V5.

01
2/23/14
Autofocus Area Mode
Set by using the AF-Mode Button in conjunction with the Sub-Command (front) Dial
Single Dynamic Area
3-D
Tracking
Auto-
Area
1-point 9-Point 21-Point 39-Point
Use for subjects that are
Stationary
Predictably
Moving
Unpredictably
Moving
Rapidly
Moving
Erratically
Moving
Side to Side
(esp. human
subjects with
G or D lenses)
Focus
Mode
Autofocus
Mode

Set by using the
Focus-Mode
Selector
Set by using the AF-Mode
Button along with the Main
Command (rear) Dial

Manual focus point selection: 39 or 11 focus points are selectable based upon Shooting Menu a6: Number of focus points
AF-S
2
Single-
servo AF
Press
AF-L
4
to refocus
not available
AF-C
3
Continuous-
servo AF
Hold
AF-L
4
to focus
Manual
5
(M)
not applicable
Turn focus
ring on lens
to focus
use
focus ring
on lenses
not available
Live View and Movie focusing choices can be set using the AF-Mode
button or by using the Shooting Menu a8: Live View/Movie AF
Face
Priority
Wide
Area
Normal
Area
Subject
Tracking
Can be set by using the
AF-Mode button or using
Shooting Menu a8:
Auto focuses
on faces and then
tracks
Focuses on a
large area in
landscapes
Focuses on
a smaller
area in scene
Tracks
locked-on
subject
Live View/Movie AF
AF-S
Single-servo AF
for stationary subjects
Press
AF-L
4

to focus
*
AF-F
Fulltime-servo AF
for moving subjects
Hold
AF-L
4
to FREEZE
focusing
*
Manual
5
(M)
not applicable
Turn focus
ring on lens
to focus
use
focus ring
on lenses
not available
*With Subject-Tracking AF, use the OK button to lock/unlock on the subject.
Other Shooting Menu Autofocus settings:
a1 and a2 Priority Selection determines whether or not focus lock is required for shutter release in AF-C and AF-S modes, respectively.
5
a3 Focus Tracking with Lock-On adjusts how AF reacts to objects briefly passing the focus points while in continuous-servo modes via AF-C or AF-A.
3
a4 AF Point Illumination determines if and when the focus points get highlighted in red to improve visibility in the viewfinder while focusing.
a5 Focus Point Wrap-Around determines if the selected focus-point jumps to the opposite side when hitting an edge while using the Multi-Selector.
a7 Built-In AF-assist Illuminator determines if the illumination light beam is enabled for improved focusing in dim lighting (see other side for details).
1
When using either Quick-response or Delayed-response Remote modes while in viewfinder mode, the camera will not release
the shutter unless the selected focus point is in focus.
2
In AF-S mode, focus stays locked at the focus distance from when your AF-L button (e.g., the shutter release button, or AE/L-AF-L ("back") button).
was pressed, even while holding it down or after lifting your finger. You must lift your finger and press your AF-L button again to refocus.
3
In AF-C mode, focus continues to adjust until you lift your finger off your AF-L button (e.g., the shutter release button, or AE/L-AF-L ("back") button).
As long as you hold down your AF-L button, AF-C mode changes focus distance as the focus point passes over the scene.
4
By default, the shutter-release button (pressed halfway) serves as your AF-L button.
It can be changed to the Fn button on the front of the camera using Controls Menu > f3 AF lock only, and/or
It can be changed to the AE-L/AF-L button on the back of the camera using Controls Menu > f5 AF-ON
5
In Manual-focus mode, you can release the shutter even if nothing is in focus.
You can also release the shutter while out of focus in AF-C and AF-S modes by changing Autofocus settings a1 and a2 to Release
2011, 2012 Systems Marketing Associates (see other side for details on using the AF-assist Illuminator)
Autofocus
(AF)
Autofocus
(AF)
A
F
-
A

A
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-
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v
o

A
F


a
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A
F
-
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A
F
-
C

Control Panel and Viewfinder indicators
TRACKS
BY COLOR
Live View
and Movies
If desired, use the Focus
Selector Lock to freeze
the focus point's position
Adjust sensitivity to passing objects by using Shooting Menu a3: Focus Tracking with Lock-On
The focusing combination is available and the
shutter can release even when not in focus.
The multi-selector can be used to select the focus point.
The OK button selects the center point.
The multi-selector can be used to select the focus
point. The OK button locks on and off the subject.
The focusing combination is available but with
shutter-release constraints (see footnote 1).
39
AF-assist illuminator works with any of the 39 focus
points (see AF-Assist on the other side).
1
AF-assist illuminator only works with the center
focus point (see AF-Assist on the other side).
1 39
Stationary
subject
Moving
subject
Autofocus Mode using the Viewfinder
Set by using the AF-Mode Button along with the Main Command (rear) Dial
Single-
Servo
Auto-Servo (AF-A)
Continuous
-Servo
(AF-S)
Subject is
stationary
Subject is
moving
(AF-C)
Shooting Mode
a7 (AF-assist)
Setting
AF-area
Mode
Landscape, Night Landscape,
Beach/Snow, Sunset,
Dusk/Dawn, Sports, and Pet
Portrait Scene modes.
OFF
(default)
Illuminator is
not available
All other
modes
Auto-Area
ON
Other modes,
with center
point selected
Other modes,
without center
point selected
2011, 2012 Systems Marketing Associates
(e.g., Auto, Manual,
Aperature-priority, Portrait
Scene, Blossom Scene,
etc.)
AF-assist Illumination
Illuminator will come
on to assist with
autofocusing
if light is dim
Specifics about using the AF-assist Illuminator

1. You have to set Menu item a7 - Built-in AF-assist illuminator to ON.
2. You have to use a compatible lens. The lenses that cannot be used with, or may hamper the use of, AF-assist are listed on page 273 of
the User's Manual. The lists seem to consist of "big glass" and is probably not an electronics issue. An example of an incompatible lens is
the Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom. The illuminator comes on but the beam is blocked by the lens. Apparently size does matter. Note: Using
a speedlight for its elevated AF-assist illuminator may allow you to overcome this big-glass problem.
3. You have to select a Shooting Mode OTHER THAN these Scene modes: Landscape, Night Landscape, Beach/Snow, Sunset,
Dusk/Dawn, Sports, or Pet Portrait. (Surprisingly, the AF-assist illuminator will flash in No Flash shooting mode.)
4. You need to be using the viewfinder and your Autofocus mode needs to be set to either AF-S or AF-A (i.e., it will NOT work if your
autofocus mode is set to AF-C, you are using Live View, or you are shooting movies).
5. If your Autofocus mode is set to AF-A, you must make sure the subject is stationary when you initiate focusing so the camera can drop
into AF-S (single-servo autofocus) mode. (If the subject is moving, AF-A will automatically drop into AF-C mode and block the use of AF-
assist.)
6. If your Autofocus-area mode is set to Single-point or one of the Dynamic-area modes (9-point, 21-point, 39-point), you must preset the
default focus point to the center point. If you are using Auto-area mode, you don't have an option to select a focus point; the best focus
point(s) will be automatically chosen from among the 39.
7. The scene has to be dimly lit enough that AF-assist is needed.
8. You have to initiate focusing (e.g., by half-pressing the shutter release, or by pressing the AE-L/AF-L, the "back button", with f5 set to AF-
ON).
9. If you are using a speedlight (e.g., an SB-800) to provide AF-assist illumination, you need to consider some other restrictions such as
which of the 39 focus points are compatible (see pages 277 and 279 of the User s Manual for details). Also see item #2 above.
10. You have to keep in mind that, for the illumination to be effective,:
a. the subject distance should be 1'8" to 9'10" (0.5-3.0m)
b. the focal length should be from 24mm to 200 mm
c. the lens hood should be removed


Considering all of the above, the simplest, most reliable way to set up your camera for AF-assist illumination is:
Turn a7 ON
Stay away from certain Scene modes like Sports
Use the viewfinder in AF-S, Single-point mode with the center focus point preselected.


Additional notes:
If f2 is set to RESET (the default), you can instantly snap to the center focus point by pressing the OK button in the center of the multi-
selector on the back of the camera. You can also use the focus-selector (focus point) Lock lever below the multi-selector to keep the focus
point from being repositioned accidentally.
If your Autofocus Area mode is set to Auto-Area, one of the focus points that it will probably use is the center one because, a) that is where
the illumination beam is aimed, and b) that focus point is engineered to be the most accurate one.

So you can better control where the AF-assist beam gets aimed and consequently what ends up in focus, you may want to set up your
camera so that focus locking is not controlled by half-pressing the shutter-release button. One way of doing that is to set f5 - Assign AE-L/Af-
L button to AF-ON. This moves focus locking to the "back button" and allows you to use your thumb to lock the focus on what you want, then
recompose before locking the exposure and releasing the shutter.
The AF-assist Illuminator on the front of the camera can be used in dim light to project a light beam that will assist the
autofocus system. It only works when you are using the viewfinder, not in Live View or Movie modes.
Overview showing
how the primary
D7000 settings affect
AF-assist
Set by using the AF-Mode Button with the Sub-Command (front) Dial