Nikon SLR Cameras

How to add black focus points to my Nikon D3200?

Guest
Guest

I just purchased a refurbished Nikon D3200 dslr and the stock Nikkor AF-S 18-55mm VR lens. I'm having problems though with the fact that I'm supposed to "see" black focal points in the viewfinder and I'm supposed to select those in order to tell the camera what to focus on. Is there a setting that I'm not seeing, in order to add those? I'm able to see the focus moving by looking at the lcd screen, as the dot moves, but it would be much more practical to have those black focal points that light up on the viewfinder.

thankyoumaskedman
thankyoumaskedman

Go into the Shooting Menu
Go to AF-area mode
If it is in Auto-area AF change it to Single-point AF.

You can only do this if the mode dial is set to P, A, S, or M. You can't do this if the mode dial is set to Auto or to a scene mode.

retiredPhil
retiredPhil

This is covered on page 40 of your manual. You can't have the camera in "Auto-area AF". Any of the other AF-area modes should show you the 11 focus points.

keerok
keerok

That's a nifty feature - the camera tracks your eye and predict where you're looking and focuses there. I suppose (I don't have the D3200), you can set it to more traditional focusing methods (disable that eye-tracking) and let you manually select focus points to use.

If you still don't have the manual get one from the official Nikon website. See how to adjust the settings under focus points.

Me, I do it the old way. One focus point at dead center. I simply position the subject at center, focus, hold, recompose then shoot. I never can do it any other way.