Need Help with Nikon D3 Focusing Issue

ultravista

New member
I have had my Nikon D3 for several years now and primarily shoot MMA and boxing. My primary lens is the 24-70mm f/2.8. The typical setup is manual, 640 to 800ths of a second @ f/2.8, ISO 1000 to 2000.

For live fights, I go for center-mass of the fighter to make most of the target.
Recently, I’ve been having a lot of problems with capturing images of fighters (while fighting) in focus. The usual problem is focus elsewhere behind or next to the fighter instead of the fighter themselves.

I’ve run though the different focus options such as dynamic area 9/21/51 AF points and AF point selection of 11 and 51. The body is setup for AF-ON on the AF-ON button as well as the shutter. I also mix between dynamic and single AF and spot, matrix, and center-weighted metering. I have also tried focus tracking lock from off through 5 (longest).

This does not appear to be a back focus issue as the lens lines-up with testing on well-lit subjects.

The body has been reset to factory defaults several times; the issue persists.
Despite numerous combinations, I seem to catch focus on the fighters surroundings instead of the fighter. When on the fighter however, the image is tack-sharp.

I am looking for advice on what may be the issue. At this point, it could either be me or the camera settings.

It seems like the camera will focus where it thinks it should focus vs. where I am telling it to.

Any help?
 

Dave_W

The Dude
Maybe the problem is shutter priority on factory default is set at "release" instead of "focus" and therefor is not given enough time to focus on the fighters before the shutter is release?
 

Dave_W

The Dude
Boy, that's a tough one. If you hadn't said your lenses were all tuned up, I'd say that was the problem. Maybe it's time to do a full phase-detection autofocus test on each focus point? Maybe that will tell you whether one or more of your focus points are slightly out of phase with the others? Here's how I've tested my D800 (see HERE)
 

Snap Happy

Senior Member
Just my 2c worth, I would be increasing my DOF. Could you try shooting at f/8 and increase the ISO instead of f/2.8 that has very little DOF? D3 is great for low noise in higher ISO settings.
 

stmv

Senior Member
I used to shoot some Ultimate Fights,, but always shot single point focus, and never matrix, and set the dof around 5.6,, the fighters were lit just enough,, so they would lit, and the background would be dark.

ready-to-pounce-11-14-09-3-_DSC4957.jpg
 
Top