The last two weeks have been very busy for me. I am working on multiple reviews of Canon, Nikon and Fuji lenses and you will be seeing many lens reviews coming up this summer. At the same time, I have been shooting with the Nikon D3200, D4 and D800E DSLR cameras, so I will be sharing my thoughts on these fairly soon as well. One question that keeps popping up over and over again from our readers, revolves around the autofocus problems on Nikon DSLRs. Specifically, these questions are on front focus/back focus problems with lenses, the left AF focus point issue found on some Nikon D800 bodies, use of 2x teleconverters with the new Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX (on D4 and D800/D800E), etc. Since there is a lot to cover, I will be publishing articles on each topic with my findings and thoughts I have thus far.
As with any product that is manufactured, there is always a chance that it is defective. I am finding Nikon’s QA (quality assurance) controls to be rather weak lately, especially given the fact that it is manufacturing such fine tools as the Nikon D800 with lots of resolution. Yes, Nikon has had a wonderful year so far with so many great announcements and phenomenal products, but it almost seems like it is rushing its products from the manufacturing plants too quickly, without properly testing all equipment before it is sent out. As a result, we are seeing many defective DSLR cameras with lenses. I have been shooting with Nikon gear for the last 6 years and this is the first time I am seeing really badly calibrated DSLRs (D800E and D4), along with some pro lenses. I can understand when there is a problem with an entry-level camera and a kit lens, but it is unacceptable for Nikon to ship faulty professional equipment that is worth thousands of dollars.
Are the Nikon DSLR autofocus problems real and should you be concerned? Yes, these problems are real and you should definitely be concerned if you are buying ANY DSLR with a phase detect sensor (most mirrorless cameras are excluded from most of these issues). So this means that the upcoming articles are not just for Nikon users, but for anyone who owns a DSLR or is considering to own one soon.
Stay tuned for the following articles:
1) How to quickly test your DSLR for Autofocus issues
2) How to calibrate lenses (using AF fine tune)
3) How Phase Detection Works
4) Focus Shift
5) A bunch of articles on Optical Problems
There might be a few more articles related to autofocus that I will be adding to the list.
Hi guys, just thought i’d leave a quick story of my experience with this issue. I have a D5200, which i bought in 2014, and over time started to realize there was something wrong with the auto focus system, with both my lenses. The hit ratio seemed very low, to me. This is before reading ANYTHING on the internet or researching BTW. I decided to buy a new D5300 body and do my own ‘tests’ just to see. Lo and behold, using my same 2 lenses, the ‘hit’ ratio went up to where it should probably be, fantastic results , almost all the time. I changed nothing. great quality shots, very sharp etc etc…….Soooo, since then, I found a couple of videos on youtube showing how to adjust the offset mechanically on the old D5200 body. giving it 3.5 cranks in the desired direction has done wonders for that body….shots are now MUCH sharper. Hard to believe, but in any case, the d5300 with my lenses works great very happy…obviously, to me, there WAS an issue, and that was my solution……
I have a D7000, I have been having the Auto Focus issue with all my lenses (35mm(Nikkor), 17-70mm (Sigma), 70-300mm (Sigma)). So does this mean its an issue with the Camera Body.?
I tried to Calibarate the Camera using AF Fine Tune but it does not do any Calibaration. I checked with multiple values. But the issue does not seem to get better.
Is there any other method that I can try.?
Thanks
got 2 d7000’s. sharp focus? 5% of time, if even. forget about street shooting. not back focus issue. i can stand perfectly still focusing on object, scene and image not in focus. nikon i suppose expects us to sharpen in pp creating artifacts. what i like about film cameras is you can pay 1100.00 for a camera, and 1000.00 for a lens and get a tack sharp image. i have been shooting since 1971 and it is a deplorable situation.
i realise this is an older post but recently i purchased a nikon D5300 and had been using it mostly in the house using live view but when i got the opportunity to get out of the house and use the camera with the viewfinder i noticed it was back focusing rather badly. the D5300 does not have the AF fine tune menu in the software and i had kept it too long to return it to the store i decided i had to try to fix it myself, after watching a youtube video about fixing a D5100 i looked into my camera with the mirror up and saw it had the same adjustment screws as the 5100 so i had a go at fixing it myself, all i needed was a 2mm allen key, i gave it a few adjustments and checked the focus after ever adjustment and i now have a perfectly focusing camera. this was much more convenient than sending it back to nikon under warranty and waiting to get the camera back. it is a very easy adjustment to make but you must take great care not to touch the sensor with the allen key
I purchased a D4 a year and a half ago and have sent it into Nikon NY for repair 2x already. The 1st time right after i received it and again a month ago to the tune of a negotiated $330 before they would even look at the camera. I have repeatedly requested a new camera to deaf ears. There is no escalation process in place or accountability. I am disgusted and Nikon can kiss my bitutti. Im am or was a loyal customer until this experience.
Hi,
I owned a D7000 since Nov, 2011 and I am not really happy with the way the autofocus behave with my 2 lens; a)afs 18-200mm VR2 b) afs 35mm f/1.8G. I have read “How to quickly test your DSLR for Autofocus issues” and did some test last night. One thing I deviate from your guideline was to shoot chart with “fast shutter speed”. It was evening at home after work, thus could not find an idea bright day time light source. I proceed as a preliminary test however.
My findings d7000 tested with 35mm lens(on tripod):
1. Live view image is clear & good. Manual mode; f/1.8; 1/40s
2. Images shoot thru viewfinder; manual; f/1.8; 1/40s. 2 Images were clean but not as sharp compared to Live view image. 1 image blurr due to focus error, i think.
3. 1 out of 3 error, i take it as 33.3% error. Ok, fine. This thing happen sometimes.
May I share the raw image by email you? I need to get some of your pro opinion.
With above result, I repeat another test and the results as follow;
D7000 with 35mm lens, manual mode, f/1.8, speed 1/25s(slightly deviate from 1st test)
1. Live view image is sharp & good.
2. 3 images; 1 is clear & good but not as sharp as Live view image. 2 images out of 3 are blurr. Error rate is 66.6%.
My conclusion:
D7000 Autofocus error rate between 33.3% to 66.6% is alarming to me if given my test was acceptable pending your valued comment.
This result prove my encountering with D7000 so far is correct-inconsistency to get focus image!!
Pls comment.
Hi,
I owned a D7000 since Nov, 2011 and I am not really happy with the way the autofocus behave with my 2 lens; a)afs 18-200mm VR2 b) afs 35mm f/1.8G. I have read “How to quickly test your DSLR for Autofocus issues” and did some test last night. One thing I deviate from your guideline was to shoot chart with “fast shutter speed”. It was evening at home after work, thus could not find an idea bright day time light source. I proceed as a preliminary test however.
My findings d7000 tested with 35mm lens(on tripod):
1. Live view image is clear & good. Manual mode; f/1.8; 1/40s
2. Images shoot thru viewfinder; manual; f/1.8; 1/40s. 2 Images were clean but not as sharp compared to Live view image. 1 image blurr due to focus error, i think.
3. 1 out of 3 error, i take it as 33.3% error. Ok, fine. This thing happen sometimes.
May I share the raw image by email you? I need to get some of your pro opinion.
With above result, I repeat another test and the results as follow;
D7000 with 35mm lens, manual mode, f/1.8, speed 1/25s(slightly deviate from 1st test)
1. Live view image is sharp & good.
2. 3 images; 1 is clear & good but not as sharp as Live view image. 2 images out of 3 are blurr. Error rate is 66.6%.
My conclusion:
D7000 Autofocus error rate between 33.3% to 66.6% is alarming to me if given my test was acceptable pending your valued comment.
This result prove my encountering with D7000 so far is correct-inconsistency to get focus image!!
Pls comment.
Hello,
I was just wondering if Nikon is taking responsibility for the auto-focus problem? I’m not a professional, but have had a camera in my hand since age 5…I have a pretty good idea of what I’m doing. As a student, cameras and equipment are a major expense. I bought the D3200, my first Nikon, a little over a year ago, after reading rave reviews. The reviews were spot on, this camera could easily keep up with and even outperform my friends Nikons, which they paid a few thousand for. Now, I am completely unable to get auto-focus to work. I have tried everything, read every discussion, tried every recommendation…nothing works. In addition, I frequently loose the ability to use the flash, as it will not open, or opens but simply does not go off (I have read many discussions about this problem as well). Sometimes I leave my camera sitting around for awhile and “ta-da” everything is suddenly working again. This is beyond frustrating. I have never had any problem, with any other camera, of this magnitude. I am already $1000 in for this camera, just for the basic gear. When it works, its fantastic, but its so unreliable all of a sudden, that I need to carry other cameras and additional gear around. I’m just wondering if anyone has actually gotten Nikon to resolve the issue or even managed to get a refund or exchange. I’m so disappointed in Nikon. Now that I am in the market for major equipment, I have no intention of even considering their products.
I have a D7000. took it to Antarctica right away. Shutter just stops and I cant shoot no matter what
I try auto, etc. As I keep trying to shoot, it suddenly clicks of a half dozen shots. Of course I miss
the one I set up. Precision Camera in Austin just blows it off. Any suggestions?
Hi Nasim . Wonder if you have any suggestions regarding my “battle” with Nikon Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong & Singapore regarding my D4 assymetrical AF issue, www.dpreview.com/forum…t/51651185 … I have been to Japan THREE times and Nikon Malaysia is quiet as heck. A shop in Malaysia has actually informed a photographer in singapore that almost all D4 he sold has gone back to Nikon Msia and many still resolved. I am become very impatient and will continue to broadcast my message to all Nikon users till Nikon Japan admits their folly and recall or refund the sets! My copy was a May 2012 set. I’ve yet to try a D4 in the region without this issue.
many still unresolved*