and ensure it on Fine JPEG. You also need to make sure the Image size is Large. These two settings will ensure maximum quality photographs. It's also worthwhile going through ALL the camera setting to make sure there aren't some other residual AUTO peculiarities. White Balance and ISO can stay on auto....for now.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Adco: Tue Nov 7th, 2017 11:56 | 19th Post |
Eric wrote:As my friends above have said...you need to check the setting for photo quality and ensure it on Fine JPEG.Good advice. I have gone through all the settings and it seems that they are all fine. Max resolution and picture size. I'll put up some pics in the gallery section when I get a chance.
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| Posted by Adco: Tue Nov 7th, 2017 11:58 | 20th Post |
| I need a bit of help creating an album for the gallery. I get the message that I'm not allowed to create a new album.
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| Posted by Robert: Tue Nov 7th, 2017 13:57 | 21st Post |
| JK's your man, I never had a problem but JK understands it. I think you have to log out then back in or something...
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Robert: Wed Nov 8th, 2017 08:03 | 22nd Post |
Well done Adco, some nice bugs there. Nicely captured and presented, thanks for adding captions, I feel it adds a lot, A picture tells a thousand words perhaps but it still needs an intro!
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Wed Nov 8th, 2017 08:15 | 23rd Post |
| Looks like Adco managed to create his album by himself. Well done! This first step is the most difficult but the rest should be easier.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Nov 8th, 2017 10:04 | 24th Post |
| Well done Adco....you are cooking with gas now!!!!
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Adco: Wed Nov 8th, 2017 10:19 | 25th Post |
Thanks guys. The reason I couldn't create the album was because I wasn't logged in.....
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| Posted by Robert: Wed Nov 8th, 2017 12:44 | 26th Post |
| My understanding is that the forum and the gallery are separate software, somehow you have to log into both first time but once you have created your gallery, from there on they synchronise. It's just a matter of getting over that first hurdle.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Wed Nov 8th, 2017 13:14 | 27th Post |
Robert wrote: My understanding is that the forum and the gallery are separate software, somehow you have to log into both first time but once you have created your gallery, from there on they synchronise. Sometimes this is the case and others not. Best to assume that you are not logged in correctly to the Gallery if you have difficulties. Likewise trying to return to the forums from the Gallery you need to click on the Forums link not the main logo which should also work.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Adco: Sun Jan 7th, 2018 10:07 | 28th Post |
| Just some more feedback on the everlasting saga of my macro photography journey. Through reading, talking, asking and a bit of common sense etc, I have progressed to M mode. A scary jump up from P mode I must say. I realised that a lot of my focusing issues arose from camera shake. I had many blurry pics to contend with. So, I went to A mode and set the it to 18, then set the S mode to 1/125 or 1/160 and finally turned to M mode. That seemed to keep those settings even if I turned the camera off. I had to pop the flash up for most shots except when in direct sunlight. It has made a huge improvement to my shots. I get great close-ups and find I don't have to take as many shots as I did before. Saves a lot of time afterwards on the PC. Only drawback is that the battery runs out a bit sooner than before. Not too serious though. Well worth the trade-off.
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| Posted by Robert: Sun Jan 7th, 2018 12:33 | 29th Post |
| Well done, sometimes you have to learn the hard way, I know of wonderful photographers who tried their own ways but eventually accepted that so often with photography, the 'harder' way can be best. Then it become the easy way. because it's the route which brings the best images. It's only harder because it seems that way until you realise the advantages. Really it's just a different way.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Sun Jan 7th, 2018 12:38 | 30th Post |
| Well done Adco. In case you have not discovered as yet.... P does not stand for Professional but "Perhaps it will be right" M does not stand for Moron but "Megastar able to manage!" Next remember that Manual rather than AF focus mode is best for macro photography!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Adco: Mon Jan 8th, 2018 14:10 | 31st Post |
jk wrote:Well done Adco. That would be great if I could see the viewfinder clearly! Mine eyes doth get weaketh as mine age doth moveth on....
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| Posted by Robert: Mon Jan 8th, 2018 14:52 | 32nd Post |
Adco wrote:That would be great if I could see the viewfinder clearly! Mine eyes doth get weaketh as mine age doth moveth on.... Nikon have thought of that... They provide a diopter adjustment for most of their viewfinders, my D3300 has it and I am sure the other D3X00 bodies have it. There is a little wheel with + <-> - marks near the viewfinder which adjusts the diopter setting, so you can see the camera settings clearly in the viewfinder.
____________________ Robert. |
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