This post is partially about the auto focus problem but also partially about the Nikon d7000 in general. If you have used the camera a lot or are experiencing problems with it might be worth a read. In the former case probably because you get to brag and show an amateur his place, in the latter case because this might confirm some of your worries (depending on what the people who know something about photography say
).
So, I might have a similar problem as the OP but I've had difficulties to determine if that is actually the case due to low image quality in general.
Here are some samples that I shot with my d7000 and the Nikon 50mm 1.4G.
http://pjk-survey.com/f28noAFFINETUNE.jpg
http://pjk-survey.com/f14noAFFINETUNE.jpg
The first two images were shot at first 1.4 and then 2.8. Shutter speed 1/160, ISO 100. AF-S, and centre focus point. I think it is obvious that there is some back focus there.
The next images were shot with the same settings (save for shutter speed, this time it was 1/250, but that should not make a difference?). This time though I had AF fine tuning set at -20.
http://www.pjk-survey.com/f28AFFINETUNE-20.jpg
http://www.pjk-survey.com/f14AFFINETUNE-20.jpg
I think that the last two images are a lot better in terms of focus. Its a lot closer to the 0 and you can almost read the text, yay.
However, what I find a bit terrible is the over all quality of these images. The result is a lot better with 2.8 than with 1.4, with 1.4 its so blurry even where it is supposed to be in focus that you can barely read the text.
The fifth image attached highlights this problem in a real situation, same camera and same lens. I snapped a picture in a park. The light conditions are by far not ideal, no even light and the persons face is in the shadow. However, shot at 3.5 1/1000 and ISO 100 I would have expected better results.
Probably due to the back focus problem, the object in focus seems to be the statue on the left, not the models face. The models face is, in my opinion, blurry. Even the statue in focus seems a bit blurry to me and the image quality just isn't that good. The distance might have not been ideal for the 50mm lens though.
http://www.pjk-survey.com/DSC_5361.jpg
With this combination in general, but especially when shooting with 1.4 or 1.8 I just feel like I have serious difficulties in getting my object in focus and over all image quality. The lens seems to fare pretty well when my object is close enough (a full body shot outside in good light conditions with a pretty tight crop usually looks okay).
To finish this off, two pictures of flowers. The other one is shot at 1.4. I cant honestly tell if anything is in focus, the quality is quite awful. The other one at 2.8 is a lot better but still very so-so.
http://pjk-survey.com/DSC_6970.jpg
http://pjk-survey.com/DSC_6974.jpg
Thank you for reading this far. Now, to the conclusions and the part where I ask for help.
1) I am not a very good photographer. I do not understand my equipment well enough to judge my lens nor my camera. This is probably obvious from what I've written thus far. However, I never shoot with an ISO higher than 200 and I do use shutter speeds that should be fine with a 50mm lens (always above 1/80, usually around 1/150-1/1000 as I shoot outside/daytime a lot). I try not to use f1.4-2.5 as it seems that most lenses perform better when they are not wide open, this one is no exception. In any case I guess I just need to learn how to use my gear better. If anyone could point me to the right direction, I would much appreciate it.
2) My lens might need some fine tuning. As we can perhaps conclude from the images above, it did probably perform better with AF fine tune set to -20. Do you agree or am I off the mark?
Now onwards to the less likely explanations on why my pictures are terribly fuzzy, blurry and awful.
3) I just should apply some sharpness and noise reduction in Lightroom and be happy.
4) There is something wrong with my camera or lens that simple calibration wont fix
5) I need a better lens or a better camera (as if).
So to sum it up, I believe I have a back focus problem but on top of that I have a general image quality problem. Based on what I've written, I would very much appreciate it if someone could give me advice on how to take better, clearer, sharper pictures.
Do you feel like you + your mad skills + d7000 give much sharper and cleaner results than my examples? Or do you feel like the quality of this lens/camera combo isn't perhaps that much better even when used correctly?
Thanks for reading. Hope this isn't an awful first post at the Nikonites forum, although Im sure it is a very typical one
.
edit: someone will probably ask if Im shooting in RAW or JPEG. I shoot in raw and do post processing with Lightroom, usually sharpness 50 and some noise reduction, which does bring better results. The above examples are RAW with no processing.