Nikon F3AF instruction manual Focus, Autofocus

- FOCUS - continued -----------------

Autofocus

With the lens A-M switch ® set at A, depressing the shutter re- lease button halfway turns on the camera 's autofocus control (as well as the exposure meter}. At the same time, either the focus indicator(s) or the focus-impossible warning in the view- finder light up and the lens begins to focus automatically. Note that the main subject (if possible, a subject 's vertical line) should be centered inside the central focusing frame in the viewfinder. Autofocus continues for 16 sec. even after you remove your finger from the button. When the subject is in focus, focusing stops and both red arrows light up.

If there is a big difference between the actual camera-to-subject distance and setting on the lens distance scale ®, the red X lights up momentarily but disappears as soon as focusing begins. If the subject is closer than the closest distance to which the lens can focus, either the far-focus arrow (<III ) or the red X lights up continuously. However, when the red X blinks or lights up continuously, this indicates that the autofocus system does not

function well with the particular subject or shooting situation (please refer to page 26 for further details).

Notes:

1)After taking a picture during autofocus operation, the lens will continue to focus for 16 sec. after you remove pressure from the shutter release button. To stop the lens movement at any time to conserve battery power, slide the A-M switch to M. Immediately lens movement stops, but the red arrow(s) or red X remain on for 16 sec . until switched off automatically.

2)While shooting fast -moving subjects, one or both of the red arrows may blink to show that the image is quite close to the in -focus zone; for ordinary snapshots, taking the shot even in this situation can pro - duce satisfactory results. However, if sharp focus is mandatory, wait until both red arrows light up continuously.

3)When the batteries in the viewfinder are nearly exhausted, autofocus becomes slow or may even stop, even though the red arrow(s) or red X remain lit. In this case, replace the batteries in the finder at your earliest convenience, or set the A-M switch to M and turn the focusing ring manually using the red arrows as a guide.

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