Hello all. My name is Dave and I've recently (5 days ago)
purchased a new D7000 and like many others on various internet sites, I'm having
trouble with soft images. I realize this subject is a dead horse for many here
and I apologize for revisiting this subject. But I have read and read hundreds
of earlier posts on this forum and others.
Before I describe it, let me give
you some background.
I am a coin dealer who also enjoys photography. I have
been using my D70s along with my ~12 yr old Nikkor 105 mm macro lens in
preparing coin images for the internet. One thing I absolutely need is crisp,
sharp images. Although my D70s has been performing flawlessly, I've been envious
of the D7000 and from all the reviews published, it sounded like an amazing
camera. So I purchased it and am now finding my images are all slightly out of
focus. Something I did not know was such a popular subject until I googled it.
Now before you jump to the conclusion it's mirror slap or that I'm using
Live View, let me describe my set up and what I've discovered so
far...
My camera is on a tripod tethered to a computer and I use Nikon
Camera Control pro 2. The lens is a 105 mm f2.8 macro lens and is one of the old
Japanese made lenses (I purchased it back in the N90 days). The D7000 has the
latest firmware update (first thing I tried) and I am utilize the exposure delay
mode and I fire the camera using Camera Control pro. I have tried each and every
AF setting and have also tried wide area AF, normal AF. I have also read Darrel
Young's book inside out. And sure enough I have fuzzy photos. But add to this
some interesting findings...
When I position the coin such that the coin
nearly fills the space I have these symptoms that seem independent of AF
settings-
a) ISO 100, f4 = out of focus
b) ISO 400, f9 = focus
(nearly perfect)
c) ISO 800, f9 = perfect focus
d) ISO 100, f22 = better
focus than f4, but not as good as (b)
e) ISO 1000, f4 = almost in
focus
Now here's the rub, if I reposition the coin about 8 inches further
away from the lens and thus not fully utilizing the full exposure area then at
ISO 100, f4 I have a very good focus and at ISO 200, f4 it looks almost perfect.
How is it that high ISO and small aperture settings give me sharp images but if
I reposition the coin further away I can use the low ISO and open lens?
Shouldn't it be the other way around? And then what does it mean that when I
move the coin further away from the lens the focus is also tight?
So I
understand that I can use the fine focus adjustment to get the image to sharpen
but here's the rub. I've a buddy with a D7000 and when I put my lens on his box
and do all the above the photos are beautiful and crisp at out-of-the-box
settings. If I had not tired my friends D7000, I would think fine tuning is the
issue, however, I know the D7000 can produce sharp, crisp photos w/o resorting
to fine tuning, does that mean my D7000 is out of alignment in some way? Is this
simply a product of moving from up from a D70s? If so, how did the other D7000
achieve focused images? I'm confused...
I have 4 more days left to return
the camera with a full refund. I also live in San Diego and about 3 mi from my
home is a certified Nikon repair shop. My question for those who can stomach yet
ANOTHER person having issues with their D7000 is this - should I return it and
wait for another box to arrive, should I try taking it to the Nikon repair
dealer or should I assume all can be fixed with fine focus tuning and go that
direction? Ideally, I hoping there's a member out there who has had this issue
and was able to resolve it. I love the way this camera feels, the sound it makes
and the potential it has. I would hate to have to return it but a camera unable
to take crisp photos is not what I wanted.
Thank you in
advance
Dave
purchased a new D7000 and like many others on various internet sites, I'm having
trouble with soft images. I realize this subject is a dead horse for many here
and I apologize for revisiting this subject. But I have read and read hundreds
of earlier posts on this forum and others.
Before I describe it, let me give
you some background.
I am a coin dealer who also enjoys photography. I have
been using my D70s along with my ~12 yr old Nikkor 105 mm macro lens in
preparing coin images for the internet. One thing I absolutely need is crisp,
sharp images. Although my D70s has been performing flawlessly, I've been envious
of the D7000 and from all the reviews published, it sounded like an amazing
camera. So I purchased it and am now finding my images are all slightly out of
focus. Something I did not know was such a popular subject until I googled it.
Now before you jump to the conclusion it's mirror slap or that I'm using
Live View, let me describe my set up and what I've discovered so
far...
My camera is on a tripod tethered to a computer and I use Nikon
Camera Control pro 2. The lens is a 105 mm f2.8 macro lens and is one of the old
Japanese made lenses (I purchased it back in the N90 days). The D7000 has the
latest firmware update (first thing I tried) and I am utilize the exposure delay
mode and I fire the camera using Camera Control pro. I have tried each and every
AF setting and have also tried wide area AF, normal AF. I have also read Darrel
Young's book inside out. And sure enough I have fuzzy photos. But add to this
some interesting findings...
When I position the coin such that the coin
nearly fills the space I have these symptoms that seem independent of AF
settings-
a) ISO 100, f4 = out of focus
b) ISO 400, f9 = focus
(nearly perfect)
c) ISO 800, f9 = perfect focus
d) ISO 100, f22 = better
focus than f4, but not as good as (b)
e) ISO 1000, f4 = almost in
focus
Now here's the rub, if I reposition the coin about 8 inches further
away from the lens and thus not fully utilizing the full exposure area then at
ISO 100, f4 I have a very good focus and at ISO 200, f4 it looks almost perfect.
How is it that high ISO and small aperture settings give me sharp images but if
I reposition the coin further away I can use the low ISO and open lens?
Shouldn't it be the other way around? And then what does it mean that when I
move the coin further away from the lens the focus is also tight?
So I
understand that I can use the fine focus adjustment to get the image to sharpen
but here's the rub. I've a buddy with a D7000 and when I put my lens on his box
and do all the above the photos are beautiful and crisp at out-of-the-box
settings. If I had not tired my friends D7000, I would think fine tuning is the
issue, however, I know the D7000 can produce sharp, crisp photos w/o resorting
to fine tuning, does that mean my D7000 is out of alignment in some way? Is this
simply a product of moving from up from a D70s? If so, how did the other D7000
achieve focused images? I'm confused...
I have 4 more days left to return
the camera with a full refund. I also live in San Diego and about 3 mi from my
home is a certified Nikon repair shop. My question for those who can stomach yet
ANOTHER person having issues with their D7000 is this - should I return it and
wait for another box to arrive, should I try taking it to the Nikon repair
dealer or should I assume all can be fixed with fine focus tuning and go that
direction? Ideally, I hoping there's a member out there who has had this issue
and was able to resolve it. I love the way this camera feels, the sound it makes
and the potential it has. I would hate to have to return it but a camera unable
to take crisp photos is not what I wanted.
Thank you in
advance
Dave