2

A while back I asked about the purpose of back-button autofocus and got several answers. The Nikon D7000 lacks the "AF ON" button that's present in some higher-end cameras.

Is it possible to use custom settings to configure the D7000 for some sort of back-button autofocus arrangement? If so, does one lose anything compared with a camera with a true back button dedicated for that purpose?

Community
  • 1
ahockley
  • 21,446
  • 6
  • 75
  • 147

1 Answers1

3

See this photo.net post: http://photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00Z4WD

Essentially, the camera is too small to accommodate an AF-ON button. You can map this function to the AF-L/AE-L button by changing custom setting f5. You will not be able to use the button for autofocus lock or auto-exposure lock if you do so.

bwDraco
  • 5,936
  • 2
  • 37
  • 69
  • It's not that small of a camera. Seems like they could have managed to fit it in if they worked at the design. – mattdm Dec 29 '11 at 18:34
  • 1
    I suspect it's more about keeping distinction from upper models than about size. If you know enough to ask for back button AF and AE-L, you belong in target market for at least D300. – Imre Dec 30 '11 at 21:03
  • 2
    @Imre: I share your suspicion, but disagree that that this feature necessarily belongs in a higher price bracket. Pentax has manged to fit both buttons nicely onto the K-5, which roughly compares to the D7000 (although it's actually smaller). I mention this not to be all rah-rah Pentax, but because I think it confirms your suspicion — Pentax does this where Nikon "can't" precisely because Pentax doesn't have a more expensive camera to reserve features for. – mattdm Dec 31 '11 at 16:10