Enable Auto focus after timer on Nikon D800?

Question

I'll start with an apology if everyone knows this but me.

I bought a Nikon D800 about a month ago (adore), but the wireless remote I used for the D7000 is not compatible. No worries, I'll just shoot a self-portrait using the timer.

However, the camera focuses on the background (absent me) so when I'm in the frame, I'm out of focus.

My question: is there a way to tell the camera to do its auto-focus magic at the conclusion of the timer and right before the frame is snapped? Or will it only focus when I depress the trigger to start the timer?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I also use a D800, as far as I am aware there is no way to set the camera to focus after the timer - the only method that I could think of would be to either buy a remote release or shoot tethered.

Answer 2

I'm not aware of any way to do this; my D300 works the same way. I usually switch to manual focus and either have a stand-in subject or set a small enough aperture to account for any misfocus. (Finding a stand-in subject is easy, though: use your camera bag, a rock, or even turn around to find anything else at roughly the same distance.)