My Nikon Feature Wish list (Focus bracketing)

[chanjyj]

Yup. This is an interesting case.

In fact, as i understand... Nikon is also just discovering this issue?

My previous cam is D80. Sensor is CCD. As i understand, it is more tolerant. In fact, the pictures taken with 50 mm 1.8 was super sharp. It is my fav lens.

Nikon told me that the CMOS sensor in D300 is more sensitive and hence the pictures are out of focus. There is nothing wrong with the lens. At 1 mm out of focus, it is considered 'normal'.

Its the CMOS sensor that is giving problems to those range of older lenses. Even if you have a 50 mm 1.4 or other lens, you are bound to have this problem.

I think it would be good to share this info with all others. I am still thinking of a way to 'overcome' this problem. Perhaps, manually out of focus each time to get the 'right' focus.

I don't know leh. So far all my AF-D lenses were focusing fine. It was the damned AF-S 17-55mm that I had to send to Nikon to calibrate a tiny bit.

 

[lsisaxon]

Yup. This is an interesting case.

In fact, as i understand... Nikon is also just discovering this issue?

My previous cam is D80. Sensor is CCD. As i understand, it is more tolerant. In fact, the pictures taken with 50 mm 1.8 was super sharp. It is my fav lens.

Nikon told me that the CMOS sensor in D300 is more sensitive and hence the pictures are out of focus. There is nothing wrong with the lens. At 1 mm out of focus, it is considered 'normal'.

Its the CMOS sensor that is giving problems to those range of older lenses. Even if you have a 50 mm 1.4 or other lens, you are bound to have this problem.

I think it would be good to share this info with all others. I am still thinking of a way to 'overcome' this problem. Perhaps, manually out of focus each time to get the 'right' focus.

That doesn't sound quite right. I got less sharp pictures with D200, which is CCD. D2X and D300 both using CMOS sensors gave me sharper images with my older lenses, AiS, AF, AF-D. You don't have a problem with the newer lenses on the D300 body? I'm suspecting that the sensor may be a bit off spec.

 

[lsisaxon]

oh ok my bad, got confused with WB bracketing. If focus bracketing was done in a similar manner to exposure bracketing, would it be as useful?

That's why it is important to know the camera well and get it right for every shot. I don't use bracketing because if during an under or over shot I get the expression I want and not on the correct one, I will get quite irritated. ;p

 

[JacePhoto]

That doesn't sound quite right. I got less sharp pictures with D200, which is CCD. D2X and D300 both using CMOS sensors gave me sharper images with my older lenses, AiS, AF, AF-D. You don't have a problem with the newer lenses on the D300 body? I'm suspecting that the sensor may be a bit off spec.

Yeah, i dont have problems with my other newer lens like 105 mm VR, 18-200, Sigma 10-20 etc.

 

[lsisaxon]

Yeah, i dont have problems with my other newer lens like 105 mm VR, 18-200, Sigma 10-20 etc.

Hmm.. when these lenses are in focus, are they also sharp on the focusing screen? Try manual focusing with them just to check if your focusing screen calibration is ok.

 

[iamblurblur]

JacePhoto Re: My Nikon Feature Wish list (Focus bracketing)

"In fact, as i understand... Nikon is also just discovering this issue?"
Brought my D300 to NSC and told them the same thing... guess they already knew the issue but the answer given is about the same as what u have mentioned... D300 has focusing issue on AF lenses... but told me AF-S would be fine... but frankly it only happens to my 50 1.4 and 35 f2... my AF 105 is ok... NSC told me they can't do anything... they have checked my camera and told me the sensor alignment is within standard... i even took a shot right in front of the technician... then he told me D300 has problem with AF lenses... :dunno:

"My previous cam is D80. Sensor is CCD. As i understand, it is more tolerant. In fact, the pictures taken with 50 mm 1.8 was super sharp. It is my fav lens."
:thumbsup:agree... my D80 with 50mm 1.8 is ok...

"Nikon told me that the CMOS sensor in D300 is more sensitive and hence the pictures are out of focus. There is nothing wrong with the lens. At 1 mm out of focus, it is considered 'normal'. "
NSC told me the same thing...

"I think it would be good to share this info with all others. I am still thinking of a way to 'overcome' this problem. Perhaps, manually out of focus each time to get the 'right' focus. "
I'm just wondering if need to MF all the time why should i bother getting an AF len... and a bit sad to learn about the camera don't work well with AF len only after getting the camera... felt cheated in some sense...

 

[JacePhoto]

Hi 'Iamblurblur',

Thanks for sharing the sentiments and experience. I can understand how you feel.

- Jacephoto

JacePhoto Re: My Nikon Feature Wish list (Focus bracketing)

"In fact, as i understand... Nikon is also just discovering this issue?"
Brought my D300 to NSC and told them the same thing... guess they already knew the issue but the answer given is about the same as what u have mentioned... D300 has focusing issue on AF lenses... but told me AF-S would be fine... but frankly it only happens to my 50 1.4 and 35 f2... my AF 105 is ok... NSC told me they can't do anything... they have checked my camera and told me the sensor alignment is within standard... i even took a shot right in front of the technician... then he told me D300 has problem with AF lenses... :dunno:

"My previous cam is D80. Sensor is CCD. As i understand, it is more tolerant. In fact, the pictures taken with 50 mm 1.8 was super sharp. It is my fav lens."
:thumbsup:agree... my D80 with 50mm 1.8 is ok...

"Nikon told me that the CMOS sensor in D300 is more sensitive and hence the pictures are out of focus. There is nothing wrong with the lens. At 1 mm out of focus, it is considered 'normal'. "
NSC told me the same thing...

"I think it would be good to share this info with all others. I am still thinking of a way to 'overcome' this problem. Perhaps, manually out of focus each time to get the 'right' focus. "
I'm just wondering if need to MF all the time why should i bother getting an AF len... and a bit sad to learn about the camera don't work well with AF len only after getting the camera... felt cheated in some sense...

 

[gooseberry]

What appears to be sharp in the view finder, the result was off.

- jacephoto

Are you using the stock focusing screen that came with the camera or a split screen/microprsim focusing screen ? If you are really certain that the focusing is sharp on the focusing screen, but get out of focus in the actual image taken - that suggests that your focusing screen is out of alignment.

If you take out the retaining wire of the focusing screen, you will notice one or two thin aluminium shims that are with the focusing screen, these are used to put the focusing screen in the correct position - even a 1 mm displacement cause a misalignment between what the focusing screen shows and what is actually taken.

 

[An drew]

I know this may not help.

I sometimes do a "Manual Focus Bracketing."

Put the camera on Continuous Low Speed.
Went the "in-focus" indicator lights up, move slowly towards or away from subject and squeeze off a few shots.

 

[iamblurblur]

I know this may not help.

I sometimes do a "Manual Focus Bracketing."

Put the camera on Continuous Low Speed.
Went the "in-focus" indicator lights up, move slowly towards or away from subject and squeeze off a few shots.

sigh... if only my babies will sit there still enough for me to take a few more shots...

 

[An drew]

sigh... if only my babies will sit there still enough for me to take a few more shots...

keep shooting and you will get a few good ones, cos when they start to run, it gets even harder ... good luck!

 

[JacePhoto]

Are you using the stock focusing screen that came with the camera or a split screen/microprsim focusing screen ? If you are really certain that the focusing is sharp on the focusing screen, but get out of focus in the actual image taken - that suggests that your focusing screen is out of alignment.

If you take out the retaining wire of the focusing screen, you will notice one or two thin aluminium shims that are with the focusing screen, these are used to put the focusing screen in the correct position - even a 1 mm displacement cause a misalignment between what the focusing screen shows and what is actually taken.

Hi Gooseberry,

I tried two lenses. 50 mm and 105 mm VR.

Both look sharp on screen but 50 mm when displayed on LCD monitor is out of focus. Apart from focusing screen, every thing seems to point to either lens (50 mm) or sensor compatibility with the 50 mm.

Am at a total loss...

 

[vince123123]

Hmm the AF Tune feature doesn't work for you? I find it works on the D3 with many different lenses.

It could be that the distance between the lens and focussing screen is off compared to that of your sensor.

 

[JacePhoto]

Hmm the AF Tune feature doesn't work for you? I find it works on the D3 with many different lenses.

It could be that the distance between the lens and focussing screen is off compared to that of your sensor.

Thanks for the inputs.

All other lens were ok. The rest of the lens were mostly VR lens.

Accordingly to NSC, the newer types of lens can be electronically configured. This problem only affects the AF-S lens. 50 mm for instance. There's no way to calibrate the 50 mm cause its is an old type of lens. There's no way to fine tune this lens.

 

[vince123123]

Hmm, my oldest lens is a 105DC and I could calibrate that. Perhaps yours is really really old

Thanks for the inputs.

All other lens were ok. The rest of the lens were mostly VR lens.

Accordingly to NSC, the newer types of lens can be electronically configured. This problem only affects the AF-S lens. 50 mm for instance. There's no way to calibrate the 50 mm cause its is an old type of lens. There's no way to fine tune this lens.

 

[JacePhoto]

Hmm, my oldest lens is a 105DC and I could calibrate that. Perhaps yours is really really old

The nikon AF-S range of lens 50 mm 1.4/ 1.8 belongs to the previous generation of lens before VR emerge. Its still a current market model. The one i am using is not old. Its bought only last year.

I tried again today. Sharp in the view finder but front focus/ out of focus when it is displayed on screen.

 

[vince123123]

So that means old lens and new lenses can, but the mid age ones can't? I didn't know the 50mm had an afs verison though, mine is an AFD.

 

[whkoh]

No there isn't yet a Nikon AF-S 50 mm. Both versions are AF-D.

 

[JacePhoto]

Sorry for the technical error. TO simplify, i meant it as this lense

AF 50 mm 1.8 http://www.nikon.com.sg/productitem.php?pid=106-387119c054