Nikon 8400 User Manual

Page 32

Basic Photography

AF / AE Lock

Focus and exposure are locked when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway,
and remain locked while the shutter-release button is held in this position (focus
lock). Focus lock can be used to take pictures of off-center subjects or in situations
in which the camera is unable to focus using autofocus.

Press shutter-release button rest of way
down to take picture.

Take picture

Focus and exposure are locked while shut-
ter-release button is pressed halfway.

Recompose picture

Check that focus indicator glows steadi-
ly, indicating that subject is in focus.

Check focus indicator

Position subject in center of frame and
press shutter-release button halfway.

Focus

* Do not change distance between camera and subject while focus lock is in effect. If

subject moves, release shutter-release button and focus again at new distance.

The

Button

Focus and exposure will also lock while the

button

is pressed (if desired, the

button can be used to lock

focus but not exposure, or vice versa;

139).

F2.6

126

1/60

F2.6

126

1/60

F2.6

126

1/60

Getting Good Results with Autofocus

Autofocus performs best when there is contrast between the subject and the back-
ground and the subject is evenly lit. It does not perform well with very dark subjects
(unless the AF-assist illuminator is on and the subject is within range of the illuminator),
low-contrast scenes (e.g., where the subject is the same color as the background), scenes
containing continuous repeating patterns or objects at different distances from the cam-
era (e.g., where the subject is inside a cage), or subjects that are moving rapidly.