DSLR / D7000 Newbie with some questions

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bmilcs

Senior Member
Thank you for the prompt answers, gentlemen.

I'm going to have to let one of my current lenses go in order to afford a zoom lens so I won't be placing an order too soon :). I know this is considered taboo, but are there any other reputable D7000/Nikon DSLR forums out there that you frequent? Sorry for asking on nikonites!

After more use yesterday of all 3 of my lenses, I am finding that I need a -20 AF Fine tune on all of them. I am worried that even still, I am not getting the correct AF point. I have returned twice to KEH and I believe I am stuck with this current one. I can make it work though - my pictures are now very very sharp in comparison to before. I need to post some examples.


Razor head (focus)
x3.jpg

Simpson label (focus)

x2.jpg

Razor tip focus
x1.jpg

I am doing it all by hand because I hate being tied down to a tripod. It's no fun!
 
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bmilcs

Senior Member
Question: is there a way to see within the viewfinder that your screen is level? I am having a hard time keeping the camera straight and I have to crop accordingly to tilt the picture one way or the other.
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
bmilcs said:
Thank you for the prompt answers, gentlemen.

I'm going to have to let one of my current lenses go in order to afford a zoom lens so I won't be placing an order too soon :). I know this is considered taboo, but are there any other reputable D7000/Nikon DSLR forums out there that you frequent? Sorry for asking on nikonites!

After more use yesterday of all 3 of my lenses, I am finding that I need a -20 AF Fine tune on all of them. I am worried that even still, I am not getting the correct AF point. I have returned twice to KEH and I believe I am stuck with this current one. I can make it work though - my pictures are now very very sharp in comparison to before. I need to post some examples.
I am doing it all by hand because I hate being tied down to a tripod. It's no fun!
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If all your lenses need that kind of Fine tune adjustment, I'd look into sending the camera to Nikon service center for a factory adjustment. It would be OK if some lenses needed some adjustments, but all of them that much...

Tripods can be less fun, but you could use LiveView to super focus your shots and use longer shutter speeds with smaller aperture. Your sharpness gains would be worth the trouble IMHO.
 
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SteveH

Senior Member
Welcome to the forum, and nice pictures!

To make sure the camera is level, there is an "Artificial horizon" feature which is quite useful - You can activate it in the menus, or like I have done, add it to a programmable button. It will show then in the viewfinder when the camera is level, or degrees or tilt either side (also works in both landscape or portrait orientation)
 
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bmilcs

Senior Member
Marcel said:
How long ago did you get it from KEH? Maybe they could get involved as well.
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I got this latest body a few weeks ago? 2-3? If that.

This is the THIRD body I've received from them. The first had a battery issue, second a filty image sensor, and now the third: back focusing.
 
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bmilcs

Senior Member
Marcel said:
How long ago did you get it from KEH? Maybe they could get involved as well.
Click to expand...

I got this latest body a few weeks ago? 2-3? If that.

This is the THIRD body I've received from them. The first had a battery issue, second a filty image sensor, and now the third: back focusing. I feel bad at this point and don't want to bother them anymore nor do I want to trash talk. Their customer service is outstanding and they've been great.
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
bmilcs said:
I got this latest body a few weeks ago? 2-3? If that.

This is the THIRD body I've received from them. The first had a battery issue, second a filty image sensor, and now the third: back focusing.
Click to expand...

Send it back. Ask for an upgrade since all the problems you've had to do with.
 
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bmilcs

Senior Member
Marcel said:
Send it back. Ask for an upgrade since all the problems you've had to do with.
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I would like to do that but I don't think I could. If they weren't so helpful and nice, I would.

If I were to ask for an upgrade, what would you recommend I ask for?

rwdflynavy said:
Welcome aboard! Another wet shaver here. I regularly shave with a Gillette Slim and Feather blades.
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Atta boy! Glad to hear another convert is on board.
 
P

Pretzel

Senior Member
bmilcs said:
I would like to do that but I don't think I could. If they weren't so helpful and nice, I would.

If I were to ask for an upgrade, what would you recommend I ask for?



Atta boy! Glad to hear another convert is on board.
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It's not just the "helpful and nice" bit that matter, though. You paid for a working, quality camera and are still having issues. The biggest smile in the world doesn't compensate for defective equipment, especially at these price points.

Never hurts to ask for the D7100 instead, or for them to at least get one that's working properly and verify it all in-house before shipping. 3rd body = stepping up the game!
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
bmilcs said:
I would like to do that but I don't think I could. If they weren't so helpful and nice, I would.

If I were to ask for an upgrade, what would you recommend I ask for?



Atta boy! Glad to hear another convert is on board.
Click to expand...

Being nice and helpful is the point of their business, you don't have to feel bad wanting to get what you paid for: A working camera without focus problems.

As for an upgrade, the D7100 would certainly be one. But a working D7000 is still a very viable option.
 
B

bmilcs

Senior Member
Marcel said:
Send it back. Ask for an upgrade since all the problems you've had to do with.
Click to expand...

rwdflynavy said:
Welcome aboard! Another wet shaver here. I regularly shave with a Gillette Slim and Feather blades.
Click to expand...

Marcel said:
Being nice and helpful is the point of their business, you don't have to feel bad wanting to get what you paid for: A working camera without focus problems.

As for an upgrade, the D7100 would certainly be one. But a working D7000 is still a very viable option.
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They told me they were going to inspect and do a quality control check on my next shipment. This is what I received.

I want to make sure it's DEFINITELY backfocusing beyond the correctable +20 point before returning. If it's fixing the issue completely, I don't mind sticking with it. What would be a good way to test this aside from using the regex chart?

Close up razor shots aren't really doing it, even at the lowest aperature. It seems to be more noticable when I step back and have some DOF to play with. It may be my skills, but I do know that there is a definitive improvement from when I left the AF Fine Tune at 0.

What could I shoot at a distance of at least 5 feet that would show how deep it's focusing?

Edit: I apologize for how this post has turned out. I really wasn't looking to complain and start a big fuss over the issue. No one wants to hear someone whining about their troubles.
 
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Pretzel

Senior Member
Blah, apology shamology... you're asking questions and getting answers, no big. :)

As for testing the focus, I'd think getting a nice strong pattern on a card, and being able to verify that it's level and placed on a table next to a ruler would work "somewhat similarly" to one of the regex charts. Redneck engineering, maybe, but it gives ya something to work with without dropping the coin one of the charts. OR... if ya have a friendly local shop, a lot of them already have set-ups to check that stuff, and perhaps they'd let ya test/diagnose with their charts for 5 or 10 bucks?
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
bmilcs said:
Edit: I apologize for how this post has turned out. I really wasn't looking to complain and start a big fuss over the issue. No one wants to hear someone whining about their troubles.
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You don't sound whiny and in all seriousness, I have to agree with Marcel: What you have is now simply not acceptable and I would urge to consider contacting the vendor and working something out.
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