D700 focus point options

[david_carson]

<p>I am finally getting ready to dip my toe into the digital realm, and have a question about the D700 focus point. I rented a D3 last weekend, and loved the focus point display method (etched into the screen). A thin, light red glowing rectangle is the focus point (just like my old Canon 1v).</p>

<p>However, when I picked up a D700, the focus point is a heavy black rectangle that blinks red when focused. I understand the focus points aren't etched in the D700, but are in a LCD layer.</p>

<p>So, my questions to you guys is, "Can one change the focus point display? Either making it thiner or making it red?"</p>

[liljuddakalilknyttphotogra]

<p>Normally it glows red when in low light situations & thin black in daylight. It should act the exact same way the D3 does.<br>

Did you get yours used?<br>

Lil :-)</p>

[david_carson]

<p>I haven't bought one yet. The couple I've looked at (at different vendors) both have a thick black focus point.</p>

[hawkman]

<p>The AF points in D700 can appear black or red depending on the BG to give you best visibility, there is no way to make them "thinner" like the D3. </p>

[liljuddakalilknyttphotogra]

<p>David - mine are rather thin & from what I remember of the D3's focus points they're the same - - but I may be wrong.....<br>

Lil :-)</p>

[elliot1]

<p>Lil, the intensity of the D3's focus points is adjustable (option A6)</p>

[david_carson]

<p>I dug a little deeper and looked into the custom functions. Here's what the manual from nikonusa.com has to say:</p>

<p align="left"><strong>a6: AF Point Illumination</strong> <br /> <strong>Auto </strong> <br /> (default) <br /> The selected focus point is automatically highlighted as needed to establish contrast with the background. DX format crop is indicated by frame in viewfinder. <strong></strong> <br /> <strong>On </strong> <br /> The selected focus point is always highlighted, regardless of the brightness of the background. DX format crop is <br /> indicated by frame in viewfinder. Depending on the brightness of the background, the selected focus point may <br /> be difficult to see.<br /> <strong>Off</strong> <br /> The selected focus point is not highlighted. Area outside DX format crop is indicated by transparent mask in viewfinder.</p>

<p align="left"><br /> So, since I don't have a D700 to test, can somebody who does try these options and post? I'm wondering if the "on" option means the point is red.</p>

[liljuddakalilknyttphotogra]

<p>David,<br>

OK - I have tried to figure out what you want me to test. OK - this is what I have for you.<br>

If in AUTO - the focus point remains black in good light. However - once it's darker it goes on & turns red for a moment when focus is locked in.<br>

ON - with this setting, no matter what the light is - once the camera has locked focus the focus point flashes red for a moment. This no matter what the light is.<br>

OFF - there is no highlighting of the focus point as the focus has locked in.</p>

<p>I want to stress that I see no difference in size of the boarder of the focus point.<br>

Does this help?<br>

Lil :-)</p>

[david_carson]

<p>Thanks Lil! I guess what I mean is when a6 is set to "on", is the rectangle red whenever the meter is active?<br /> <br /> For example, with the D3, I touch the shutter button to activate the meter, and the rectangle lights up red. When I push halfway it focuses and blinks a brighter red when it has focused.</p>

[liljuddakalilknyttphotogra]

<p>David,<br>

first of - it's not a meter - it's a focusing point/square. We need to make sure we're speaking of the same thing or I'll get lost. :-)<br>

The rectangle, which is normally black, is activated by the shutter release as I focus on a subject. When I activate the shutter release button, the rectangle flashes red one time - but that's the only time the rectangle turns red. The rest of the time it's black.<br>

Lil :-)</p>

[david_carson]

<p>Ok, I finally just found a store with a body and figured this out. The focus system philosophy in the D700 is different than the D3.<br>

There is no custom function to make the D700 focus point always glow red (I only use the central focus point), unlike the D3. Custom function A6 doesn't fix it on any of its settings.</p>

<p>Also, I discovered that there is no way to make the focus point blink once focus is achieved (like any Canon and I believe the D3). The D700's focus point will blink if you press half-way down on the shutter button/AF-button to tell you which point is active, but the only controls that will tell you that focus is good are 1) the beep, if you have this turned on, and 2) the little green dot in the lower left of the viewfinder. </p>

<p>Thanks everyone!</p>

[conwaygroup]

<p>The red focus point indicator on the D3 does indeed blink but twice. Once after focus has been initiated and once again after focus has been achieved. The actions coincide with the actions of the green focus arrows and dot at the lower left of the viewfinder.<br>

Your welcome!</p>

[brooks_lester]

<p>Either way, I wouldn't let the difference determine your decision to buy the D700. It's a great camera with the same sensor as the D3. The viewfinder (90%) and lack of standard portrait grip are the only significant differences between the two cameras. You can factor for the 90% viewfinder when framing (or use Live View to see 100%) and buy the portrait grip as an addition for the D700. The option to not mount the portrait grip gives you a much smaller, less conspicuous camera when coupled with a prime.</p>