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02-04-2019, 05:37 PM #1
Troubleshooting 300mm f/4 PF
Over a week ago, I was out shooting eagles with my Nikon D7200, 300mm f/4 PF, and a Nikon 1.4x teleconverter. I switched between Aperture Priority (which is set as AF-S) and U2 which is BBF and AF-C. The reason I switched back and forth is due to trigger thumb in my right hand. BBF isn't always easy or comfortable with the bending limitations of my thumb.
Initially everything was fine until I noticed a problem while in Aperture Priority. At some point, I simply couldn't achieve focus in Aperture Priority, yet when I'd switch to U2 with BBF, the focus was quick and snappy.
So while troubleshooting, I mounted my Nikon 70-300mm VR lens. Everything worked fine in both Aperture Priority as well as in U2 with BBF. Then I mounted just the 300mm f/4 PF (no teleconverter) and tried out both. There was a slight lag when focusing in Aperture Priority but a quick response with BBF in U2. Then I added the 1.4x teleconverter. It finally seems to be working okay in both Aperture Priority and U2 with maybe just a slight slower focusing ability while in Aperture Priority. And during my testing, I focused on stationary subjects.
What might cause this? It obviously isn't the lens since it works flawlessly with BBF. And I didn't notice any inadvertent changes to my settings. I even toggled the switch on the lens between FULL and 3m to infinity without any apparent differences when in either Aperture Priority or U2 with BBF. Any ideas of what might have caused this? Any suggestions on what to try or to look for if it happens again?
› See More: Troubleshooting 300mm f/4 PFCindy
Flickr and My 2019 Thread
Where the Spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art -- Leonardo da Vinci
- 02-04-2019, 05:37 PM
02-04-2019, 09:05 PM #2Re: Troubleshooting 300mm f/4 PF
When you add the 1.4 telec. you're adding 2 stops of aperture to that F4 lens, and in certain lighting situations you're probably getting close to the limits of the camera's focusing detection...would be my first guess...
02-04-2019, 09:59 PM #3Re: Troubleshooting 300mm f/4 PF
Thought the 1.4 was only one stop loss which shouldn't be a problem for the 7200 on the middle points.
Mike
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7239177@N07/
Nikon D500, Sigma 100-400, Sigma 105 macro, Nikon 18-200
Nikon 1 V2,FT-1,10-30mm 30-110mm Viltrox extension tubes
02-04-2019, 10:11 PM #4Re: Troubleshooting 300mm f/4 PF
It shouldn't... All things being perfect...
Easy way to check is to replicate the setup... get it to fail, then walk outside in bright sunlight and see if it suddenly works without making any changes.
02-05-2019, 01:14 AM #5Re: Troubleshooting 300mm f/4 PF
The teleconverter is only 1-stop loss of light. The largest aperture is f/5.6 with the teleconverter. But apparently I didn't explain this well enough.
When the camera is set for BBF with the shutter button only actuating the shutter, the AF is snappy (quick and locks successfully). Press that back button, and the AF engages quickly. However, when I'm in Aperture Priority, the shutter button is set to both AF as well as actuate the shutter. Press the shutter button halfway, and the AF struggled. The lens focused to its end then didn't move. No AF lock was achieved. Just a blurry view inside the viewfinder. The only difference was the button used for autofocusing. What could possibly make it do that?Last edited by hark; 02-05-2019 at 01:27 AM.
Cindy
Flickr and My 2019 Thread
Where the Spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art -- Leonardo da Vinci
02-05-2019, 09:01 PM #6Re: Troubleshooting 300mm f/4 PF
They can be silly at times, yesterday i turned my D500 on and thought what is that large rectangle in the viewfinder, it was on 1.3 crop, looked in the menu and 1.3 crop was selected, i never did it.
Mike
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7239177@N07/
Nikon D500, Sigma 100-400, Sigma 105 macro, Nikon 18-200
Nikon 1 V2,FT-1,10-30mm 30-110mm Viltrox extension tubes
02-05-2019, 09:47 PM #7Re: Troubleshooting 300mm f/4 PF
mikew Thanks/liked this post
D7200, D200, F100
Tokina 12-24mm
Nikon 18-200mm
Tokina 28-70mm f2.6-2.8
Nikon 80-200mm f2.8
Sigma 150-600mm
Nikon 50 AF f1.8
Tokina 100mm f2.8 Macro
Nikon SB800
02-06-2019, 10:37 PM #8Senior MemberRe: Troubleshooting 300mm f/4 PF
Are focus area modes and servo modes set exactly the same between your shutter button aperture priority and bbf U2 settings? I lost love for U1 U2 a long time ago. I continually miss SOMETHING when I save settings. Always. Never fails. It might be a tiny detail, but I always overlook something between U modes and regular modes. I just use my U's for basic settings these days. I'm a full time user of bbf now. My U2 is basic shutter button focus in case I hand the camera to someone and U1 is my bigfoot setting. Just basic bbf settings that will get me a shot under pretty much any panic condition in case something really cool surprises me while I am not ready. I don't do any regular shooting under the U's. That's my U story/rant, lol.
Compare your aperture priority shutter button settings carefully with your U2 settings. Check that focus area and focus servo are set identically. That is, match area modes like single point, d9, etc and servo modes af-c and af-s. Compare everything in the 'a' menu. Compare closely, especially menu a3 and a4. For a3, check that both are off or both set to the same level. A4 will likely be different as it MUST be ON for your shutter button mode and it SHOULD be off for bbf. (leaving a4 ON with bbf will keep shutter and bb both active for focusing). I don't think a4 should matter to your issue, but maybe. Also remember that bbf with af-c on the d7200 gives you release priority regardless of a1 setting. So your comparison with shutter button aperture priority should be with aperture priority on af-c and with a1 set to release priority.
02-07-2019, 05:11 PM #9Re: Troubleshooting 300mm f/4 PF
Cindy
Flickr and My 2019 Thread
Where the Spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art -- Leonardo da Vinci
02-07-2019, 05:11 PM
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