My D7000 will not Focus Properly

nmjameswilson

New member
Has anyone else had a problem that the D7000 will not focus properly? I have tried it in serveral modes and with several settings and all shots are at least a bit out of focus with some being bad. I took the lens off and put in on the D40 and it did fine so I am lost.

I may have to return my brand new camera. :(
 

Rick M

Senior Member
If you purchased it directly from a local store, I would return it immediately (if you are still in the timeframe of returning). Same if you got it online. Once you're past the return window, you'll be stuck sending it out to Nikon if you cannot solve the issue.
 

LensWork

Senior Member
You might want to check-out page 246 of your owner's manual regarding using the "AF Fine Tune" function. This MAY solve your issue.
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Nikon USA will check the camera for calibration or AF issue if it's under warranty. I just sent mine and received it back in 3 weeks. You just need to go to their website and fill out the forms. They'll test if for any other issues and clean the sensor as well for free.

Nikon Service and Repair
 

nmjameswilson

New member
Here is a couple quickies I just took ... will not get into focus.

JWA_0589.jpg

JWA_0580.jpg
 

nmjameswilson

New member
Sorry remember I am very new to all this.

Grashopper - 1/30 6.3 Iso 200
Flowers - 1/125 5.6 Iso 400

Storms were moving through so it was a bit darker (cloudy) out.

Do note a have tried every setting/combination and still had these results.
 

Rick M

Senior Member
Those are challenging shots to determine how well the camera is focusing. The main subjects appear in focus on both, but the DOF plane seems shallow on the first one, it is hard to tell if the other objects should be in focus or not. In the second shot, it appears the center flower is the focal point and appears sharp at this size. Depending on the lens and aperature, shots such as these may be within the expected DOF. I expected to see shots uniformly out of focus. Hopefully others will have some input.
 
I had a similar problem with my D3100. Try shooting something at about 20 to thirty feet so DOF does not matter. Then when viewing the shot zoom to 100% and then 200%. See what it looks like there.
My regular shots are the zooms we share here looked pretty good and you really could not tell they were out of focus but when I zoomed to 100% they started to go soft and and 200%they were really bad. I did the same shot with my wife's L120 and the results were so much better. All sharp and clear. If you have access to another camera you might want to compare.
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
I think you're jumping too fast on blaming the camera. I found that the D7000 needs taming compared with the D90. There are quite a few focus menus that you need to set before you send the camera back.
Try the one point only focus (there is a button you have to press where the manual focus switch is while turning the front adjustment wheel), turn it until you only see one point in the middle. When focusing, place the object you want in focus in the focus indicator square in the viewfinder and then take the shot. You have to remember to let the focus happen while pressing the shutter half way. If you don't want to have the focussed object or person in the middle, you can change the focusing square to different areas using the (selector button) in the back.

Also remember that the high pixeled sensor of the D7000 is MORE sensitive to camera shake and movement than the older D70 or 50. Make sure you either use high enough shutter speed or a solid tripod. This is the only way you can test if your camera is or not misfocusing before you send it to Nikon. I know that there were some complaints in that dept when the camera first came out, but a lot of fuss was user mishandling.
Good luck and please keep us informed.
 

nmjameswilson

New member
Thanks for the input ... I do exactly as you say .. I have it on single point and AF-S. If it is that sensitive to shake and has to be on a tripod them maybe it is not the right camera for me. I am mobile and it seems this camera is not right for that.
 
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