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D5100: When i point to a wall, and use shutter release button, it just tries to focus and that is it?why so?

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Most likely the camera is failing to achieve focus (since it doesn't have anything with contrast to determine if it is in focus or not). Some cameras will either not take a photo when they can't achieve a focus lock or have a setting that will tell them not to take a photo when focus lock can not be achieved.

It sounds like your camera either behaves this way or has a setting to behave this way turned on. I unfortunately don't know enough about your specific camera to know if it is a behavior you can change or not on your particular model, but it is typically called something like Focus Priority.

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    \$\begingroup\$ +1, most likely. I have a D5100, and this is the default behavior if it can't achieve focus lock. Workarounds: a) Find something high-contrasty to focus on, b) turn off AF and focus manually, or c) switch to AF-C (continuous AF) and set the menu item "Custom settings > a Autofocus > a1 AF-C priority selection" to "release" rather than "focus". (That last option will let you take the picture, but it won't be in focus, so it may not be what you want.) \$\endgroup\$
    – j-g-faustus
    Commented Apr 23, 2013 at 16:42
  • \$\begingroup\$ AJ and J-g-fautus.... thanks a lot!!..exactly what i was looking for... \$\endgroup\$
    – amit
    Commented Apr 23, 2013 at 17:31
  • \$\begingroup\$ @j-g-faustus - thanks for confirming for the specific camera body. \$\endgroup\$
    – AJ Henderson ♦
    Commented Apr 23, 2013 at 17:35

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