60mm F2.8 AFS

zarrayx

New member
Hello to all
I just Purchased a Macro lens the 60mm F2.8 AFS lens to used as a macro and walk around lens but it seems to hunt the focus, when doing a close up photo that i take, I am using the D200 group focus if that is what it is called and sometimes the aperture will stay at f3 and will not go to the said F2.8 i have no idea why, any suggestion is appreciated

thanks
 

Bill16

Senior Member
I'm not real knowledgeable about it, but I think you need to be using a single focus point for macro. In macro/very close up you can't keep focus on several subjects at the same time. A lot of macro shooters focus manually to which would solve this issue for you. What mode your in can effect what F stop the camera uses, and since I shoot manual mode mostly, I can't tell you what mode would be best for your needs.
I hope this is of some help, and other more knowledgeable members will be able to help you more than I can. :D
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Bill answered perfectly. When shooting Macro, shoot in Manual Mode, single point focus (AF-S), not AF-C. And most importantly, use a tripod. Turn off the VR when on a tripod.

If you send me your email address, I can email you the D200 Setup Guide, which is in .pdf format.
 

AC016

Senior Member
Hello to all
I just Purchased a Macro lens the 60mm F2.8 AFS lens to used as a macro and walk around lens but it seems to hunt the focus, when doing a close up photo that i take, I am using the D200 group focus if that is what it is called and sometimes the aperture will stay at f3 and will not go to the said F2.8 i have no idea why, any suggestion is appreciated

thanks

Your lens is doing this because you are so close to your subject and so out of focus to begin with. If you read some reviews about the lens, you will that this is a common occurrence. Try to manually focus first, then fine tune with AF/L. No need to turn VR off, since there is none ;) I have a 60mm f/2.4 (not Nikon) and the AF does the same thing when up very close.
 

WayneF

Senior Member
Hello to all
I just Purchased a Macro lens the 60mm F2.8 AFS lens to used as a macro and walk around lens but it seems to hunt the focus, when doing a close up photo that i take, I am using the D200 group focus if that is what it is called and sometimes the aperture will stay at f3 and will not go to the said F2.8 i have no idea why, any suggestion is appreciated

thanks



fstop number = focal length / aperture diameter.

When lenses focus up close, their lens must rack out forward, which is longer (or they might be internal focus), but the lens focal length must become longer to achieve this closer distance. This computes a new fstop value, your f/3 instead of f/2.8. This maximum aperture computed value will be closer to f/5 when up close near 1:1. This is very normal.
(of course, we would not consider using f/5 at 1:1 closeup, due to depth of field).

So just how it is. There is nothing wrong. Consider it a plus that the lens handles this automatically. Try focusing it at a little greater distance to see f/2.8.

Normal lenses don't focus very close, and we don't normally see this on them.
 
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