This is TIP # 50, can you believe it? I would like to start off giving everyone a VERY BIG THANK YOU that takes the time to read the tips that I have written and also like to thank you for the nice comments in your replies on the forum, your E-Mails, and your PM's that you have sent me about the tips and that you are getting something useful out of them. As of this posting the Tips thread has been viewed 22, 050 times, which really amazes me at the interest shown. Some of this information you may have already known but hopefully everyone has managed to find a few new and helpful tips that you have benefited from. As long as continued interest is shown and I can think of new things to write about, I will keep posting. Thanks again to everyone for making this as successful as it has been, Jeff

My focus point needs to stay active longer

Pressing the shutter button down half way will activate your focus system in your camera. If you are in AF/S or single active focus point you can locate your focus point exactly where you want your point of focus to be, such as on a person's eye when taking a portrait. Where the problem comes in is that Nikon sets their cameras to turn the focus system off 4 seconds after being activated and this may not give you enough time to compose your shot and locate the focus point exactly where you need it. There is a very simple answer to this and it is to extend the length of time the meter stays on, or active, allowing you to locate it precisely where you want it. The amount of time your meter stays on can be adjusted or set anywhere from 4 seconds to forever. I have all my cameras set to stay on for 30 seconds and this is what I recommend you to do also. This should allow you plenty of time to use your multi selector button to locate your focus point in any of up to 39 different points you have to choose from. I will show you the steps on how to do this and you can choose any of the many different time delays that are listed in the menu. Setting your time longer will keep you from having to keep pressing the shutter half way down to get the focusing system turned back on. This tip can save you both time and aggravation, adding to the fun and enjoyment of taking pictures.

Here is how you do it
Go to the CUSTOM SETTING MENU which is the third one down on the left and looks like a pencil and press "OK"
Scroll to Timers/AE lock and press "OK" again
Scroll to "c2" Auto meter-off delay and press "OK"
Scroll up or down and highlight the desired length of time and press "OK" and you are done

From now on after pressing the shutter button down half way to activate the focusing system you will have however much time you have chosen in the menu to compose your shot and move the focus point with the multi selection switch to where you need it. My recommendation is to set it for 30 seconds but you can set the amount of time to whatever works best for you. Thanks go out to Armando who sent me a PM and reminded me about this for a tip, Jeff