D90 User Group (Thread IV)

[makolit]

thanks pasay/Troy. so the AF point is just used for metering on manual. cheers!

@ troy, is it better to set the cam body on M rather than the lens? or is this personal preference? will the body M setting override the A setting on the lens or vice-versa?

cheers!
my D90 knowledge base just went up a notch (and i thought i've read through the manual already!).

 

[TroyP]

I'm no expert, but I don't think there's any difference between setting your lens or camera to manual focus. You don't need to turn both to manual, but maybe there's some weird quirks with older lens.

 

[pasay]

thanks pasay/Troy. so the AF point is just used for metering on manual. cheers!

@ troy, is it better to set the cam body on M rather than the lens? or is this personal preference? will the body M setting override the A setting on the lens or vice-versa?

cheers!
my D90 knowledge base just went up a notch (and i thought i've read through the manual already!).

You need to have both the lens and camera set to A to get AF. Its like a double switch, doesnt matter which one you turn off.

AF-S lenses have a built in motor, thats why there's a M/A-A or M-A mode. You can turn off either the motor on the lens, or cut the power from the cam body.

AF lenses like AF 50mm dont have a motor, so u turn AF off on just the cam body.

 

[makolit]

thanks for the great input guys! understand it better now.

cheers!

 

[parky]

When using AF-area mode and AFS, i tried to focus and recompose but failed. The focusing point (cursor) in the viewfinder simply doesn't
move when arrows key (multi-selector) is depressed.
i suspect there is something wrong with my AF sensor.
what do you guys reckon. I am thinking of sending it to NSC for repair but I bought my DSLR in Sept last year. slightly more than a year now. What should I do.?? Please advise. TIA

 

[rijac]

When using AF-area mode and AFS, i tried to focus and recompose but failed. The focusing point (cursor) in the viewfinder simply doesn't
move when arrows key (multi-selector) is depressed.
i suspect there is something wrong with my AF sensor.
what do you guys reckon. I am thinking of sending it to NSC for repair but I bought my DSLR in Sept last year. slightly more than a year now. What should I do.?? Please advise. TIA

did you accidentally switch the AF Sensor Selector lock to L?

 

[parky]

did you accidentally switch the AF Sensor Selector lock to L?

thanks for the reply.
you mean f4 in custom settings. ??
what is the default ?
i noticed the AE-L is not display in the viewfinder when shutter is depressed halfway.
AF sensor selector is not L but on the dotted selection

 

[rijac]

thanks for the reply.
you mean f4 in custom settings. ??
what is the default ?
i noticed the AE-L is not display in the viewfinder when shutter is depressed halfway.

no. i mean the switch on the back of the cam. above the info button. it has a white dot and an "L". if you flick it to L, the selectors in your viewfinder will be locked.

 

[parky]

no. i mean the switch on the back of the cam. above the info button. it has a white dot and an "L". if you flick it to L, the selectors in your viewfinder will be locked.

AF sensor selector is not L but on the dotted selection

 

[rijac]

AF sensor selector is not L but on the dotted selection

Go to MENU > Custom Setting Menu > a Autofocus > a1 AF-area mode and select Single Point.

this should allow you to choose which af selector you want.

 

[parky]

Go to MENU > Custom Setting Menu > a Autofocus > a1 AF-area mode and select Single Point.

this should allow you to choose which af selector you want.

hahaha thanks a lot
you are right.

 

[rijac]

hahaha thanks a lot
you are right.

wah. save you money at nsc. next time you must take me out for kopi.

 

[Nikihunter]

is there anyway to view focal length (eg. 50mm or 135mm etc) in viewfinder in D90? let say if i am using a zoom lens (eg. 18-105mm), i want to set the focal length to exactly 85mm, how to set ?(beside guess or trial and error to take pic and view info)?

 

[rijac]

is there anyway to view focal length (eg. 50mm or 135mm etc) in viewfinder in D90? let say if i am using a zoom lens (eg. 18-105mm), i want to set the focal length to exactly 85mm, how to set ?(beside guess or trial and error to take pic and view info)?

don't know about that but if you can't you can always do trial and error just once then mark your lens - its already marked at 18, 24, 35, 50, 70 and 105 which are sort of standard lengths. you just need trial an error to set the 85 which is the missing 'standard' length. it does fall somewhere almost midway between the 70 and 105 mark on your lens.

 

[rijac]

don't know about that but if you can't you can always do trial and error just once then mark your lens - its already marked at 18, 24, 35, 50, 70 and 105 which are sort of standard lengths. you just need trial an error to set the 85 which is the missing 'standard' length. it does fall somewhere almost midway between the 70 and 105 mark on your lens.

the other way is to stick an sb600 or 800 on it and the flash will tell the focal length.

 

[parky]

Go to MENU > Custom Setting Menu > a Autofocus > a1 AF-area mode and select Single Point.

this should allow you to choose which af selector you want.

you got it. thats how i always lock focus and then recompose
and not using the p n s camera method of focus on the area, half press the shutter, then recompose

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

is there anyway to view focal length (eg. 50mm or 135mm etc) in viewfinder in D90? let say if i am using a zoom lens (eg. 18-105mm), i want to set the focal length to exactly 85mm, how to set ?(beside guess or trial and error to take pic and view info)?

no there's no way to see the focal length in the viewfinder or on the camera
why would you need such precision though? Isn't it more important to get what you want to capture into the viewfinder frame?

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

the other way is to stick an sb600 or 800 on it and the flash will tell the focal length.

but that's only quite vague... I don't have SB800, but my Sb600 only has focal length displayed in big increments. I think 24mm-35-50- (can't remember liao).
Anyway the point is that I don't find it precise enough for Nikihunter's request.

 

[Nikihunter]

thanks guys for your suggestions..
BTW i find pentax has this option. refer to the link below. so i thought of D90 has too..
http://a.img-dpreview.com/news/0801/pentax/pentax_k20dk10d.jpg

sometimes i find this option is useful for taking multiple exposure or taking same object/landscape in different situations and overlap if needed (HDR?). For zoom lenses such as 18-105 or 55-300, i just take pic as long as the coverage is just right for the frame. Next time if i want to take same pic same angle, setting focal length is head ache to me...

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

thanks guys for your suggestions..
BTW i find pentax has this option. refer to the link below. so i thought of D90 has too..
http://a.img-dpreview.com/news/0801/pentax/pentax_k20dk10d.jpg

sometimes i find this option is useful for taking multiple exposure or taking same object/landscape in different situations and overlap if needed (HDR?). For zoom lenses such as 18-105 or 55-300, i just take pic as long as the coverage is just right for the frame. Next time if i want to take same pic same angle, setting focal length is head ache to me...

you absolutely sure that the Pentax has this feature?
Seems intriguing... must check n confirm