Problem with D300 autofocus

[banyantree]

My D300 is no longer displaying the focus points on the grid diplay when i look through the view finder. I hope that this is due to some setting in the camera which i have mistakenly changed.
Could anyone please help. I hav edoen a reset on all the settings but still no focus points.

Thanks

[JacePhoto]

Originally Posted by banyantree My D300 is no longer displaying the focus points on the grid diplay when i look through the view finder. I hope that this is due to some setting in the camera which i have mistakenly changed. Could anyone please help. I hav edoen a reset on all the settings but still no focus points. Thanks

I dont have the manual with me but its probably the focus selection button at the back of the camera. Its an analogue setting and not on any of the 'menu' button.

Also, remb to unlock the dial because you wont be able to adjust it.

Thirdly, look thru the view finder at a light area, not a dark area. Light area, easier to find it.

Hope this helps.

[Squid]

Perhaps you may have toggled the AF-area mode selection, shown as item no. 10 on page 7 of manual, switched to auto-area AF. Under continuous AF (or AF-C) mode, the active focus point not displayed on the viewfinder as mentioned on page 64 of manual.

[tzsiang]

Originally Posted by Squid Perhaps you may have toggled the AF-area mode selection, shown as item no. 10 on page 7 of manual, switched to auto-area AF. Under continuous AF (or AF-C) mode, the active focus point not displayed on the viewfinder as mentioned on page 64 of manual.

Squid is right, perhaps you have set it to AF-C mode. Check on your camera body front beside your lens mount point.

[EdOkH]

could you have set the AF to 51pts?

[banyantree]

The focus selection button is on auto and its unlocked.
The AF is at 51 points which has worked previously but even setting at 11 points does not work.

The only red focus point shown in the viewfinder was positioned off to the far left. I used the joypad to move it to the centre. This never happened before. So i only have one focus point in the centre of the grid display.
Any other suggestions as to why i'm not getting any focus points on the grid display?

[banyantree]

Still cannot get any focus highlights on the viewfinder.
Any help much appreciated.

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by banyantree The focus selection button is on auto and its unlocked. The AF is at 51 points which has worked previously but even setting at 11 points does not work. The only red focus point shown in the viewfinder was positioned off to the far left. I used the joypad to move it to the centre. This never happened before. So i only have one focus point in the centre of the grid display. Any other suggestions as to why i'm not getting any focus points on the grid display?

Which AF area mode are you at? Single point AF, Dynamic-area AF or Auto-area AF (pg 64 of D300 manual)? I suppose you might have accidentally switched to Single point AF. See #2 and #3 posted by JacePhoto and Squid.

[banyantree]

It's set to auto area focus.
Where do i check if continuous servo AF is set?

[Benosaurous]

Originally Posted by banyantree It's set to auto area focus. Where do i check if continuous servo AF is set?

You already answer your question, auto area focus will not display the focus points as the camera chooses the points for you, as for cs af.

i hate to say this,

RTFM

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by banyantree It's set to auto area focus. Where do i check if continuous servo AF is set?

The switch on the side of the lens mount where your left hand can easily reach, marked with C, S and M. See pg 4 of your manual, item no 14. I think you seriously need to read through your manual. It's really hard for us to help if you don't help yourself with the manual. Half the time you don't know what we're talking about or which control we're referring to.

[banyantree]

Ok Thanks.
The continous servo AF was set which was the problem. Strange since i have tried every different setting.
Thanks for the advice. Read manual 3 times but as a newbie to photography it can be a little overwhelming. Photos are fantastic though from the D300.

[JacePhoto]

hmm... maybe one day, i would ask the same question...

Just to test all of you (D300 users).

When will yr AF illumination not light up when you most needed it (Dark situations). What did you press that the whole illumination doesnt work??? haha....

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by banyantree Ok Thanks. The continous servo AF was set which was the problem. Strange since i have tried every different setting. Thanks for the advice. Read manual 3 times but as a newbie to photography it can be a little overwhelming. Photos are fantastic though from the D300.

Take your time to understand the manual. Yes, the features of the D300 can be quite intimidating for a newbie. At least learn where your controls are first even though you may not know what they are for, at least you would have an impression that a certain control is there.

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by JacePhoto hmm... maybe one day, i would ask the same question... Just to test all of you (D300 users). When will yr AF illumination not light up when you most needed it (Dark situations). What did you press that the whole illumination doesnt work??? haha....

When your AF point is not at the centre.

[JacePhoto]

Originally Posted by lsisaxon When your AF point is not at the centre.

haha... by bad experience or by reading? haha...

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by JacePhoto haha... by bad experience or by reading? haha...

By experience with older bodies. It's not just D300 but I just tested, certain points can still trigger the SB-800 AF assist light.