Upgrade Question

Looking to upgrade my D50 to the D7100, was wondering if the camera will need to be auto-focus fine tuned when using the Nikkor 80-400 AF VR ED 1:4.5-5.6D or Nikkor 50mm AF f/1.8D. Thanks for any info, asking as this is not needed or possible on my D50.

You don't have to fine tune the lenses, but you will surely gain a lot of sharpness by doing so. So I recommend yes, fine tune all of your lenses!

10 Gauge said:

You don't have to fine tune the lenses, but you will surely gain a lot of sharpness by doing so. So I recommend yes, fine tune all of your lenses!

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What he said... sometimes you find the lense/body combo doesn't need any adjustment, but since you can, why not do it and KNOW?

You don't "need" to but if you find your focus is slightly out, you can do so thru the AF fine tune menu.


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Thanks all, appreciate the info.

One of the reasons you could not on your D50 and can and need to on your D7100 is that the resolution is so much better on the D7100.
I was shooting the D5100 before I got my D7000 and D7100. I had the 18-55 and the 55-200 on the D5100 and I was very happy with both lenses. When I put either one of them on the D7000 I thought the camera was absolutely terrible. I put the 18-105 back on and it looked 100% better. Even more critical on the D7100. My wife shoots the D7000 with a 18-200 lens on it. Fine tuned to that camera and it looks good. I tried to use it on my D7100 and went through and fine tuned it and it looked much worse on the D7100 than it does on the D7000. The D7100 is so much sharper that it demands better glass.
Fine tune your lenses. you will be much happier. Lots of discussion on here as to the best method. i personally use and highly recommend Reikan FoCal Automatic Lens Calibration Software - Fully Automatic Lens Calibration and Camera ToolsReikan FoCal Automatic Lens Calibration Software because it takes the human factor out of the process and gets my lenses so very sharp.

One last question, I watched a few videos on how autofocus tuning is done with the chart but how would one go about doing this with the 80-400 at 400mm, can't do this in my house its too small in length for that. Could any target be used outside in decent light as long as the setup is on a tripod?

06Honda said:

One last question, I watched a few videos on how autofocus tuning is done with the chart but how would one go about doing this with the 80-400 at 400mm, can't do this in my house its too small in length for that. Could any target be used outside in decent light as long as the setup is on a tripod?

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Absolutely. You want the best lighting possible and a rock solid platform for both camera and target. In my experience a tripod is essential for this process regardless of where, or what lens, I'm testing; this is no place for hand-held shooting. Fine tuning the auto-focus means adjusting for focus changes that can be fractions of an inch so the better your setup the more accurate your results will be.

Don,

I've seen you post about the problems with the 7100 and the 18-55mm and 55-200mm kit lenses before. As I am looking to upgrade from a 5300, I'd like to ask if you believe the 18-140 to be a better lens for the 7100. My lenses consists of the kit 18-55mm & 55-300mm, along with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 and a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. If the 18-140 is a significantly better lens for the 7100, I may trade in both of my kit lenses and sacrifice the extra reach of the 55-300 until I can afford some higher quality tele glass. Thanks in advance for any help.

Along with the improved AF system, my main reason for thinking of the upgrade after only 7 months the fact that the Tokina does not have an internal AF motor, so it acts a a MF lens for me. The internal AF motor on the 7100 is probably my biggest selling point.

The 18-140 is one of my faves. I wish it was in FX also so I could use it on my film cameras.

[MENTION=6277]Don Kuykendall[/MENTION] which of the Focal Plans do you have?

Lawrence said:

@Don Kuykendall which of the Focal Plans do you have?

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Someone just asked about that in a PM so I will share my answer with you

WHICH VERSION DID YOU BUY? Pro

DID YOU SETUP ON A LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER? Laptop

HOW MANY LENS WHERE ON/OFF? Not sure what you are asking. All my lenses needed some adjusting. I have tuned 3 cameras with multiple lenses each

DID YOU DO ANY ZOOM LENS? Yes, 18-105, 18-140, 18-200 and 70-300. I adjusted all of them at full zoom

I adjusted all lenses at 50 times the focal length EXCEPT for my 40mm Macro and I adjusted it very close to the lens. Working distance

Yeah I bought just got a Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 brand new in box...had it fine tuned and focus was way out beforehand. Tack sharp now.

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Blue_Esq said:

Don,

I've seen you post about the problems with the 7100 and the 18-55mm and 55-200mm kit lenses before. As I am looking to upgrade from a 5300, I'd like to ask if you believe the 18-140 to be a better lens for the 7100. My lenses consists of the kit 18-55mm & 55-300mm, along with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 and a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. If the 18-140 is a significantly better lens for the 7100, I may trade in both of my kit lenses and sacrifice the extra reach of the 55-300 until I can afford some higher quality tele glass. Thanks in advance for any help.

Along with the improved AF system, my main reason for thinking of the upgrade after only 7 months the fact that the Tokina does not have an internal AF motor, so it acts a a MF lens for me. The internal AF motor on the 7100 is probably my biggest selling point.

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I would not trade it away right off the bat. Try fine tuning them first and see what your results are.

Spend the $25 and fine-tune your lenses...worth every penny.

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