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FOCUS SETTINGS
AF-ASSIST ILLUMINATOR
Advanced Photography
3
When the subject is dark and the shutter release button is pressed lightly, the camera’s AF-
Assist Illuminator automatically turns on and enables autofocus operation in a dark environment.
AF-Assist Illuminator automatically turns on in
the following situations:
Focus mode is Single Servo AF, AF Nikkor lens
is used, subject is dark and centre focus area is
selected or Dynamic AF Mode with Closest
Subject Priority is activated.
Focal length of the usable AF Nikkor lens is 24-
200 mm and the distance range of the AF-Assist
Illuminator is approx. 0.5-3 m (1.6-9.8 ft.).
CMS 15: AF-Assist Illuminator can be cancelled (➡P.98).
Approx. 0.5-3 m
(1.6-9.8 ft.)
Selecting the focus area
1
Unlock the 4-direction button.
2
Press “d”, “c”, “a” or “b” to select the focus
area. Once you have specified the focus area,
lock the 4-direction button to prevent accidental
improper use.
h The specified focus area is automatically
illuminated in red according to the brightness
of the subject.
CSM 3: The specified focus area is automatically illuminated, but you can change the
settings so that the illumination is disabled or is no longer dependent on the subject
brightness (➡P.97).
CSM 4: Normally, you can only select a focus area by pressing the arrow on the 4-direction
button that points towards that focus area. However, you can set camera operation
so that when the right-hand focus area is selected, pressing “c” on the 4-direction
button selects the left-hand focus area. This means you can switch between focus
areas on opposite sides without having to press different sides of the 4-direction
button (➡P.97).
When the AF-Assist Illuminator is used continuously, illumination is limited temporarily to
protect the firing tube. The illumination restarts after a few moments. Also, when the AF-Assist
Illuminator is used repeatedly in a short period of time, be careful not to touch the AF-Assist
Illuminator lamp because it may have become hot.
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Nikon flash units and active auxiliary flash
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Lenses For Which Vignetting Occurs
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If you use an SB-28/28DX, SB-27, SB-26, SB-25 or SB-24 Nikon flash to take pictures when
the conditions for active assist illuminator are met, the active assist illuminator on the Nikon
flash automatically fires. With other Nikon flash models, the AF-assist illuminator on the
camera automatically lights.
h Autofocus using the camera’s AF-Assist Illuminator cannot be performed due to vignetting
with following lenses at shooting distance within 1m:
i AF Micro 200 mm f/4 IF-ED i AF 24-85 mm f/2.8-4
i AF-S 17-35 mm f/2.8 IF-ED i AF 24-120 mm f/3.5-5.6 IF
i AF 18-35 mm f/3.5-4.5 ED i AF-S 28-70 mm f/2.8 IF-ED
i AF 20-35 mm f/2.8 IF i AF Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6 ED
h Autofocus using the camera’s AF-Assist Illuminator cannot be performed due to vignetting with
AF-S 80-200 mm f/2.8 IF-ED, AF 80-200 mm f/2.8 ED and AF VR 80-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 ED.
