D7000 Focus issues

Bossman

Senior Member
All Nikon's above the D7000 have AF Fine Tune, so if you buy something like a D700 then you may have to adjust each lens fine focus. It is not a difficult nor should it scare you into not buying the camera of your choice. There are a number of tutorials on U tube which shows how simple and easy it all is.:encouragement:
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Correct me if I'm wrong, but....didn't some of the early D7000's have a focus issue? Wasn't there a firmware fix for it? Warranty? I can't remember exactly, that's why I'm wondering.
 

ttmall

New member
Could anyone explain me what is the difference between 9 21 and 39 point AF? They all seem to allow me to select a single AF point where I want on the screen and do exactly the same thing.
 

Dave_W

The Dude
Could anyone explain me what is the difference between 9 21 and 39 point AF? They all seem to allow me to select a single AF point where I want on the screen and do exactly the same thing.

Count the number of focus points you have when you switch between these options. In one case you will have 9 points, another will be 21 and the other is 39.
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Could anyone explain me what is the difference between 9 21 and 39 point AF? They all seem to allow me to select a single AF point where I want on the screen and do exactly the same thing.

Having more focus points allows you to keep focus on anything that might move out of any one focus point, such as a speeding car or a fast moving bird in flight. When one focus point moves off the subject, the next nearest focus point picks up where the other one left off, and so on. My D200 camera has a maximum of 11, my D40 has 3. Count yourself lucky that you have so many to choose from. :)
 

Bossman

Senior Member
My D7000 was bought only a couple of weeks ago and carries the up to date firmware, however back focus did exist for a time until I used the AF tuning to correct all my lenses. Razor sharp now.
 

ideacipher

Senior Member
Do you all fine tune all of your lenses or just the primes? I may need to fine tune my 50 as it seems just a tad off. I have a chart and have tried laying it down and shooting at an angle w/ tripod but results are driving me nuts. Should I shoot strait on w/tripod and remote first to rule out side focus and front and back? The angle made a lot of sense with the dof 1.8 gives but I may be over thinking it.
 

mashburn

New member
I know in low light my D7000 had to use the assisted light to help it focus. if I had it in AF-C (A). then it would not come on. also I know I had to make my 3d, single point, etc to AUTO for it to come on. I hate setting my camera to the points being at AUTO. I like my single point for taking picture with a subject. - anyone know a way around this so I do not have to use AUTO on my points?
 

Bossman

Senior Member
Hello, I have fine tuned all my lenses Zooms as well as prime. All I used was a 1metre steel rule laid out on the floor, camera on a tripod angled at approx 45degrees. Focused on 20inches at open aperture. Check the screen and you can see very clearly where the focus is centered. Mine was focusing on about 21-22 inches. All my lenses needed a fine tune on my D7000, some more than others, around the 10-12 mark on the scale. I have also set my camera default to 10 for any lens that I may attach that isn't tuned in. My zooms all focus correctly across each individual lens range. It does state in the manual that some lenses may not focus correctly at infinity after applying finetune correction but I have not experienced this.
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
When you fine tune your zoom lenses I am assuming you check them across the entire range of the zoom. I'm finding on one of my lenses, a Sigma 24-70 f/2.8, that there's a significant difference in adjustment at both extremes, a -6 at 70mm and +8 at 24mm. Everywhere in between seems to be happy at +5, so that's what I've set it at knowing that at the low extreme I may need to adjust manually or avoid shooting at f2.8 (which would be silly). Has anyone else experienced this? Does it point to a possible issue with the lens given that all my other zooms seem to accept the same fine tuning value across the entire range of the lens?
 
all you say Bossman is good and I like the putting the ruler on the floor ecxept you should have the rule at 20x the focal length ????

I test my zooms at max focal length as shorter lengths you have more depth of field any way,

I photograph discos and the D 7000 will not focus in the low light towards the 200mm end of the zoom range ..the D3200 will but thats on 10mm ..I now use a 64 led video light on the D7000 camera and that sorts it out ....its only 5 watts.and less than $20
 

thosdmg

Senior Member
When you fine tune your zoom lenses I am assuming you check them across the entire range of the zoom. I'm finding on one of my lenses, a Sigma 24-70 f/2.8, that there's a significant difference in adjustment at both extremes, a -6 at 70mm and +8 at 24mm. Everywhere in between seems to be happy at +5, so that's what I've set it at knowing that at the low extreme I may need to adjust manually or avoid shooting at f2.8 (which would be silly). Has anyone else experienced this? Does it point to a possible issue with the lens given that all my other zooms seem to accept the same fine tuning value across the entire range of the lens?

Hi

As far as I'm aware focus adjusting is only recommended for non zoom lenses as the zoom version normally behave as you describe it.

Nikon also says in general that the AF adjustment only is a help and should not be used as standard.

The suggestion wqould be having the lenses and the camera adjusted properly, then all your lenses should work fine.

I bought a used D7k a while ago and it is spot on with all my lenses (Nikon) except the Sigma 90 macro that requires -1
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Nikon also says in general that the AF adjustment only is a help and should not be used as standard.

The suggestion wqould be having the lenses and the camera adjusted properly, then all your lenses should work fine.

I bought a used D7k a while ago and it is spot on with all my lenses (Nikon) except the Sigma 90 macro that requires -1

Given the number of people here and elsewhere who have talked about this with the D7000 it would appear that either Nikon failed to adjust them properly out of the factory or this is something we all need to at least take a look at. You seem to be among the fortunate ones who has one that's spot on.
 

Bossman

Senior Member
Look folks, there is nothing to fear about adjusting the fine tune on all your lenses, you cannot do any damage and you can easily revert back.The camera has this feature, use if if you think you need it Its a bit like when some people are scared witless to clean the CCD with a swab and fluid. Its simple as well guys. Incidently, my zooms all focus across the range after my use of the 1metre rule to check focus, happy days.

Regards Peter
 

Red Rover

Senior Member
Hi

As far as I'm aware focus adjusting is only recommended for non zoom lenses as the zoom version normally behave as you describe it.

Nikon also says in general that the AF adjustment only is a help and should not be used as standard.

The suggestion wqould be having the lenses and the camera adjusted properly, then all your lenses should work fine.

I bought a used D7k a while ago and it is spot on with all my lenses (Nikon) except the Sigma 90 macro that requires -1

The AF fine tune is a setting adjustment with a range of +/- 20 to tune multiple lenses to a particular body which will memorize the settings for each lens. It is highly unlikely that multiple lenses would each require the same settings so it would not be possible to have them all "adjusted properly" by Nikon. That is why the fine adjustment is available in the first palce.

My D7000 and 17-55 f/2.8 set at the maximum -20 fine adjustment setting was still backfocusing. I sent them in and had them callibrated and now it requires +6 and is sharp. My 70-300 VR requires a +2 at 300. With a zoom you can test it at the short, middle, and long focal lengths and set the fine adjust at the average (they will most likely vary slightly at each FL). Or, some set the fine adjustment at the FL they use most on that particular lens.
 
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thosdmg

Senior Member
Given the number of people here and elsewhere who have talked about this with the D7000 it would appear that either Nikon failed to adjust them properly out of the factory or this is something we all need to at least take a look at. You seem to be among the fortunate ones who has one that's spot on.

Hi

It is not unknown that Nikon had quality issues with the D7k in the beginning - oily spots on the sensor due to a bad built mirror case and - yes- focus iccues.

But please compare the number of focus topics with teh number of D7k sold world wide.

Such a platform always shows you the concentrate of people with problems . no one will open a thread just to say "I'm happy"

My idea just was that when ALL your lenses require such a strong compensation it might be wise having the body checked.
And again - zoom lenses cannot fully be adjusted by in camera AF compensation - these should be checked and adjusted themselves as the focus point may move over the zoom range - which obviously is the case on your lenses.
The sensor of your body won't move when you zoom in or out (hopefully ;))
 
hey Nikon gave you an adjuster for the shutter speed and you did not complain so why all this fuss when they give you an adjuster for the auto focus system to make sure it cock on ....get a life folks

The focus of your zoom is most critical at full focal length and the depth of field is lowest so get the focus dead on at full zoom EPLS
 

dimples 1964

New member
I had the very same problem with my Nikon D90 so it must be a Nikon issue... shame when all the Canon camera's will focus, spot on, in very low light.
 
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