How to lock AF point in Nikon D5100

[costisefu]

Hi, guys! I bought a Nikon D5100 because I heard it has the D7000 sensor and all, but there is a huge problem to it: the AF keys are not lockable, so I accidentaly change the AF point with my palm while holding and shooting. It happens very often so I am worried if I am to go to a wedding with it.

Dis anybody find a way to lock those cross keys on the back?
I thought abou putting a bottle cap on the keys, but it would look awful and also I wouldn't be able to use photo browsing.

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[costisefu]

I have found that if you I press the Info button I can select AREA MODE so the AF point will be automatic. Just that on my tele AUTO picks wrong areas, and the depth being so small...
So I started to hold the camera with my finger as far right as I can from AF point selection buttons. I will buy a grip so I can hold it more loosely, or even use the grip button for being more secure.

No other ideas?

[Dyflam]

Manual focus?

[TCampbell]

I was hoping a Nikon shooter would have responded. I'm a Canon shooter so I'm not familiar with your camera controls.

[slutskaya]

Hey Costisefu* .. just picked up a d5100 a couple days ago myself' & was wonderin the same thing.
Havent had a chance to read these 2 links yet.
Good luck'

~ Don

---> http://blog.dojoklo.com/2011/06/03/t...ofocus-system/

---> http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...8594385&page=1

[John B.]

Hi, guys! I bought a Nikon D5100 because I heard it has the D7000 sensor and all, but there is a huge problem to it: the AF keys are not lockable, so I accidentaly change the AF point with my palm while holding and shooting. It happens very often so I am worried if I am to go to a wedding with it.

Dis anybody find a way to lock those cross keys on the back?.

If I understand correctly, you are hitting the multi-selector ring (around the 'OK' button) with the palm of your hand. You cannot lock the focus point. The only solution is to adjust your grip on the camera so you can still see the multi-selector ring. It's impossible, like that, to move the focus point. That focus point selector is mainly for selecting your subject for focusing when other things in the picture try to focus the camera somewhere else, but even then you still have to avoid touching the multi-selector ring when pressing the shutter release button.

A camera manual came with your camera. It's in PDF format on the disk that came with the camera. Look at page 42 where it describes Dynamic and 3D focusing. Even if you set the focus point, the camera will change it if the subject moves out of the focus point that you set.

Then there is the setting "Auto-area AF." That uses the camera's eleven focus points and automatically selects the subject for focus. In other words, you don't need to keep choosing focus points with the selector. You can reach all these setting through the little button to the right of your viewfinder. Press it twice and you have a range of choices, but be aware you can't use them when 'AF-S' is selected.