D610 Autofocus problems

Paul Hands

New member
When autofocussing with the Nikon D610 using 'S', I find that occasionally when I focus and recompose the image, the autofocus moves. Can anyone tell me if this is a fault or perhaps I have it set up incorrectly?
 

hark

Administrator
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Contributor
Do you hear the movement of the lens refocusing, or do you just notice it on your photos? I had the same problem with my D600 because I tend to focus and recompose. Even though I didn't hear the lens moving, the focus would be way off. When the D600 was in for the oil spot repair, Nikon calibrated its auto focus.

If you hear the lens refocusing, you need to hold the shutter button down just a tad more. Some people here like using the back button focus option which might help if this is the case.
 

Paul Hands

New member
Yes I would hear the lens moving. It doesn't happen all the time. I've just reconfigured to back button focussing.
Now you mention having your lens calibrated. I have noticed that in several images that the focus is off point and totally ruins the image. Could this be in need of calibrating?
I'm hoping I can get used to back button focussing now!
Thanks for your reply
 

nickt

Senior Member
Can you focus and recompose properly if you are set up to use the shutter button for focus? That is, you are in AF-S mode, single point focus selected, then half press shutter button to focus, continuing holding, then recompose and shoot without ever releasing. If that works, you may not be using the bb correctly.

To your other question about the focus being off, were you using single point focus? If, not use single point before deciding if there might be a problem.
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
I assume by 'S' you mean AF-S and not Shutter Priority, correct? If not, then that's your problem. AF-S should not refocus when recomposing provided you keep the shutter button half-depressed.

You may want to look at your focus lock setting (I turn mine off). I don't think this is supposed to effect AF-S, only AF-C, but that may have something to do with it.
 

hark

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Contributor
Yes I would hear the lens moving. It doesn't happen all the time. I've just reconfigured to back button focussing.
Now you mention having your lens calibrated. I have noticed that in several images that the focus is off point and totally ruins the image. Could this be in need of calibrating?
I'm hoping I can get used to back button focussing now!
Thanks for your reply

Since you are hearing the lens adjust slightly, the back button focus option should eliminate that problem. :)

I had the auto focus in my camera body calibrated (not any lens) as my focus point was way off even though the lens didn't adjust; however, there were other times when I heard the lens adjust so I knew to focus again. I still have the problem with hearing the lens refocus from time to time. My D90 has a tighter shutter release button. What I mean by that is when it is pressed partway, there is a definitely resistance felt under my finger. My D600 and my current D610 lack such a noticeable resistance. I STILL have times where I will focus and recompose only to hear the lens move slightly. And then there are the times when I try to focus and hold the shutter release halfway only to have it trigger the shutter before I am ready. :rolleyes:

You also have the option to perform your own focus calibration on your lenses. There is a lot of info here on the forum as well as on the web.

Here is a link with a downloadable focus chart and an explanation on how to use it. Jeffrey Friedl's Blog » Jeffrey?s Autofocus Test Chart
 

Blade Canyon

Senior Member
Are you sure you're hearing the Auto-focus of the lens, and not the Vibration Reduction? Is it a VR lens? (Or if using a Sigma or Tamron, their equivalents to active image stabilization?)

+1 for back button focus and for individual lens calibration. The D610 can remember a different calibration number for each lens, so you only have to calibrate each one once. (For back button focus, one pro tog laughed at me and said "was that something you read about on the internet?" Another pro tog said it was what he used. Jerry Ghionis (premier wedding and portrait tog) said he doesn't use it at weddings because it makes his hand cramp doing the BBF all day, so shutter button is easier.)

One other problem with BBF is that, if you are shooting with a shallow depth of field (to get that lovely bokeh), you or your subject can move the tiniest amount between focusing and snapping, and that moves the focal plane. I hate pictures when I know I focused on the eye, but the eye is slightly out of focus, but the hair on the crown or an ear is super sharp. I've tested the lens calibrations to make sure the desired focal point is in actual focus in the pictures, so those portrait mistakes are mine. This is one problem with focusing and recomposing, because you have to move the camera body a little bit without letting your upper body or subject move forward or backwards even half-an-inch.
 
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