One thing cameras offer today is the option to customize buttons on the camera body. Each new camera seems to give us more choices to assign different functions to different buttons. Things like focus peaking, level and metering modes can all be assigned to different buttons. But for me the most obvious is setting a second autofocus pattern so I can quickly engage a group pattern for moving subjects. I can depress my front middle button on my D5/6 and engage group area autofocus when my subject starts moving. Holding down the button keeps autofocusing engaged using the group area autofocus pattern. I never have to take my eye away from the viewfinder, I just toggle between this front button and my back button autofocus (which is set for single point). When a bird takes off, I’m ready to track it in flight. Many camera models offer this choice; here is how to set it up on my Nikon.
First go to you custom menu and choose controls.
Next, choose custom control assignment.
Now toggle through the various button choices and choose the one you want to set. Here I am choosing a front button on my D5.
Next I choose AF Area Mode+AF-ON.
Finally, I choose Group Area AF. That’s it, now my front button is ready to go for Group Area Autofocus!