Nikon D610 / D600 Focus Squares Tutorial | How to Focus Training Video

[@vincentgraffeo9030]

Here I am in 2024 watching. Simply the most helpful and instructive video on the focus system of the D610.

[@ryanfu2688]

Same here!

[@fabg6451]

This tutorial never gets old, keep coming back over the years, keep up the good work!

[@drtjohns]

I just spent 2 hours trying to figure out the autofocus modes on the camera manual - you cleared it up for me in less than 9 minutes! Great Job! Thanks for the extra tips and for using examples!

[@scottfreckle237]

you need to improve your reading ability if that's actually true.

[@drtjohns]

@@scottfreckle237 - you need to reevaluate your life if you're replying to an 11 year old comment 😉

[@zolju423]

I bought the D610 camera back in 2014... I stopped using it at the Covid time and now (ten years later) feel the urge to take it up... this short video refreshed my memory instantly. Thanks for it!

[@scottfreckle237]

You should point out that you can reassign the AEL button as back button focus, I find it really difficult to keep on trying to only press the shutter button half way down and then press harder to take a photo when i'm having to take a lot of different shots one after another. It's far simpler to press the back button focus (AEL button) and then my shutter release button is purely for that one function actually taking a photo and not trying to stop pushing it down too far to lock focus before continuing to press harder to take a photo.

[@raduszilagyi6055]

This is how (almost) every camera tutorial should be made. Clear instructions with a view from the camera's perspective. It was very helpful, instructive and easy to follow. Thank you

[@LivonneImagery]

I can't thank you enough.. Having jumped from the D80 to the D610 just this week, I've been so overwhelmed, I've taken hardly any photos. I couldn't focus and everything I did take was garbage.. You've explained the focus and tomorrow, I'm going out to play. You are a legend :)

[@kristindepalma13]

Do you realize that I've spent HOURS tonight trying to figure out how to use the focal points in my camera and this is the ONLY tutorial online that answered my questions. You. Simply. Rock. :)

[@garydemaria8621]

At the end of the video, you suggested using AF-S and d9. Did you mean to say AF-C? You suggested using AE-L to lock the focus and at the beginning of the video you suggested AF-C for sports. If not, could you explain why AF-S for action and how does the AE-L come into play if the initial shutter press locks the focus?

[@paulchampion3732]

I noticed the same mistake too. I am pretty sure you would need to set it AF-C or AF-A to get the focus point area options.

[@pieledesarpe603]

bro 7 years later on this video, you re a god . i ve been using only singe focus all my life, never known i can use all of these focusing points this way! completely eye opener

[@pvolkspvolks]

Dude... Not many people can speak with your clarity, helped answer some nagging focus questions I had with my D7000. Good stuff!!

[@MMaven]

Good to hear! I try to make all my lessons easy to understand, you might want to check out the entire D600 Crash Course, about 3.5 hours of these kinds of lessons.

[@MMaven]

Thank you for the feedback. On the Crash Course video the first lesson on the camera is learning the buttons during which I cover the "directional pad".

[@AmadeusRel]

Mr. Michael The Maven, you gave one of the best explanations of the focusing modes ever found on the web, and may be the best. Congratulations.

[@edge8edge]

Just purchased a D600 In 2021 and your tutorial was just what I needed. You did an excellent job and paced it perfectly. Thank you!

[@HeirweghB]

Bought the D610 yesterday and want to thank you for great instructional video. Easy enough for beginners to understand!

[@vnice429]

Thanks Michael! I just upgraded from a D3100 to a D610 yesterday and have been unable to set it on Single focus point for portraits. You saved me a lot of time.

[@peter_ng]

I've been searching how to do a single focal point on D610. only after i watched this video, i realized i need to press the focus mode button! Thanks, Michael! A very specific tutorial!

[@NicoleBlackwell209]

Hi I have the nikon d610 and I notice when I hold the buttons down I dont see any of the info at the bottom of the viewfinder as far as scrolling through afc afs or changing the clusters to d9 on info screen. I notice my auto focus is not working on my camera it must be a setting. I also want multiple focus clusters I only have 1 showing. I cant find a video that helps could someone help me?

[@jaydeereid4054]

I have been a Canon user and just bought my first Nikon. Thank you for creating this video, it's fantastic.

[@danmuranocom]

Thanks for the video. I've been using my d610 on single servo back-button focus for about 2 years and am only now delving into the various options. Short and simple, this video makes sense of all the options.

[@michaeldelrossi4487]

Thank You, that was very helpful in understanding all of my Nikon dslr Focusing Fundamentals on the D600, D7000 & D7500

[@swtucker10]

Michael, Thank you for your excellent tutorial. I have a D610. It's been sitting for almost a year and I really need some help. Your video was exceptional. Just what I needed. I'm going scenery, bird, and waterfall shooting this afternoon. In Utah, we have had record snowpack this year so the waterfalls are better than they have been in years. Thanks again. Tons appreciated. Scott

[@jojen17]

I've watched a couple of your videos now and even thought I already knew about every function etc I must say these are the BEST videos I've found on youtube so far, congratulations! :)

[@shuswaptoy]

Thank you Michael for your very good guide to the Nikon D600/610 focusing system. Your explanation is concise,direct and very clear, better than the manual.

[@mikewilson9601]

I wish to thank you Michael. I was despairing about my D610 focusing. My photography has improved so much following your tutorial. Brilliant, clear, concise and very informative. I never realised that the D610 had such sophisticated focusing. Again, thank you so much.

[@MMaven]

mike wilson Thank you Mike I appreciate it very much you have a wonderful camera it’s very powerful

[@MMaven]

the D7100 Crash Course is in the works and should be available for download in the next 2-3 weeks. Thanks for your feedback and support!

[@racheleliakis7131]

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who read instructional manuals, and those who don't. I am the later. Thus why I googled youtube videos. SUUUUPER Helpful! THANK YOU! Really....

[@MMaven]

I don't read them either

[@vitez46]

I did read the whole book (while i was waiting for that battery to charge fully for the first time ofc) and I am still here. I love to watch videos cause you can see whats done and also get the "text".

[@marcgariepy]

Thanks so much Michael i just recently made the big jump from a D90 to my new D600 and i couldn't focus the same way and i didn't understand why. This help a lot thanks.

[@benjisplat2]

Stunning video. Just took delivery of my D600 and was somewhat mystified moving from my EOS 500D. This video was so informative, concise and having the viewfinder graphics on screen made it really easy to follow. Thanks man!

[@MMaven]

It does matter and what you are seeing is correct. Even in the D9, D21, D39 Modes, you will only see one actual square when shooting. Those clusters give the camera permission to look around that single square when shooting with continuous. What the other viewer was asking about was why cant he access the D9, D21, D39 modes in AF-S? Well those are continuous shooting focusing modes. AF-S is a single servo mode.

[@tollertollertoller]

I just bought a D610 and found your tutorial to be exceptionally clear and helpful. Thank you. I may buy the whole course, but want to have a bit more time screwing up my photos first.

[@HyDx49]

Very informative video ! sold my D7000 to upgrade to D600, this information will give me a jump start when the D600 arrive

[@MrTeiV]

Thanks for this tutorial, I'm receiving my D600 tomorrow, and I'm so excited but so clueless at the same time. I will be watching this over a few times for sure. Great work my friend.

[@jamiecoutts1987]

thanks so much for the video, i just bought a d7100. its my first nikon dslr and im trying to learn so many features as fast as i can and theres alot to take in! This video on focus explained it so well and is the first video ive seen that ive been able to actually follow and understand so thankyou! If u have anything on the d7100 that would be awesome, thanks again Michael, really appreciate it! : )

[@fkrtna]

I had D90 and now D7000 for the past 5 years and just knew about this!! found my camera on AFA Auto. Thank you very much for this tutorial

[@DaveDugdaleColorado]

Great job with the overlay graphics.

[@levieyang]

BEST TUTORIAL EVER! You made it so easy to follow! I've learned so much! Thank you for doing this video!

[@kunalvijayakar927]

This was indeed very helpful! I have been struggling for almost a week now and you solved all my problems in this one video! Thanks a lot Michael!

[@MMaven]

Great question. If its a person, Ive found that the Face Detection with no recompose works better with very shallow DOF like 1.2 or 1.4

[@amiebridge1447]

I'm a portrait photographer and recently upgraded to the D600. I use a 24-70 lens and have been finding that even with a reasonable fstop allowing for more than one subject at slightly different depths of field and literally only slightly different, I select an eye to focus on and not all the faces are in focus. I'm wondering if it's the settings on the camera or a problem with the lens itself. Great tutorial tho and I'm looking forward to doing test shots with various settings. I'm photographing a dance group of 3-5 year olds in the next few days in a local village hall. I'd rather not use flash and I obviously want to get crisp photos - fingers crossed I can get some good ones! Thanks for the tutorial, good to have the refresher course, especially with a new camera.

[@kinjat561]

Amie Bridge learn to use your iso power, if you want them sharp, don’t go too low on shutter speed and depending on the lens not to big aperture, stay in your lens sharp zone and you will get the results as long as you don’t touch your iso limit

[@magiciangob]

Great video, Michael. I've owned a D80 for a long time, and the only thing I've found disappointing about my D600 is the autofocus. I'm hoping your video will be the answer to my problems, I had no idea how to visualise D9, D21, and 3D. Looking back on the trouble I had locking on moving subjects, I'm thinking it was my insistence on using AFS S when I probably should be using AFC D9.

[@neilwatcyn-palmer8402]

Sir - what a saviour you are. Many thanks for helping me trouble shoot this issue I hit today.. I totally missed the little button on the lens housing.

[@kingfisherblues57]

Nice tutorial. I first learned how to focus on a 35mm Canon AE-1 which of course was manual focus. I got my first AF DSLR 8 years ago, it was a Nikon D90. Consumer grade and now very old technology, It served me well until yesterday when I picked up a new D610. So now I have a new learning curve to climb, so I appreciate your help!

[@victorrivera6375]

hello again, so I took some time today to learn my nikon d600 a little, went thru the exercise and everything seemed to work fine. even with moving the cluster around. there's a setting it needs to be on, and as I'm writing this post I can't think of it. I know at first I couldn't get it to work like most, but then went back and followed the video closely and got it. thanks again.

[@MMaven]

Glad to help! Check out my Nikon D600 Crash Course if you like!

[@MMaven]

What mode are you in?

[@evaclee]

this is the best video out there about how to get focus images. great work and keep them coming :)

[@sajidrahman6160]

Excellent video. So clear and concise. You just dumbed it down amazingly. Huge Thumbs Up!

[@alainafitznerdesign]

This is hands down the BEST video with explanation on focus points-super easy to understand and life changing behind the lens taking my photography to a whole new level~ thank you!!!

[@wranglers2]

I was so hoping to hear you advise as to what focusing mode you would use for kids on a stage during their Christmas concerts. Some just standing and singing, some dancing. I haven't found anyone that has given that advise yet.

[@MMaven]

Tell us more...is it a focusing problem or a depth of field problem?

[@crismillencolin]

Some man , thanks a lot for taking the time to do these video's . Makes using my new toy much easier than trying to follow a manual *high-five*

[@JudyRoyalGlennPhotography]

I enjoyed your video a lot as I just upgraded to the D600. I am a very visual learner, so the video was extremely helpful. I did get confused when you mentioned to change the directional pad without showing where it was. I got out my manual to see it was called the multi-selector, and it showed it was on the back of the camera. You showed this button though at the end of the video. Just an idea you could add in case there are other "slow" learners. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!

[@MMaven]

Congratulations on your new D600! Its an awesome camera!

[@matfen7978]

This is amazing information, thanks. My D610 just arrived and I'm going to learn it from top to bottom

[@IkFlicks]

I Just upgraded from d3400 to nikon d610 as getting professional so thank you for this beautiful tutorial sir

[@chelseamowery8760]

Thank you for such a helpful video. I just ordered my D610 this week, and I'm still waiting for it to arrive. I always try to research what I buy extensively before I buy it. I'm upgrading from a D90, and I can't wait to get my hands on this Nikon product. Thank you for doing such an efficient job with explaining the newer AF settings on this camera. Keep doing what you're doing!

[@2zorro3]

Informative, concise and effective presentation.well done and thanks Michael.

[@TheStainedinink]

Awesome! so easy to follow your teaching! Thankyou x

[@blackvirga]

This video was so helpful! I am a student learning about photography and have been struggling with focus (I thought that suppose to the easy part!). I now realize what focus setting I have been shooting on and what I SHOULD have been shooting on. Thank you for putting together this information. It was very well laid out and easy to follow.

[@ljacksonjr71]

Awesome video, you take your time and break things down in a very easy and understandable way. I have 3 nikon dslr cameras, the d40, the d5000 just got the d600 a few months ago, love the camera just don't know how to make full use of it yet but with your videos and teachings I am sure to be a champ at in by years end, thanks for the knowledge and keep up the very good work.

[@MMaven]

I cover it later on in the D600 tutorial when I get into the menu section. My D7100 Focusing Video (which is posed here on KZbin) covers it briefly.

[@Il-Siciliano]

A thoroughly concise and well thought out explanation of just how well the D610 focuses. Your illustrations are professional and super helpful even for this longtime shooter. Thanks so much!

[@MMaven]

And your mode dial?

[@lyssazimmerman7514]

wow, answers FINALLY answered. Thank you so much. This is awesome. I appreciate. Mad I wasted money on buying extra D600 manuals!

[@bryantcollins5435]

Great video explaining the D610 modes

[@pegshealth]

I would never have been able to figure this out without this video. And I've been a photographer for 40+ years, from film through early digital to now. So much for manuals.

[@dayeah765caoni3]

40 years of photography in auto mode? !

[@pegshealth]

@@dayeah765caoni3 yeah, no. "manuals" referring to the camera manual.

[@edyu4566]

Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial, very good presentation and not difficult to understand

[@andreasmonangparuliansiaha2912]

Very good Video.. I just bought D610 and it very confused to read the manual. You show me to understand it, because i just jump from D60 to FX type.. Thank you Michael..

[@alistairfyffe]

Excellent tutorial! In minutes it has shown me what to do when so far I have spent ages in fruitless efforts! Thank you.

[@Truenergy13]

Best focus tutorial on this camera

[@MMaven]

Yes, this has been mentioned by other commenters. My editor made a mistake. Thanks!

[@yohansudarman1]

thanks for your vid. it was clear and very informative. just what i need after upgrading from d200.

[@MMaven]

And what about your lens switch?

[@carlomisiak4580]

Started sceptically - was positively surprised! Helpful indeed! THNX!

[@KutadguB]

I am a beginner yet your video made me understand it clearly. Thank you.

[@keithmissen]

Brilliant. Concise, well illustrated. I've spent hours and hours with the manual and understood virtually none of what you explain here.

[@jensculler]

Thanks so much for this. I've always been the sort of amateur who gets results from having a good eye and the bare minimum of tech ability. I loved my D90 but when I upgraded to a D610 my creative ability was nullified by my lack of technical ability, particularly around focus. It's heart breaking to keep lining up lovely shots, only to find the focus is really off in PP. However, your video is really helpful. I'm watching and re-watching it. I can see where I've been going wrong, and what to do to put it right. I'm looking forward to gaining some confidence with the 610. So, thank you for that. I've subscribed. I like your style, easy to follow and your explanations make it make sense.

[@melojansan]

Thank you so much for the mini-crash course on the focus squares! Looking forward to learning even more from the DVD.

[@malcolmi1]

You show the button functions, andthe settings they make possible. More importantly, you show how to identify the purpose of each function, so that we can choose the focus setting accurately. Many thanks!

[@michaelycis]

Wow. Best tutorial so far I've seen.

[@ivondavid]

thank you Michael, it is photographers like yourself who know a great deal and Share that knowledge with us for Free that helps us Grow with our own knowledge!

[@festivefoto]

extremely helpful. Ashamed to say I learned a lot, and i have been using this camera for a year!

[@bobbybray]

Finally a simple clear explanation. Thnx. Can you do the same with shooting on movie mode and using the focus asst pls

[@TommasoMauroTautonico]

The best tutorial I ever see on af

[@minhngo154]

Excellent tutorial, thanks for helping me to understand it quickly!

[@mongxengxuang2350]

Thumbs up...I really love how easy to follow your tutorial especially when you simulate the view finder's interface in your video. Makes everything easy to follow. Cheers!

[@AssassinIgniz]

Wow you are a true teacher, it can be applied to D7000 also right?

[@CurlMeLots]

Thank you so much for this video! I took notes for sure!! I'm taking photos of newborns, with a f1.4 50mm, I really needed this tutorial!! Thanks again!!!

[@hannahwildner4855]

great video...!!! I think I am beginning to understand, but at the end, you mention to use AF-S D9 for football, but I thought I understood you could not use dynamic focus in single serve mode??? I shoot a lot of football with a D-300 and I am having trouble shooting with the D600. Thinking that AF-A D21 is the right choice? hoping to get a reply before the game tonight.

[@9999imac]

Thank you - this now makes sense - both the AF settings and focus points and how to adjust so easily !!

[@sturnz7537]

Thank you for this video. I'm trying to better understand how to use my 610 and this video answered and explained things very well.

[@johnvernon2616]

This video was very helpful! I will be buying the crash course for Nikon D610

[@Jadennathan]

Thank you for the video Michael, very informative, I can use this info with both my cameras D600 & D7100. Thanx again.....

[@sobriez]

At 7:17 you say you can only use d9 with af-c or af-a, however at 8:28 you say you would use af-s and d9 for sports. Is this correct?

[@ashokan134]

He puts up a correction in the same slide....watch again!

[@MMaven]

Do you have your DX setting on? (Switch it to FX if so).

[@kpkjolso]

Very good tutorial! This is very promising for the crush course. Thanks!

[@AjanProvocateur]

I notice in AF-S on modern Nikon, the control pad moves just a single point around the viewfinder. I can't believe that in AF-S the camera uses just a single point to focus. So what exactly is that single point you are moving, is it really the only focus point that will be used or is it a kind of "preferred" focus point, one the camera prioritizes but doesn't use exclusively? Can you not choose to use multiple focus points in AF-S, as, for example, you can in Canon? How do you make that switch in Nikon? Thanks in advance

[@tucompaivan]

how you insert that layer of focus points like you are viewing inside the viewfinder ?or rather how you get that you are seeing inside the view finder . other tutorial not showing that that's what this video is really nice to understand

[@SocyQueen2012]

Thanks Michael for a great video! As you recommended, I will watch it couple of times again. I have a NEX 7 and now a D600. A great feature my Nex 7 has is a live histogram. That is, the histogram is there on the screen at the moment of aiming and framing the picture. As I change aperture, for example, I can see the effect of these changes on the histogram. Gradually, I arrive a perfect bell shape curve. I am disappointed to find out that the D600 lacks this feature. Would you please comment?