NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => What the Nerds Do => Topic started by: Akira on October 02, 2016, 03:12:34
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My deteriorated eyesight doesn't allow proper manual focus on the matte using a DSLR, so I always depend on AF or the focus aid in the optical viewfinder. And thus I always use the 4-way switch to move the single AF point around.
Sometimes I feel pressed, because I cannot move the AF point, and the 4-way switch doesn't respond. Then I find that the "L" lever around the switch is inadvertently set to "L" position, which happens every one in a while.
Since I've never been in need of locking the 4-way switch on a digital camera of any brand because of the purpose described above, I decided to lock this irritating "L" switch on my D750 permanently yet in an invertible way, unlike our beloved fierce bear who would use epoxy. :D
It was easy to find the way to lock the switch thanks to its deeply scooped area to the left of the tab unlike other Nikon models. I cut a small piece of plastic (red with leather-like emboss) to fit into the scooped area, and fix it to the place using a piece of double-sided adhesive.
I'm very happy with the result. Now the "L" switch is worry-free! Sorry for the terrible image quality of the attached image which was taken by my now-very-dated cellphone (this is the only camera that can take the picture "of" my D750!) and heavily cropped.
Hope this post of mine would make any sense....
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A roll of double sided sticky tape is one of those very useful things like duct tape that should always be a part of ones tool kit - even when travelling.
Nice application for double side tape BTW - I think that we have all run foul of the L lock switch at some time or other - I certainly know that I have.
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Funny thing, one of the worst features I find on the D3200 is that the control does not lock! To each his own, I guess, but since I use back button focus, and often prefer spot metering, the inability to lock the focus point is a constant irritation, as the position of the control is such that it's very easy to move it by accident just when handling the camera.
I wish you could remove the L lever whole, and send it to me!
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Thanks, Hugh, for the comment.
Yes, I also keep several different tapes near at hand for various purposes. Double-sided adhesive is handy when you want a clean look.
Funny thing, one of the worst features I find on the D3200 is that the control does not lock! To each his own, I guess, but since I use back button focus, and often prefer spot metering, the inability to lock the focus point is a constant irritation, as the position of the control is such that it's very easy to move it by accident just when handling the camera.
I wish you could remove the L lever whole, and send it to me!
LOL! I would be willing to send your the L lever if ever possible. I guess the small size of D3200 would contribute your problem: the 4-way switch can easily be touched with your thumb or the root of the thumb when you just grab the camera.
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very useful :o :o :o
i always lock the L switch but sometimes i would use it when i use AF lenses ::)
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I sometimes lock the L switch but quite infrequently. I sometimes inadvertently lock it and I've lost photos. Most often I try to use it when the camera is in review mode. I'm trying to learn to touch the shutter release to cancel the review mode. I haven't tried it but I'd think the new focus joystick would be a big improvement.
Dave
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very useful :o :o :o
i always lock the L switch but sometimes i would use it when i use AF lenses ::)
Rick, apparently you can manual focus with the old MF Nikkors without problem. 8)
I sometimes lock the L switch but quite infrequently. I sometimes inadvertently lock it and I've lost photos. Most often I try to use it when the camera is in review mode. I'm trying to learn to touch the shutter release to cancel the review mode. I haven't tried it but I'd think the new focus joystick would be a big improvement.
Dave, I use the 4-way switch not only to move the AF points around but also to scroll around the image to review. So, locking the "L" makes the camera even more stress-free for me.
The joystick of D5/500 is tactile. I would then wonder how to split the function between the joystick and 4-way switch... ::)
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I never use off-center AF points, so I keep the Lock lever locked, unless needs to be unlocked, which is pretty much never. On the Nikon DLSLRs I have/have had, keeping the switch in 'Lock' does prevent changing the AF point, but does not prevent navigation of the enlarged review image.
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Akira, I hear you clearly. I never locked it either and on occasion when I do move it to the L position - furious is what I feel when I realise it :D
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I never use off-center AF points, so I keep the Lock lever locked, unless needs to be unlocked, which is pretty much never. On the Nikon DLSLRs I have/have had, keeping the switch in 'Lock' does prevent changing the AF point, but does not prevent navigation of the enlarged review image.
Thanks, Keith, for confirming the function. I didn't remember how the position of the "L" lever affects in the review mode, and I cannot make sure of it anymore. :D
Akira, I hear you clearly. I never locked it either and on occasion when I do move it to the L position - furious is what I feel when I realise it :D
Yes, furious is the word! :D
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I intentionally lock the af point when working in studio because my nose presses the af location control
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I intentionally lock the af point when working in studio because my nose presses the af location control
Armando, I wonder when you would need to hold the camera at an angle of 30-45 degree? :o :o :o
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No need , I use my left eye , so my nose is all over the rear of the camera ::)
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No need , I use my left eye , so my nose is all over the rear of the camera ::)
I realize that the 4-way switch of D800 is a bit closer to the screen due to the absence of the articulating frame. Indeed the nose can push it inadvertently, but strangely I have never heard of such a user report... :o
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Here is another report of such a phenomenon, but not with every camera. I get the D200 cursor to move, but not the Df with my nose, because I too use my left eye :)
But it's not a problem because I see the red bold rectangle rushing from right to left before my eyes ;D
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I look into the viewfinder with my left eye, too, but have never had that problem with any camera. Maybe because Japanese have smaller noses.
Jakov, all you need is to develop the technique to push the OK button in the center of the 4-way switch with the nose! :D
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I look into the viewfinder with my left eye, too, but have never had that problem with any camera. Maybe because Japanese have smaller noses.
Jakov, all you need is to develop the technique to push the OK button in the center of the 4-way switch with the nose! :D
I do that Akira, but the D200 hasn't got an OK button in the middle of the cursor ;D
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I do that Akira, but the D200 hasn't got an OK button in the middle of the cursor ;D
Ah, so you need even more sophisticated technique to push the dead center of the 4-way switch. 8)
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While I seldom have the problem of inadvertent locking of the 4-way switch, what happens very frequently is that my nose hits the too easily depressed menu button on my D7100, having a similar stuck focus point effect.
It should be easy to fix by gluing a washer of proper dimensions around the menu button to make its surroundings taller, but I have not gotten around to find something suitable yet. Does any others have this problem? (I did check this out when I had the opportunity to handle a D500 in a store, and it did not occur with that one... My D200 also behaves well in this respect).
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Øivind, so you use the right eye...
Hmm...I never imagined that this humble thread would reveal the hidden ability of the human noses!
The washer for a 1/16 watt potentiometer fits nicely around the menu button of my D750: its internal diameter is just a little larger than the menu button.
That said, I would suspect that any metal may cause problem with your nose under such a freezing condition of Fairbanks?
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Hmm...I never imagined that this humble thread would reveal the hidden ability of the human noses!
When I'm forced to look toward a late afternoon sun as when driving west I'll turn my head sideways to use my nose to shade one eye while closing the other. The nose is indeed versatile.
Dave
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Øivind, so you use the right eye...
Hmm...I never imagined that this humble thread would reveal the hidden ability of the human noses!
The washer for a 1/16 watt potentiometer fits nicely around the menu button of my D750: its internal diameter is just a little larger than the menu button.
That said, I would suspect that any metal may cause problem with your nose under such a freezing condition of Fairbanks?
Thanks Akira. Yes, there are real perils associated with using a camera with metal parts at very low temperature -- during my past cold weather testing of Nikon bodies I got frost bite on the tip of my nose when it touched the back of my D200. Normally I would wear a face mask at -40°C though. There are many kinds of washers coming with electronic parts so the general idea might be good.
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I used to be left eyed until a nearly fatal accident broke my trochlear nerve, causing my two eyes to see different tilts to the horizon. Both eyes still work, and even see binocular above a certain point, but I woke up right eyed. Now although both eyes tilt about the same amount, around 5 degrees, down at the middle, my brain says the right is correct, and attributes the whole 10 degrees to the left. The first time I picked up a camera, after 40 or so years of left-eyedness, I found myself putting the right eye to the viewfinder. Very odd indeed. But the upshot of it is that my nose does not hit the focus point button, but instead turns on the menu. Unfortunately, as noted above, the placement is such that I'm constantly hitting it with my thumb anyway.
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Matthew, sorry to learn about your mishap and trouble. Good for you to be able to enjoy photography again, albeit some inconvenience.
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I'm also a left-eye camera user, and compound my problems by keeping my glasses on while I look through the viewfinder. I've tried to change both, but can't accustom myself to changing either. I use the L switch often enough to want to be able to use it, so no epoxy for me. My nose does collide with the focus selector on the D-810 occasionally. Initially it's perplexing, and then annoying, when you're trying to track a subject and the focus indicator suddenly marches over to the left of the screen. Interestingly I don't ever remember this problem with the D-7000.
Cheers - John
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John, when I hold my camera horizontally, I tend to look into the viewfinder as if I'm looking up a little, so that my nose is not pushed to the back of the camera. In the vertical orientation, I recently found it better to hold the camera with the grip down, and hold the camera so that my cheek is pushed to the camera. This way I can hold the camera more stable than I would when I hold the camera with the grip up, and that without pushing any buttons inadvertently.
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When I'm forced to look toward a late afternoon sun as when driving west I'll turn my head sideways to use my nose to shade one eye while closing the other. The nose is indeed versatile.
Dave, you are living wonder...
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If your camera had a silicone skin fitted then nothing gets knocked ...personally I am in the leave it locked camp....who has time to move the focus point about??
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Øivind, so you use the right eye...
Hmm...I never imagined that this humble thread would reveal the hidden ability of the human noses!
The washer for a 1/16 watt potentiometer fits nicely around the menu button of my D750: its internal diameter is just a little larger than the menu button.
That said, I would suspect that any metal may cause problem with your nose under such a freezing condition of Fairbanks?
I would think the same size washer could be obtained made out of Neoprene. A Neoprene washer could be fastened with Pliobon a type of contact cement that remains pliable and removable over the years. It was used to fasten the leatherette found on Nikon cameras from my first Nikkormat FTn to my F3. It was the smell of a new Nikon SLR for all those years.
Dave
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If your camera had a silicone skin fitted then nothing gets knocked ...personally I am in the leave it locked camp....who has time to move the focus point about??
The silicon skin would be a good idea. The need to lock the 4-way switch depends on the applications.
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I'm right-eyed by preference/convenience, but can switch easily if needed.
I constantly trigger the menu or sometimes the playback button on my D800.
Never happened on the old, much missed, but under-pixeled D3.
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[..] I always depend on AF or the focus aid in the optical viewfinder. And thus I always use the 4-way switch to move the single AF point around.
Sometimes I feel pressed, because I cannot move the AF point, and the 4-way switch doesn't respond. Then I find that the "L" lever around the switch is inadvertently set to "L" position, which happens every one in a while.
My usage with the D600 is very similar. I mostly use manual focus lenses and use the matte focus screen as much as possible, but often end up having to move the AF point around and use the "green dot" focus confirmation. It's not an ideal solution but can help when lighting conditions are poor and accurate focusing using the matte screen is not possible. Even then I am not always convinced it is entirely accurate. I recently took some pictures in a forest with my AIS 35/1.4 at f/2.8. Lighting was dim and even after multiple attempts using the green dot I am not sure I nailed the focus. Maybe my lens is not sharp? I should have tried live view but that's tricky when shooting hand-held from a swing-bridge. Maybe time to buy an AF lens :o :o
As for which eye to use, I am right-eye dominant, but my left eye sees a little more clearly so I often focus and compose using the right eye, and do a quick check with the left before taking the picture. So far I have not locked the AF point by accident, but it is a useful reminder if it ever happens.
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I'm right-eyed by preference/convenience, but can switch easily if needed.
I constantly trigger the menu or sometimes the playback button on my D800.
Never happened on the old, much missed, but under-pixeled D3.
The increased amount of buttons results in the more confined layouts, which may lead to the accidental operation. I personally doubt the need of "I" button in addition to "my menu" function.
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My usage with the D600 is very similar. I mostly use manual focus lenses and use the matte focus screen as much as possible, but often end up having to move the AF point around and use the "green dot" focus confirmation. It's not an ideal solution but can help when lighting conditions are poor and accurate focusing using the matte screen is not possible. Even then I am not always convinced it is entirely accurate. I recently took some pictures in a forest with my AIS 35/1.4 at f/2.8. Lighting was dim and even after multiple attempts using the green dot I am not sure I nailed the focus. Maybe my lens is not sharp? I should have tried live view but that's tricky when shooting hand-held from a swing-bridge. Maybe time to buy an AF lens :o :o
I suspect that the focus error of 35/1.4 at f2.8 is also caused by the focus shift. Apparently many fast lenses (f1.8 and faster) shows the most obvious focus shift between f2.0 and F2.8, which contradicts the "green dot" confirmation only functions with the lens wide open.
Unfortunately Nikon DSLRs (I don't know about the cameras of other manufactures) don't allow neither AF or MF-aid with the stop-down button pushed. Considering that the AF sensors are optimize for f2.8 or f5.6, stop-down AF/MF-aid would be beneficial for fast lenses.
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Yes focus shift could be the problem, that agrees with my results - focus plane a little behind where I wanted it.
How to solve this problem? Is it possible to focus manually in live view while pressing DOF preview?
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Yes focus shift could be the problem, that agrees with my results - focus plane a little behind where I wanted it.
How to solve this problem? Is it possible to focus manually in live view while pressing DOF preview?
Basically the lens will always be stopped down to the aperture value you set before you switch the camera to the live view mode. With the non-CPU Ai/Ais lenses, you can adjust the aperture while in live view mode. You can thus focus with the working aperture without affected by the focus shift.
D750 and newer (and higher-end) models allows the adjustment of the aperture using the command dial in live view mode, which were not possible with older bodies (maybe except for D4S?).
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Thanks. I think I should try live view more often, I'm always nervous that it drains batteries too fast!