Nikon 50DX Instruction Manual - Page 19

Autofocus Flash Photography in Dim Light The SB-50DX's AF-Assist Illuminator enables you to perform autofocus flash photography in dim light. • AF-Assist Illuminator • The AF-Assist Illuminator automatically turns on when the camera's shutter release button is lightly pressed in dim light. After focus is achieved, the AF-Assist Illuminator turns off. • The AF-Assist Illuminator is not activated when the is shown in the LCD panel. To activate the AF-Assist Illuminator, press the MODE and - buttons at the same time until the disappears. • The AF-Assist Illuminator can be used with the Nikon AF camera when AF Nikkor lenses are used. • Usable focal length for the AF-Assist Illuminator is approx. 24mm to 105mm (35mm to 105mm with the F-501/N2020). Autofocus distance range with the AF-Assist Illuminator is from approx. 1m (3.3 ft.) to approx. 5m (16 ft.). • For autofocus with the AF-Assist Illuminator, set the camera's focus mode to Single Servo AF (Autofocus with Focus-Priority), AF or A. (See your camera's instruction manual.) • The AF-Assist Illuminator does not turn on when the focus is locked or when the ready-light does not light up. • When using the SB-50DX, the camera's AF- Assist Illuminator does not turn on but the AF- Assist Illuminator on the SB-50DX turns on. However with F60-series/N60 and SB-50DX's flash mode set to manual, AF-Assist Illuminator of the F60-series/N60 turns on. (See your camera's instruction manual.) • With some cameras, AF-Assist Illuminator of the SB-50DX may not turn on when performing double flash shooting using the camera's built-in Speedlight (p. 42, 54). 36 With cameras having selectable focus areas Set the camera's AF area mode to Single Area AF and select the center focus area, or set Dynamic AF Mode with Closest Subject Priority. (If center focus area is not selected in Single Area AF mode, the AF-Assist Illuminator does not turn on). For detailed information about AF area mode, see your camera's instruction manual. • Canceling AF-Assist Illuminator • To cancel the AF-Assist Illuminator, press the MODE and - buttons at the same time until appears in the LCD panel. • With the AF-Assist Illuminator canceled, autofocusing may not be performed in dim light. • To activate the AF-Assist Illuminator, press the MODE and - buttons once again so disappears. (Without this operation, the AF-Assist Illuminator remains canceled even after the SB-50DX is turned off.) • With the F80-series/N80-series and F65series/N65-series camera bodies, canceling the AF-Assist Illuminator on the SB-50DX does not cancel the AF-Assist Illuminator on camera body. To cancel the AF-Assist Illuminator, also cancel it on the camera body. (For details, see your camera's instruction manual.) 37 Detailed Operation