Problem with color banding in the sky with my D700

jackerman

New member
I bought the D700 camera slightly used and I'm very concerned there is something wrong with the camera processor itself. I brought the camera to a Nikon dealer in NYC and they said the camera was fine and did not need to be serviced.
However, when I look at the 16 bit tiff conversions from the NEF RAW files, I see banding in the skies without ever having touched the files. At 100% enlargement you can see what looks like a rash in the sky or colors that forms ring patterns. I'm baffled that the service place reported to be the best, did not detect this. I even brought files for them to analyze. I'm mostly using the 24-70mm Nikon 2.8 lens, but sometimes use my prime 50mm 1.4.I find that the bands and rings in the sky are worst when I use the 24-70mm.

I just read a thread on here about updating firmware, mine is indeed out of date. Perhaps this is the problem, but not sure. Also have been told not to use Nikon ViewNX2 software to convert files. I was told to use Photoshop Camera Raw or Adobe Lightroom does a better job. Does anyone think that this could be messing up the files? I have an old version of Photoshop CS3 and it will not read the NEF RAW files, so I was forced to use the Nikon software.

If anyone has any ideas what could be wrong, please send me a note. I would hate to thing that the processor is damaged, as I can't really afford to buy a new camera. I'm hoping the problem is in my work flow. I suppose I can try and rent another D700 body and try it with my lens to see if I have the same problem.
 
What happens if you convert to JPEG? That might help narrow it down to camera or software. Also what does the jpeg straight out of the camera look like? Try all and compare.
 

Dave_W

The Dude
It sounds like an issue with the sensor, to me. You can eliminate the firmware update and ViewNX as being the problem. But one question, are you seeing this banding in daylight shots or in night/low light shots?
 

jackerman

New member
The problem happens in daylight shots when the weather could not be more perfect to shoot, also when I shot the Manhattan skyline at night recently same color banding, I've been reading online that a lot of other people have complained of the same problem with the D700 and even more so with the D800.
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Could be just a sensor cleaning job gone bad. I've seen that kind of streaks from my own missed sensor cleaning. Try and have your sensor cleaned and it should be fine. Some wet sensor cleaner fluids are not so compatible with other brands and when you wet clean it with the second product it will create something like you mentioned.

Give this a shot and I hope it will be OK.

Please let us know if it worked.
 

jackerman

New member
Thank you for your answer. I just had the entire camera cleaned by a Nikon authorized repair center, I don't know if they would clean the sensor, but I'm sure that is not something I would try myself! I'm bringing the camera back in to them, I'll ask if they can check that for me.

Thank you Marcel
 

terradog

New member
Yes my Nikon D700 Banding every photo is sky "under or overexposed".
The banding is terrible nightmare and post process to fix in photoshop.
I shoot in Tiffs always never post process in RAW. Its the camera for sure
not my monitors. The banding is described as a curving on where light blue gradates
to dark blue. I use the Vignette control at High still bands, I use Active D Lighting shadows at medium
to high. I am a Pro i shoot for a living every day i have nice lenses 16-35 f4 VR and Nikon 28-70 F2.8
Both band, dont sell me on the 24-70 f2.8 cuz the 28-70 f2.8 is film plz. My 28-70 f2.8 is by far superior
to the 16-35 f4 vr.
All files go to camera Tiff and into photoshop, its not my work flow, i have shot in RAW and the same problem appears. I just skip a post processing step to save time because of volume and i am an expert
retoucher by trade printing Ad work, Entertainment, etc.

Sky= Banding :(
 

Dave_W

The Dude
This is not normal function for a D7000. I met a guy about 9 months ago who was having this banding problem, too, and both did a test taking the exact same image with same settings and as expected his showed banding and mine did not. He was going to send his to Nikon and unfortunately I do not know whether they were able to fix it but I assume they did. So instead of beating yourself up over this, just assume it's a problem and call Nikon warranty dept and have them fix it because when it's working properly you will not get any banding.
 

fotojack

Senior Member
I would still want to update the firmware on that D700. What have you got to lose? It just might fix the problem. worth a try, isn't it? :)
 

Dave_W

The Dude
I would still want to update the firmware on that D700. What have you got to lose? It just might fix the problem. worth a try, isn't it? :)

Oh, I didn't realize he was still running the older firmware. Yes, the firmware update will be the first thing Nikon asks about when you call them.
 
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