Nikon D7000 User Manual

							
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Focus
This section describes the focus options available when photographs are framed in 
the viewfinder.
 Focus can be adjusted automatically (see below) or manually ( 099). 
The user can also select the focus po int for automatic or manual focus (096) or use 
focus lock to focus to recompose photographs after focusing ( 097).
To use autofocus, rotate the focus-mode 
selector to  AF.
Autofocus Mode
Choose from the following autofocus modes:
Autofocus
ModeDescription 
AF-A Auto-servo AF
: Camera automatically selects single-ser vo autofocus if subject is stationary, 
continuous-servo autofocus if subject is moving.
AF-S Single-servo AF
: For stationary subjects. Focus locks when shutter-release button is pressed 
halfway.
 At default settings, shutter can only be released when in-focus indicator is 
displayed ( focus priority ; 0 208).
AF-C Continuous-servo AF
: For moving subjects. Camera focuses continuously while shutter-
release button is pressed halfway; if subject moves, camera will engage  predictive focus 
tracking  (0 93) to predict final distance to subject and adjust focus as necessary.
 At 
default settings, shutter can be released whether or not subject is in focus ( release 
priority ; 0 208).
Focus-mode
selector 
						

							
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To select the autofocus mode, press the 
AF-mode button and rotate the main 
command dial until the desired setting is 
displayed in the viewfinder or control 
panel.
AF-mode button Main command dialControl panel Viewfinder 
						

							
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APredictive Focus Tracking
In  AF-C  mode or when continuous-servo autofocus is selected in  AF-A mode, the camera will 
initiate predictive focus tracking if the subject moves toward or away from the camera while 
the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.
 This allows the camera to track focus while 
attempting to predict where the subject will be when the shutter is released.
AGetting Good Results with Autofocus
Autofocus does not perform well under the conditions listed below.
 The shutter release may 
be disabled if the camera is unable to focus under these conditions, or the in-focus indicator 
( I ) may be displayed and the camera may sound a beep, allowing the shutter to be released 
even when the subject is not in focus.
 In these cases, focus manually ( 099) or use focus lock 
( 0 97) to focus on another subject at the same distance and then recompose the 
photograph.
There is little or no contrast 
between the subject and the 
background .
Example : Subject is the 
same color as the 
background.  The focus point contains 
areas of sharply contrasting 
brightness
.
Example : Subject is half in 
the shade. 
The focus point contains 
objects at different 
distances from the camera .
Example : Subject is inside a 
cage.  Background objects appear 
larger than the subject.
Example
: A building is in the 
frame behind the subject.
The subject is dominated by 
regular geometric patterns .
Example : Blinds or a row of 
windows in a skyscraper. The subject contains many 
fine details
.
Example : A field of flowers 
or other subjects that are 
small or lack variation in 
brightness. 
ASee Also
For information on using focus priority in co ntinuous-servo AF, see Custom Setting a1 (AF-C 
priority selection , 0 208).
 For information on using release priority in single-servo AF, see 
Custom Setting a2 ( AF-S priority selection , 0 208).
 See page 50 for information on the 
autofocus options available in live view or during movie recording. 
						

							
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AF-Area Mode
Choose how the focus point for autofocus is selected.
•Single-point AF : Select the focus point as described on page 96; the camera will focus 
on the subject in the se lected focus point only.
 Use with stationary subjects.
• Dynamic-area AF : Select the focus point as described on page 96.
 In AF-A  and  AF-C 
focus modes, the camera will focus based  on information from surrounding focus 
points if the subject briefly leaves the selected point.
 The number of focus points 
varies with the mode selected:
- 9-point dynamic-area AF : Choose when there is time to compose the photograph or 
when photographing subjects that are mo ving predictably (e.g., runners or race 
cars on a track).
- 21-point dynamic-area AF : Choose when photographing subjects that are moving 
unpredictably (e.g., players at a football game).
- 39-point dynamic-area AF : Choose when photographing subjects that are moving 
quickly and can not be easily framed  in the viewfinder (e.g., birds).
• 3D-tracking : Select the focus point as  described on page 96.
 In AF-A  and  AF-C focus 
modes, the camera will track subjects that  leave the selected focus point and select 
new focus points as required.
 Use to quickly compose pictures with subjects that 
are moving erratically from side to  side (e.g., tennis players).
 If the subject leaves 
viewfinder, remove your finger from the shutter-release button and recompose 
the photograph with the subject in the selected focus point.
A3D-tracking
When the shutter-release button is pressed ha lfway, the colors in the area surrounding 
the focus point are stored in the camera.
 Consequently 3D-tracking may not produce the 
desired results with subjects that are the same color as the background or that occupy a 
very small area of the frame. 
						

							
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•Auto-area AF : The camera automatically detects the subject and 
selects the focus point.
 If a type G or D lens is used, the 
camera can distinguish human subjects from the background 
for improved subject detection.
 The active focus points are 
highlighted briefly after the camera focuses; in  AF-C mode or 
when continuous-servo autofocus is selected in  AF-A mode, 
the main focus point remains  highlighted after the other 
focus points have turned off.
To select the AF-area mode, press the AF-
mode button and rota te the sub-command 
dial until the desired se tting is displayed in 
the viewfinder or control panel.
AAF-Area Mode
AF-area mode is shown in the control panel and viewfinder.
AF-area modeControl panelViewfinderAF-area modeControl panelViewfinder
Single-point AF 39-point dynamic-area 
AF
*
9-point dynamic-area AF*3D-tracking*
21-point dynamic-area  AF*Auto-area AF
* Only active focus point is displayed in the viewfinder.
 Remaining focus points provide information to 
assist focus operation.
AManual Focus
Single-point AF is automatically selected when manual focus is used.
ASee Also
For information on adjusting how long the came ra waits before refocusing when an object 
moves in front of the camera, see Custom Setting a3 ( Focus tracking with lock-on, 0 209).
 
See page 50 for information on the autofocus optio ns available in live view or during movie 
recording.
AF-mode button Sub-command dial
Control panel Viewfinder 
						

							
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Focus Point Selection
The camera offers a choice of 39 focus points that can be used to compose 
photographs with the main subject posi tioned almost anywhere in the frame.
1Rotate the focus selector lock to ●.
This allows the multi selector to be used to select 
the focus point.
2Select the focus point.
Use the multi selector to  select the focus point 
in the viewfinder while the exposure meters are 
on.
 Press  J to select the center focus point.
The focus selector lock can be rotated to the 
locked ( L) position following selection to 
prevent the selected focus point from changing 
when the multi selector is pressed.
AAuto-area AF
The focus point for auto-area AF is selected au tomatically; manual focus-point selection is 
not available.
ASee Also
For information on choosing when the focus point is illuminated, see Custom Setting a4 ( AF 
point illumination , 0 209).
 For information on setting focus-point selection to “wrap 
around,” see Custom Setting a5 ( Focus point wrap-around, 0 209).
 For information on 
choosing the number of focus points that can be selected using the multi selector, see 
Custom Setting a6 ( Number of focus points , 0 210).
 For information on changing the role 
of the  J button, see Custom Setting f2,  OK button (shooting mode); 0 229.
Focus selector lock 
						

							
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Focus Lock
Focus lock can be used to change the composition after focusing, making it possible 
to focus on a subject that will not be  in a focus point in the final composition.
 If the 
camera is unable to focus using autofocus ( 093), focus lock can also be used to 
recompose the photograph after focusing on another object at the same distance as 
your original subject.
 Focus lock is most effective when an option other than auto-
area AF is selected for AF-area mode ( 094).
1Focus.
Position the subject in the selected focus point 
and press the shutter-release button halfway to 
initiate focus.
 Check that the in-focus indicator 
( I ) appears in the viewfinder.
2Lock focus.
AF-A and AF-C focus modes : With the shutter-release 
button pressed halfway ( q), press the  AE-L/AF-L 
button ( w) to lock both focus and exposure (an 
AE-L  icon will be displayed in the viewfinder).
 
Focus will remain locked while the  AE-L/AF-L 
button is pressed, even if you later remove your 
finger from the shutter-release button.
AF-S focus mode : Focus will lock automatically 
when the in-focus indicator appears, and remain 
locked until you remove your finger from the 
shutter-release button.
 Focus can also be locked 
by pressing the  AE-L/AF-L button (see above).
Shutter-release button
AE-L/AF-L  button 
						

							
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3Recompose the photograph and shoot.
Focus will remain locked between shots if you 
keep the shutter-release button pressed halfway 
(AF-S ) or keep the  AE-L/AF-L button pressed, 
allowing several photogra phs in succession to 
be taken at the same focus setting. 
Do not change the distance between the camera and the subject while focus lock is 
in effect.
 If the subject moves, focus again at the new distance.
ASee Also
See Custom setting c1 ( Shutter-release button AE-L , 0 213) for information on using the 
shutter-release button to lock exposure, Custom Setting f5 ( Assign AE-L/AF-L button, 
0 232) for information on choosing the role played by the  AE-L/AF-L button. 
						

							
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Manual Focus
Manual focus is available for lenses that do not support autofocus (non-AF NIKKOR 
lenses) or when the autofocus does not produce the desired results ( 093).
• AF-S lenses : Set the lens focus mode switch to  M.
• AF lenses : Set the lens focus mode switch (if present) 
and camera focus-mode selector to  M.
• Manual focus lenses : Set the camera focus-mode selector to  M.
To focus manually, adjust the lens focus ring until the 
image displayed on the clear matte field in the 
viewfinder is in focus.
 Photographs can be taken at 
any time, even when the image is not in focus.
AAF-S Lenses
Users of AF-S lenses (including the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18–105 mm f/3.5–5.6G ED VR lens 
used in this manual fo r illustrative purposes;  0315, 316) can select manual focus simply 
by setting the lens focus-mode switch to  M.
DAF Lenses
Do not use AF lenses with the lens focus mode switch 
set to  M and the camera focus-mode selector set to  AF.
 
Failure to observe this precaution could damage the 
camera.
Focus-mode selector 
						

							
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❚❚The Electronic Rangefinder
If the lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster, 
the viewfinder focus indicator can be used to confirm 
whether the subject in the selected focus point is in 
focus (the focus point can be selected from any of the 
39 focus points).
 After positioning the subject in the 
selected focus point, press  the shutter-release button 
halfway and rotate the lens focus ring until the in-
focus indicator ( I) is displayed.
 Note that with the 
subjects listed on page 93, the in-focus indicator may 
sometimes be displayed when  the subject is not in 
focus; confirm focus in th e viewfinder before shooting.
AFocal Plane Position
To determine the distance between your subject and the 
camera, measure from the focal plane mark on the camera 
body.
 The distance between the lens mounting flange and 
the focal plane is 46.5 mm (1.83 in.).
Focal plane mark
 46.5 mm