D3300 unable to focus through the viewfinder

ibsmo

Senior Member
Hi all,

Just registered and all that, so first post!

I just bought a D3300, and I'm having trouble focusing through the viewfinder, as the view doesn't get as crisp or clear as it should (it always seems to be a little out of focus). I've tried adjusting the diopter adjustment which just makes the view blurry (the meter numbers are clear btw). In fact the auto focus never really looks that crisp though the view finder when it locks in when using AF (the actual images are good and the view through live view is fine). I've also compared the viewfinders from my old D80 and D3000 (with various lenses), and I have no trouble focusing on objects.

I'm probably just going to return it and try another D3300 body, but figured I'd run it past you all in case I missed something. I also did a brief search to see if anyone else has experienced this, and usually a simple diopter adjustment has solved the issue, which as I mentioned didn't resolve the issue.

thanks
ibs
 

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
It sounds like the focus plate (that's probably not the term for it) is not quite in the right place. I think if it is new that I would return it and try another one. After making that statement and thinking a little more, let me ask, when focused using auto focus is it in good focus in Live View? Live View doesn't use the "focus plate".
 

ibsmo

Senior Member
It sounds like the focus plate (that's probably not the term for it) is not quite in the right place. I think if it is new that I would return it and try another one. After making that statement and thinking a little more, let me ask, when focused using auto focus is it in good focus in Live View? Live View doesn't use the "focus plate".


thanks for the quick reply cwgrizz, that information is very helpful, and it's good to know I'm just not seeing things. I've initiated a return so I hope the next one doesn't have any issues.

Also, when I focus using AF, the live view looked fine as well.
 
Welcome to the forum. Hope you get is all straightened out and working correctly. If you shoot in JPEG them there is something you should do when the replacement gets here and it will help your focus be even a little sharper. If you shoot in RAW then don't worry about it since you will control sharpness in post.

If you are shooting JPG I would suggest that you use the Fine>>Large setting and also set your camera for better sharpness.



Go into your Menus and highlight the "Shooting" menu (the camera icon)

Drop down to "Picture Controls" and click right one time.

From here, highlight "Standard" and then click right one time.

From this settings menu, increase the "Sharpness" setting to "7".

Drop down and increase the "Saturation" setting +1 notch on the slider.

Press "OK" to exit the menus and you're done.



 

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
Hi all,

Just registered and all that, so first post!

I just bought a D3300, and I'm having trouble focusing through the viewfinder, as the view doesn't get as crisp or clear as it should (it always seems to be a little out of focus).…

I'm probably just going to return it and try another D3300 body, but figured I'd run it past you all in case I missed something. I also did a brief search to see if anyone else has experienced this, and usually a simple diopter adjustment has solved the issue, which as I mentioned didn't resolve the issue.

thanks
ibs

It sounds like the focus plate (that's probably not the term for it) is not quite in the right place. I think if it is new that I would return it and try another one. After making that statement and thinking a little more, let me ask, when focused using auto focus is it in good focus in Live View? Live View doesn't use the "focus plate".

It's the "Focus Screen"

And Welcome to the forum. This is a great place to hang out.

If it's like my D3200, then the stock focus screen that comes with it is pretty much useless for manually-focusing. I think Nikon assumes that most people who buy the lower-end DSLRs are the sort who will nearly always use autofocus, and rarely, if ever, try to focus manually. The stock focus screen is optimized to give the brightest, clearest possible view, regardless of focus, and so it is useless for seeing what is in focus and what is not.

What @ibsmo (or anyone else) needs to do, if he wants to be able to manually-focus, is to replace the stock focus screen with an aftermarket focus screen, which is more similar to those that were standard on SLRs long before autofocus, and similar to what I assume are standard on higher-end DSLRs.

Go to eBay, and enter the following into the search field:

bresson focus screen d3300​

The item you want usually pops up, priced at 20.99. Make sure you get the one that lists the D3300 among the cameras with which it is compatible.
 

aroy

Senior Member
Hi all,

Just registered and all that, so first post!

I just bought a D3300, and I'm having trouble focusing through the viewfinder, as the view doesn't get as crisp or clear as it should (it always seems to be a little out of focus). I've tried adjusting the diopter adjustment which just makes the view blurry (the meter numbers are clear btw). In fact the auto focus never really looks that crisp though the view finder when it locks in when using AF (the actual images are good and the view through live view is fine). I've also compared the viewfinders from my old D80 and D3000 (with various lenses), and I have no trouble focusing on objects.

I'm probably just going to return it and try another D3300 body, but figured I'd run it past you all in case I missed something. I also did a brief search to see if anyone else has experienced this, and usually a simple diopter adjustment has solved the issue, which as I mentioned didn't resolve the issue.

thanks
ibs
There can be two problems
1. With the AF module
2. With your eyes

1. AF Module is easy to check
. Put the camera on a tripod if you have one else on a sturdy support
. Look through the view finder and use AF-S to focus on an object at the centre, around 10 feet away
. Now start Live View
. Zoom in and check the focus

If the Live view focus is spot on after zooming (use a contrast edge, say a bench edge or a tree to get focus spot on) then AF module is fine. Repeat the check at various focal length if the lens is a zoom, some time the AF is off at certain focal lengths.

In case the AF module is not spot on then try with a few lenses. Please note that the D3xxx and D5xxx bodies have no fine adjustment for focusing lenses. A slight calibration error in AF-S lenses can lead to fuzzy focus.

If you are satisfied that the body AF is bad, exchange the body. If one particular lens's AF is off, exchange the lens,

2. Eyes. The View finder image is focused internally at a fixed distance. In case eyes are not able to focus at that distance, eyepiece correction is required. You may not even be aware of it, but the eyes may be off by more than the range of correction in the diopter correction provided (about +-1). In case the AF module check above is spot on, then eyes are the problem.

Get the eye power verified by an optometrist and buy a diopter correction eyepiece of the relevant range.
 

ibsmo

Senior Member
@Don Kuykendall

Thanks, I'm already shooting in RAW, so I can do a lot of clean up in post as you say.

@Bob Blaylock

That doesn't sound promising. I'm going to exchange the body and hope it doesn't have to come to that (fingers crossed), but thanks for the information in case I do need to go that route.

@aroy

I've mentioned that I have checked the AF and with various lenses, and it seems to be about the same on all 3 that I've used.

And I'll be the first to tell you my vision isn't the greatest, in fact I thought my vision was getting worse after struggling to use focus through the viewfinder on my d3300, but like I mentioned I have no such problems on my older DSLRs. And coupled with what other posters have already mentioned (again, thanks all), it's likely a camera defect/current production issue.
 

ibsmo

Senior Member
Just wanted to follow up on this.

I returned the camera and only ended up getting another one a few weeks ago (it took some time to process the return for some reason), and while the image through the view finder was a little better, it still was not as sharp as past models, and it seemed to be inconsistent when focusing on objects, sometimes clear other times not so much (it also was making my eyes fuzzy), so looks like Bob Blaylock was right about the focus screen being poor.

@Bob Blaylock

I tried removing the focus screen on my D3000 to see how easy it'd be to replace it, and I ended up scratching the focus screen! Totally my fault, but I don't think I'll bother trying with the D3300, which I will return as well.


I'm thinking of getting the D5200, though not sure if this might have the same issue. Does anyone have any experience with it, or does anyone have any suggestions for another model? I'm trying to keep it around the $500-ish range since I'm just a hobbyist.

thanks
ibsen




 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Just wanted to follow up on this.

I returned the camera and only ended up getting another one a few weeks ago (it took some time to process the return for some reason), and while the image through the view finder was a little better, it still was not as sharp as past models, and it seemed to be inconsistent when focusing on objects, sometimes clear other times not so much (it also was making my eyes fuzzy), so looks like Bob Blaylock was right about the focus screen being poor.

@Bob Blaylock

I tried removing the focus screen on my D3000 to see how easy it'd be to replace it, and I ended up scratching the focus screen! Totally my fault, but I don't think I'll bother trying with the D3300, which I will return as well.

I'm thinking of getting the D5200, though not sure if this might have the same issue. Does anyone have any experience with it, or does anyone have any suggestions for another model? I'm trying to keep it around the $500-ish range since I'm just a hobbyist.

thanks
ibsen

Maybe you should look at your focus settings. Are you using multiple points? AFS or CFS? Is there enough light for the focus to properly work, enough contrast? A lot of factors can make focusing very difficult.
If you want to manually focus, a third party focusing screen is a MUST, as already mentioned.

Best of luck.
 

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
I tried removing the focus screen on my D3000 to see how easy it'd be to replace it, and I ended up scratching the focus screen! Totally my fault, but I don't think I'll bother trying with the D3300, which I will return as well.


I'm thinking of getting the D5200, though not sure if this might have the same issue. Does anyone have any experience with it, or does anyone have any suggestions for another model? I'm trying to keep it around the $500-ish range since I'm just a hobbyist.

I'm not certain, but I think the D5200 will probably have the same issue. I do not know, at what level, Nikon starts including a usable focus screen as a standard feature, but I think it's probably well above your price point.

My suggestion,since you've already damaged the focus screen in your D3000, is to use it now to practice removing and reinstalling the focus screen, until you get to where you can do so comfortably and confidently; then buy a an aftermarket focus screen to install in your D3300. In fact, if you intend to keep the D3000 in service, then you might want to buy an aftermarket focus screen for it, as well, since the stock one is now damaged; or, you could just put the stock screen from your D3300 in the D3000.
 

aroy

Senior Member
Just wanted to follow up on this.

.......

I'm thinking of getting the D5200, though not sure if this might have the same issue. Does anyone have any experience with it, or does anyone have any suggestions for another model? I'm trying to keep it around the $500-ish range since I'm just a hobbyist.
thanks
ibsen

I do not think that D5xxx series will solve your problem. Better get D7200 or D750. These have better AF than the D3xxx and D5xxx series. You also have the ability to "Fine Tune" the focus of each lens, so that the AF is consistent.

That said, I have never faced any focusing issues with my D3300. You have to be careful of the AF mode you are using. I use single point AF with Spot metering. That ensures that the AF is spot on. The exceptions are
. Low light Low contrast situations where at times the camera refuses to lock on the focus
. Where the focusing rectangle is larger than the area I am trying to focus, so that if I am trying to AF on a flower the body may focus on the leaves either in front or behind the flower. So you have to select an area that is larger than the focusing rectangle

For manual focus on these bodies you have to either use the "green dot" to get the focus right or use "live view". On the higher end bodies you can install a third party screen, but that may interfere with metering.
Here are links
Nikon
NIKON D800 D750 D600 D610 Df Focusing Screen Installation Instruction
https://www.focusingscreen.com/prod...=1315&osCsid=87b183304a94d957a1dfcae560d33ef0
 

ibsmo

Senior Member
Thanks for the information everyone!

@Marcel

I do a lot of manual focusing, so that's where the issue arises. I've never been too keen on the AF since it's not as consistent as I would like it, and have ended up with some out of focus pics even though the AF locked on (probably just the contrast throwing it off), so I just ended up leaning towards manual all the time now to avoid that.

@Danno

I'm gonna doing some traveling for possibly several months this year, and losing the eyepiece at some point is my real concern, so not sure if I want to go that route, but thanks for the recommendation.


@Bob Blaylock

I ended up working on the D3000 a little more and was able to remove the focus screen easily. The scratches aren't really a big deal, they just sort of look like eye floaters, and as you say, I can replace the focus screen if need be.

@aroy

Right now I'm mulling over whether or not I want to replace the focus screen on the D3300 or look into maybe moving up to the D7100 (I can get a refurb for $595, and the D7200 is def too pricey), since you mentioned the D5XXX series may likely have that problem. I'm pretty much leaning towards getting the 7100 after having looked at the comparisons between the two.


@ JH Foto

thanks JH!
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
If you can clearly see the lines in the viewfinder, then you probably don't need extra eye piece. But the focusing screen has to go if you want to consistently focus using manual focusing. Now there is not only the install that has to be done, but also the calibration. You have to put your camera on a tripod, focus using the screen and then focus using magnification in Live View and compare the shots. The problem arises when the new focusing screen is not the exact same thickness as the original one. Usually the new screen will come with shims that have to be inserted above the focusing screen until the manual focus matches the Live View focus.

A little time and patience is all it takes, and it really works.
 

ibsmo

Senior Member
So, ended up keeping the D3300. Main reason is, since I'm going traveling next month, I want something super light and small, otherwise I'd go with the 7100. I've ordered a replacement focus screen and I'll switch it out when it gets here. Thanks @Bob Blaylock for all the info.

Also, I used the D3300 over the July 4th weekend to see how much of an issue it'll be, and it's pretty good in bright daylight, but otherwise, it can be a little hard to focus when the light isn't great, though the replacement focus screen should fix that. Regardless, got some great pics in.

Anyhow, just wanted to thank everyone again for their input!
 
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