Help with Nikon D50?

Question

I've borrowed this carmera from my parents and I stupidly can't figure out how to take a picture. I push the button down and the camera just foceses and refoceses what I am trying to take a picture of.

I should have asked for the manual. If it's this hard to take a picture, this camera might be too advanced for me,

Answer 1

It sounds like you are in continuous focus mode. If you just keep pressing the rest of the way, the camera will finally take a picture. Look on the status LCD on top of the camera. If you are set to anything other than "auto" auto-focus (see below), you will notice the letters AF-S or AF-C near the middle of the display.

You might make out better (or be more familiar) with the single focus mode.

Press the menu button.
Go to the "Setup" menu, which is done this way:
- Toggle to the left
- Toggle up or down until the wrench icon is highlighted
- Toggle back to the right
Toggle down to CSM/Setup Menu
Toggle to the right
Toggle down to "Detailed"
Toggle right to select "OK"
The setup menu will now show many more options.
Toggle down to "Autofocus"
Toggle right to open the autofocus menu
Toggle up or down to choose your focus mode.
- AF-A means "automatic" and the camera chooses between single or continuous focus depending on other settings and whether the subject is moving or not
- AF-S means "single" focus. This locks focus when the shutter button is pressed half-way down. This is what most people are familiar with from point and shoot cameras.
- AF-C means "continuous" focus. The camera will continuously refocus while the shutter release is held half-way down. This is useful for moving subjects.

Changing autofocus only takes effect in the P, A, S, and M modes. All other preset modes will choose according to the requirements of that mode.

Do you know how to do this on the D200? There is a 3-position switch on the front of the camera. No menus, submenus or advanced menus to step through. I guess that's one reason the camera costs about nine hundred dollars more than the D50.

Answer 2

Hi,

Turn the AF-MF switch to manual and focus manually. It will not be 100% precise at first but you'll start getting better in a few shots.

Once you're comfortable focusing manually you can turn the AF on. What you need to do is give the camera something to focus on. The eyes are something that always works and that should always be in focus.

You need to practice a technique called "focus and recompose". You point the AF sensor at your subject's eyes, press the shutter half way to focus, recompose your shot and shoot your photo pushing the shutter all the way down.

Pretty soon it will become second nature.

Hope this helps!

Ignacio