How to Enable Back Button Focus on the Nikon Z8

By default, your Z8 refocuses every time you touch the shutter. That isn’t always what you want. Here is how to separate focus from the shutter release — and the hidden menu setting that unlocks Trap Focus.

. Photo by David Coleman - havecamerawilltravel.com

Text & Photos By David Coleman

Last Revised & Updated: February 9, 2026

Filed Under: Mirrorless Cameras

Topics: Nikon, Nikon Z8

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This is a quick step-by-step guide for enabling back button focus on the Nikon Z8.

Or, more precisely, only back button focus. By default, the Nikon Z8 focuses with either a shutter half-press or the AF-ON button on the back.

But many photographers (me included) prefer to make it ONLY back button focus, effectively removing autofocus from the shutter button. This prevents the camera from refocusing every time you touch the shutter, giving you total control over when the focus locks and when it tracks.

How to enable back button (only) auto focus on the Nikon Z8

The specific setting you want here isn’t as obvious as it could be. Go to:

CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU (pencil icon) > a Focus > a6 AF activation

Screenshot of the Nikon Z8 menu system steps for enabling back-button autofocus

Once you select that, you’ll see two primary options:

Shutter/AF-ON (Default): The shutter button triggers autofocus.
AF-ON only: The shutter button takes the picture, but it does NOT autofocus. Only the rear AF-ON button will focus the lens.

But there’s a little wrinkle here. When you change it to AF-ON only, there is a hidden sub-menu. You have to press the Right arrow to access the “Out-of-focus release options.”

This setting determines whether the camera will let you take a photo if the subject is not in focus.

ENABLE (Release Priority): The camera will take a photo whenever you press the shutter, regardless of focus. This is best for sports or action.
DISABLE (Focus Priority / Trap Focus): The camera will refuse to take a photo until the focus indicator lights up green. This is great for “Trap Focus” — where you pre-focus on a spot, hold down the shutter, and wait for the subject to walk into the focal plane. The camera will automatically fire the moment they are in focus.

Taking it a step further

The standard AF-ON button is well-positioned, and it’s what I use, but if you find it uncomfortable, you can assign “AF-ON” to almost any other button, including the joystick press (Sub-selector center).

To customize your buttons, go to:

CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU > f Controls > f2 Custom controls (shooting)

Video walk-through

If you’d prefer a visual walk-through, I’ve put together this quick video guide to go along with this:

Things worth knowing

If you’re using the MB-N12 vertical battery grip, it also has an AF-ON button. The settings you assign in the process above automatically apply to the grip’s button as well.