| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
D300 backfocusing question
Jeff Stanton, Photographer
 |
Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 9:44 AM on 11.23.09 |
->> Hey everyone, I believe I have a backfocusing issue with my D300 using an 80-200 2.8 AFS lens. At 200, say focusing to infinity, my images are not sharp at all. On the ranges or like 80-135, they are sharp.
My question is, if I use the AF tune feature on the D300 to remedy this, will the images at infinity improvement affect the sharpness of my range at 80-135? Wouldn't the AF tune affect everything throughout the 80-200 range? Thanks in advance. Jeff |
|
Matt Cashore, Photographer
|
South Bend | IN | USA | Posted: 1:32 PM on 11.23.09 |
| ->> A zoom lens that has issues in only part of its zoom range screams "lens issue" to me. AF fine tune isn't going to help if that's the case. |
|
Chris Parent, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Baton Rouge | LA | United States | Posted: 1:47 PM on 11.23.09 |
| ->> I had the same problem when I was using a D300 with my 80-200. I also had it when I used the 70-200. It seems to search quite a lot and then back focus. |
|
Jeff Stanton, Photographer
|
Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 2:49 PM on 11.23.09 |
| ->> Matt, through some research and discussion with a guy I know at Robert's, a lens issue seems to be the leading cause at this point. I'll know more after I take it in and have it looked at. |
|
Jeff Stanton, Photographer
|
Indiana | IN | USA | Posted: 9:12 PM on 01.10.10 |
->> Hey everyone,
Through some research, I thought I had determined the cause of a focusing problem with my D300/80-200 AF-S combination was the lens itself. I had the lens serviced and returned. The problem still exists. When I use a 18-70 (kit lens) on the camera, my images are crisp and sharp. But with the 80-200, soft. Any ideas? |
|
Lloyd Smith, Photographer
|
Poughkeepsie | NY | USA | Posted: 10:01 PM on 01.10.10 |
->> I haven't found a solution yet, but i have the same problem with my 80-200 AF-S on all of my D300 bodies. I sent it in to Nikon, and it was returned slightly better but still isn't working correctly. I've tried the same lens on D3, D2H, and other people's D300 bodies and it works fine.
Personally, i've almost stopped using the lens, i now just keep primes for that range 85 1.4, 135 2.0, and 200 2.0. I miss a few shots changing camera bodies, but i do love the images that come from using primes.
I'm thinking about replacing it with the new VR-II, but i can't conscionably sell my old lens to someone when i know it has problems. |
|
Jeff Stanton, Photographer
|
Indiana | IN | USA | Posted: 10:15 PM on 01.10.10 |
| ->> well, I rented a 70-200 2.8 VR (version 1) and had the same problem. So it's got to be in the body. |
|
Matthew Bush, Photographer
|
Hattiesburg | MS | USA | Posted: 10:33 PM on 01.10.10 |
| ->> Jeff can you send the 80-200 and body to NPS for optimal focus calibration for the combo ? Does NPS offer this service ? I know CPS would do this if you asked them to . |
|
Jeff Stanton, Photographer
|
Indiana | IN | USA | Posted: 10:38 PM on 01.10.10 |
| ->> That's not a bad idea, Matt, but here is the issue. NPS says they have a six week backlog (I'm not a NPS member). I would have to rent a body and lens for six weeks in the worst case scenario. I could buy another body for what it would cost me to rent the pair. |
|
Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
|
Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 6:20 AM on 01.11.10 |
->> Jeff,
Does it have the same problem @ 200mm and *not* focusing near infinity (i.e., relatively close)?
Chuck |
|
Jeff Stanton, Photographer
|
Indiana | IN | USA | Posted: 10:20 AM on 01.11.10 |
| ->> Hey Chuck, it has this problem when trying to focus at infinity. That is, it looks like it's in focus at the other end of the basketball court, but the images are soft when I pull them up on the screen. Jeff |
|
Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
|
Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 3:36 PM on 01.11.10 |
->> Jeff,
I have a theory about that issue - as I have a fair amount of difficulty with my telephoto shots with the D300 and any fairly long glass shooting near infinity. See if you follow my logic...
1) There is bound to be some degree of mis-alignment between the AF points etched on the focusing screen and the location of the actual AF sensors.
2) As the number of AF sensors has increased, their physical size has decreased, making it harder to precisely place your AF sensor on any particular target, especially at longer distances and with smaller subjects (i.e., people instead of, say, a mountain or a building).
3) #2 only makes #1 more problematic.
For me, the problem is most noticeable at 300mm and across a football field. But I see it, to a lesser extent, at 200mm the length of a basketball court (as you have). I wouldn't call the images 'soft' on the basketball court, but there is a slight backfocus tendency (i.e., wording on the post is tack sharp, players very slightly OOF).
With football and soccer, I've taken to manual-focusing, or just getting closer (when possible, of course - no running on the field with time remaining for me). Another potential solution might be to use Area-AF, but that's really not precise enough for this (i.e., it will grab all sorts of stuff all over the frame). But at times like this, I really miss that one big central AF sensor of my trusty old N70.
Of course, I may just be using bad technique, have a bad lens and/or camera, or just crazy. But the above is my theory. :)
Chuck
PS I do have one D300 that is a consistent back-focuser, and I've set it to -15 with all lenses and it works just fine. But it doesn't fix this long-zoom/long-range issue. |
|
Jeff Stanton, Photographer
|
Indiana | IN | USA | Posted: 11:22 PM on 01.11.10 |
->> yes, my work from like 80 to 135 or so looks fine. No problems. But beyond that, infinity on the other end of the court, if I do get one in focus, it's just pure luck. It's really frustrating as I did not have this problem a year ago. It has just developed within the last 3-4 months.
Your theory is interesting. I think before I ship this body off to have it looked at, I will try phoning Nikon and asking for some feedback. Thanks, Chuck |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|