Camera is focusing but not firing?

[benners]

hi everyone, I'm sure this is down to a simple setting change, way from the defaults...

I took my first batch of images with my new D700 last night at a gig, so testing conditions, but something that I'm used to.

However a lot of the time, I was unable to fire off shots? I could halfpress the shutter release to focus, but then the full press wouldn't shoot the frame.
Sometimes this happened, sometimes it didn't.

I seem to remember having a similar issue with the D90, but must have changed something on that camera, as I haven't suffered the same problem in a long time.

I was shooting with the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 (which I've had no issues with in the past)

Any suggestions as to what's happening? I'm sure it's one of things, that done once, is never needed to be done again... which is why it's confusing!

I can ignore the possibility that it's camera/lens malfunction because it worked fine some of the time, and is perfect in decent light.

 

[awp]

It was not firing because the image was not in focus. You can set that to work like that - or just to fire anyway. It's in the menu somewhere. Can't help more than that.

 

[benners]

It was not firing because the image was not in focus. You can set that to work like that - or just to fire anyway. It's in the menu somewhere. Can't help more than that.

ah that rings bells, will have to nosey through the manual/settings later... but if anyone knows where to find it, that'd be super

 

[awp]

a2 in the custom setting menu on the D3

set it to release - it will be set to focus right now if that was the problem.

 

[arclight]

a2 in the custom setting menu on the D3

set it to release - it will be set to focus right now if that was the problem.

a2 in the D700 also. Setting it to permit shutter release only when focus is acquired prevents a a lot of out of focus shots.

I expect the lighting conditions prevented the auto focus locking on therefore the shutter would not fire.
If it had been set to shutter release priority then you'd have got the shots, but probably blurred.

Manual focus may be worth a try in these conditions if the subject is not too coming in and out of focus too much.

 

[benners]

a2 in the D700 also. Setting it to permit shutter release only when focus is acquired prevents a a lot of out of focus shots.

I expect the lighting conditions prevented the auto focus locking on therefore the shutter would not fire.
If it had been set to shutter release priority then you'd have got the shots, but probably blurred.

Manual focus may be worth a try in these conditions if the subject is not too coming in and out of focus too much.

thanks guys... i don't think there's any exact science to it, as there are so many variables to consider!

- manual focus isn't really an option as things are so fast moving
- i don't like to use continual focusing as the lens can lag quite a lot on the dark conditions, so i use single focus and re-focus myself quite frequently!
- can't use the AF illuminator assistance/flash

 

[awp]

The D3 focuses in almost total darkness - I would have thought the D700 did the same - might be down to the glass - I only have Nikkor lenses.

 

[benners]

The D3 focuses in almost total darkness - I would have thought the D700 did the same - might be down to the glass - I only have Nikkor lenses.

nikon glass will be optimum, I'll get it when I can afford it
the Tamron is meant to pretty good from what i've read, and it has given some great results on the D90... although I'm sure it could focus quicker, it does a good job.

it does focus in the lowlight and I got some decent shots, but because i was re-framing a LOT, maybe it couldn't keep up with my demands

have to say i'm super impressed with the high iso of the D700, i shot a fair few images at about 3200, and it gave less noise than the d90 at about 800!