upgraded to D600 from D80 bad first round of picks

Just bought a used D600 went out for the first shoot with it and everything was blurry/out of focus when i uploaded the images. I was using a Sigma 24-70 and a nikon 70-300. I have been looking over posts and seeing things about lens calibration and using the Back focus button. Is there something else I should look at? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Post an unedited sample, otherwise we'll just be guessing.

Examples with complete EXIF data would help a lot.

monkey101 said:

Just bought a used D600 went out for the first shoot with it and everything was blurry/out of focus when i uploaded the images. I was using a Sigma 24-70 and a nikon 70-300. I have been looking over posts and seeing things about lens calibration and using the Back focus button. Is there something else I should look at? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Something different than the D80, make sure the D600 menus A1 and A2 are in Focus Priority, so that it will focus BEFORE the shutter will activate.

I would reset menus to defaults, then indeed check Focus priority. Might indeed have preset focus fine-tune in there too.

thanks ...sorry on my tablet..I will post the pic and the EXIF data shortly

Yes, reset the menus. Maybe the camera was set to back-button focus already, so the auto-focus was not activating when you shot. Resetting the menus to default puts AF back on the shutter button.

Check the AF/M switch on the front to make sure it's on AF.

Dont know how the D600 works but i just found out my D7100 ignores the focus priority setting if you use BBF

You should not have any buyer's remorse about a D600. I liked my first one so much I bought a second one. Both were used, and both have worked great. Once you get these AF settings configured to your way of shooting, you will love this camera.

The question really is "Does it focus?" Do you see the green dot in bottom left of the viewfinder, quickly when you half press the shutter? Same as D80.
If so, that indicates it found focus. If not, that is the problem. It is very easy to accidentally bump the little switch (same as D80, about the 5 PM position in front under the lens) and accidentally set it to Manual focus. Many later lenses also have a Manual focus switch on them.

If it is focusing, then Focus priority is necessary (menus A1 and A2)... so that it focuses BEFORE the shutter activates.

If you are focusing manually the diopter may need to be set for your vision. If it is off everything will come out blurry no matter which lens you use.

I'd argue that the issue is considering the D600 an upgrade.

thanks all...it is looking like it was the diopter and using contacts instead of glasses like normally

monkey101 said:

thanks all...it is looking like it was the diopter and using contacts instead of glasses like normally

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Glad we could help you out! Now lets see some pictures.

Please do share more. I am looking for reasons to upgrade to FX. Currently looking at 600, 610 & 800. If the 600 has it all, then this would the camera.

Curious how this is working out for you.
I have a D610 and while there are a few basic things you need to know, with a properly working AF lens and AF on, and adequate light for the lens, ISO, etc then focus is never an issue for me. If I mess with manual everything I mess up some of the time. On AP I'm pretty good at getting the shot. On some of my vintage glass in tricky situations the lens may hunt for the right focus for a moment - but learn to watch for the in focus light in the view finder (took me a while to learn about that focus indicator) and if enabled it should also 'beep' when focus locks on.

One of my bad habits is forgetting to return the settings to "normal" after a shoot. For example turning on the bracket to do a HDR series, and then forget to turn it off. Or adjust the exposure compensation, and leave it. and other similar bad habits. I did play with the U1 and U2 settings to a 'return to normal' but even then I have to remember to flip to them.

I've had my camera a year now and I'm still just learning. Lots to learn.

Do post your efforts and get some comments based on the EXIF info.

Don't give up, the 600 is a grand bit of tech.

BTW - I wear glasses - and have to push them up onto my forehead to look through the view finder. Be sure to adjust the viewfinder doodad to get a clear image. I could not adjust it enough with my glasses on - hence the removal of glasses to look in the view finder. A bit of a pain actually but world of difference when I look into the viewfinder with glasses off.

There are gizmo's you can add to the viewfinder for glasses - I haven't