D7000 Focus issues

G

Guest

Guest
Hello all,
Is anyone else with a D7000 having AF problems? I had to contact Nikon customer service yesterday as my D7000 has been having focus problems. I must say the Nikon service people on the phone were somewhat insulting asking me step by step if I have either the camera or the lens in manual mode. Rude to top it all off hope they were just having a bad day.
Has anyone else out there been having focus problems with their camera? I can switch the AF/M selector on the camera body and it would seem to clear up as long as I keep shooting but if I leave it on for a couple of mins (while adjusting scene or looks for new shot) come back to it and it has same focus problems again. The main problem is that it keeps trying to focus but will never lock. Not such a big problem doing stills but, the racing season is coming up and have a lot of track photography lined up and this will be a huge problem in action shots (could result in my throwing the camera :)
I was told to send the camera in to service yesterday which I did. I was informed it will take 14 days to get it back. I hope they actually fix something and not just return.
I welcome any input anyone actually has on this as I really do enjoy that camera. Would hate to have to go to another manufacture but, I am not please with Nikon on this issue thus far.
I of course will keep you all posted.
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Sounds like the camera is looking for a focus point. The auto Focus system on a Nikon has to have contrast that the camera focusing system can see. If you point the camera at a blank wall the lens can't focus, not enough contrast. I often run into this problem when shooting early morning or evening shots. Low light and not enough contrast for the focusing system to lock on to. Sounds like you are shooting portraits? Check the focus point, if it is off the subject and trying to focus on the background scene there may not be enough visible contrast for the camera to lock on to, or the lighting and/or subject you are using is just not providing enough contrast.
 
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G

Guest

Guest
Joseph,
All very nice points. I don't really shoot portraits. I am also aware on how the Nikon AF works and issues in low light (always manual in low light). I don't think it is operator head-space on my part. I have had this problem for some time in various scenarios, just haven't brought it forward as I wanted to make sure I explored all other options before blaming the equipment.
 

PhotoAV8R

Senior Member
...service people on the phone were somewhat insulting asking me step by step if I have either the camera or the lens in manual mode. Rude to top it all off...
There's seldom an excuse for being rude. Putting that aside, I'll date myself by telling this story...

Do you, or anybody, remember the Kodak Instamatic cameras?

If so, do you remember the Flash Cube that they used.

If so, do you ever remember seeing an owner of one of those cameras sporting a burn mark in the middle of their forehead because they were stupid enough to not only hold the camera backwards against their eye, but also to go ahead and take a shot that way - thereby scorching a nice round spot in said forehead?

One has to remember that, in all likelihood, the majority of calls fielded by Customer Support are made by those that pulled a not-so-simple device out of a box, never read the first word in the manual and, if they had lived in the 60's, would have tried to tattoo their forehead with photons.

That's why I never want to be a phone rep...
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Hi Rob,
I have a D7000 and haven't noticed this problem except once or twice. There are so many settings just for focusing with the camera. I finally set it to 1 point focus and it seems to be OK for now. I hope I never have to throw it away since it's heavy and it could seriously hurt someone :)
Was your problem with one lens in particular or with different lenses? Did it happen most of the time or just a few?
Please, do keep us posted.
thanks

Marcel
 
G

Guest

Guest
@PhotoAV8R, Good point I was being very patient with them just because I am sure they get some stupid calls. Don't know how many times I was woke up in the middle of the night when I was in the military to fix a radio only to find out some 2LT didn't know the batteries were dead... Good input and funny story thanks for sharing.

Marcel,
First was trying to keep my sense of humor with the throwing the camera bit.. Thus the smiley, which is very uncharacteristic of me. So if I am to understand you correctly you are noticing focus problems? Yes, it is happening with different lens. I have been doing some research on the internet and finding that others are having same said issue. Might want to keep on eye on yours. Seems to me all functions should work correctly. I am really interest to know if other d7000's out there are having same issue or was it just the first ones distributed as I got mine in OCT.
Thanks for your interest Marcel.
///s///
Rob
 

jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
Rob, I'm curious if the same pictures were clear (or focus locked) using live view. Live view uses contrast detect AF while the viewfinder uses phase detect. I'm also curious if a flash with AF assist would produce different results. If it does it would a calibration issue with the phase detect AF.
 

Jaynometry

Senior Member
Haven't happened to me once. Though, when using my D7000 indoors, I always have a flash on so maybe jdeg is right about the flash AF assist light.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Jdeg,
Focus locked. All said problems have been in daylight with plenty of lighting. I always keep the AF light in the on position. I am not the only person having this problem so, I think it is a "real" issue. My camera is already at Nikon so lets see what they have to say.
 

fotojack

Senior Member
With all the problems people are having with the D7000, I'm surprised there hasen't been a recall on it yet. For a $1400 camera, all those problems are unacceptable to me. Hope you guys get them fixed.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Tell me about it. Depending on how they deal with this will decided my future with Nikon. I am not very happy.
 

Curt

Senior Member
Well I am glad I held off on looking at a D7000. I will stick with my D200 & D80 for now. Looking forward to seeing the new D400 when it comes out…lol.
 
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fotojack

Senior Member
Tell me about it. Depending on how they deal with this will decided my future with Nikon. I am not very happy.

Well don't judge the whole company on one faulty camera. That wouldn't be fair. As for the customer service you've been getting, I'd go up the ladder, if I were you, and find better personnel to help you resolve this situation. Write to Nikon (email) and voice your concerns over who you spoke to and how they treated you. Hopefully you will get satisfactory results and get a new camera out of this. At best, get yours properly fixed.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Jack

I just sent it out yesterday FEDEX and it just got entered into the system today. I understand stuff happens especially when you get one of the first ones. I hope they just replace the unit, it is an intermittent problem I am just afraid they will send it back with the problem. I am just going to try and be patient right now. But if I end up playing "hot potato" with a camera that is only a couple of months old, I will judge the company. The ball is in their court if you will.
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Jack

I just sent it out yesterday FEDEX and it just got entered into the system today. I understand stuff happens especially when you get one of the first ones. I hope they just replace the unit, it is an intermittent problem I am just afraid they will send it back with the problem. I am just going to try and be patient right now. But if I end up playing "hot potato" with a camera that is only a couple of months old, I will judge the company. The ball is in their court if you will.

Oh I absolutely agree with that last part (the ball's in their court), roguebear. I was just trying to say...jump through the hoops, and if they don't satisfy you, then you have every right to squawk.
Let us know how it turns out, eh. :)
 

msm11

New member
have also posted this in response to a video-issue post, submitting it here because it also seems to be an autofocus issue - thnx - msm11

I am a DSLR beginner, and am using my (new) D7000 with my old AF Nikkor 35-135mm 1:3.5-4.5 lens. My question is about continuous autofocus. With 3" screen active, I am able to set to "AF-F" (appears at top of 3" screen), and autofocus adjusts continuously, although slowly and not very well. When I change to viewfinder, no matter what autofocus setting I use, it does not adjust continuously. When I change to AF-C, viewfinder focus is very fast and very good for photos but does not appear to work for videos.
Is this:
a. a camera problem - these things should work?
b. a problem using this camera with this lens - it will work with more modern lenses?
c. this camera is not able to continuously autofocus (AF-F) through viewfinder
d. I need to change some setting so that it can continuously autofocus through viewfinder [what setting(s)?]

my main settings:
The left side-switch on camera is set to AF.
At top of 3" screen it says "AF-F".
There is no A-M switch on the lens itself.
The lens f-stop ring is locked to f/3.5.
 

Curt

Senior Member
Wow! Rob those are some strong words, you must be very unhappy with the D7000 and Nikon’s customer serves. I had thought of looking at a D7000 as an up grade some time down the line. I think I am leaning more now towards the D300s. But that is a long time down the line…lol. Sorry you had so much problems with your D7000.
Hope it all works out for you, that’s a lot of money to spend and not be satisfied??
Hopefully Nikon will make it right for you J.
 

elaine722

New member
I am having very inconsistent results with mine. I also have a D300 and had amazing results that were very consistent. I bought this camera because of how great it was reviewed for low noise at high ISO levels. I am not used too getting so many out of focus photos and the exposure is also inconsistent. In between, I get some incredibly sharp photos. Also, the shutter button, even on single shot, seems to take two fast shots with one press. I find it hard to get just one shot at a time.

Hello all,
Is anyone else with a D7000 having AF problems? I had to contact Nikon customer service yesterday as my D7000 has been having focus problems. I must say the Nikon service people on the phone were somewhat insulting asking me step by step if I have either the camera or the lens in manual mode. Rude to top it all off hope they were just having a bad day.
Has anyone else out there been having focus problems with their camera? I can switch the AF/M selector on the camera body and it would seem to clear up as long as I keep shooting but if I leave it on for a couple of mins (while adjusting scene or looks for new shot) come back to it and it has same focus problems again. The main problem is that it keeps trying to focus but will never lock. Not such a big problem doing stills but, the racing season is coming up and have a lot of track photography lined up and this will be a huge problem in action shots (could result in my throwing the camera :)
I was told to send the camera in to service yesterday which I did. I was informed it will take 14 days to get it back. I hope they actually fix something and not just return.
I welcome any input anyone actually has on this as I really do enjoy that camera. Would hate to have to go to another manufacture but, I am not please with Nikon on this issue thus far.
I of course will keep you all posted.

Rob
 

Curt

Senior Member
Well I got my D7000 about two weeks ago and it seems to amaze me everyday. I have had no problems with mine at all.
I felt right at home with it the minute I picked it up and it has not disappointed me yet, Love it!
 
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