When the D800 Left AF Problem Doesn't Matter

From what I understand, the farthest left AF point is only affected?  Does that mean that all the other left points are not?  Can you set the AF to only use all the center points, thus not having to deal with the left?  Has anyone learned any workarounds to the problem (not fixing, but just not dealing with those points), can you disable the point?

Thanks!

--
“ Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." – Henri Cartier-Bresson

No, in the worst cases especially, the AF error gradually increases from the center AF point, to the extreme left point.

You can use single-point or 9-point dynamic.  If the problem isn't too severe, you may be able to use 21-point dynamic.  You cannot use auto-area or 51-point.

--
Qualities possessed by God in infinite proportion: Love, Grace, Power, Righteousness, Wisdom, . . .
Qualities possessed by humans in infinite proportion: Ignorance.
- Marianne

I have seen 109 images on this forum complaining about D800 focus issues.

None seem to have used a target good enough for testing reliably in accordance with page 100 of the instruction manual, or used a target containing vertical detail that an outer auto focus needs to focus accurate.

If more than the occasional maybe 1% of D800's have a fault, surely there should have been at least one posted image out of 109 using a target that Nikon indicate should be good for accurate results

--
Leonard Shepherd
Many problems turn out to be a lack of intimate knowledge of complex modern camera equipment.

What is a good target to test with?  I have tried two and my D800 shows left AF problems with both. Happy to test with another target as I just got my D800 back from service for the second time to fix this issue.

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http://photokaz.com

Nobody uses a proper Sheperd aproved target because there is a game being played on this forum: to guess how many times you will post the same message before Nikon solves the actual issue.

a proper Sheperd approved AF target. For the winner not in need of such a target, he/she is allowed to use any AF target he/she wishes, with the official approval of mr. Sheperd. But only if you are the winner, of course..

That is Leonard's strategy.

--
Qualities possessed by God in infinite proportion: Love, Grace, Power, Righteousness, Wisdom, . . .
Qualities possessed by humans in infinite proportion: Ignorance.
- Marianne

It really is tiresome to see, post after post. "Approved official targets..." Nikon may never admit to this AF issue. I don't believe they have said anything at all about it so far.

That is plain ignorance. But he evidently does not care, and i am glad he does not:let the game continue!  :-p

I just got back from Tallyn's Photographic in Peoria, Illinois.  I had the camera sent back through them.

I think it does matter if the the LAF isn't correct.  I tested my D800 extensively yesterday by downloading three 8.5X11 targets from the Internet.

First of all, you need to test the camera first with live view.  I placed the targets at the LFP, the CFP, and the RFP.  Since the D800 focuses off the sensor in live view you should have three sharp images.  I also placed the single focus point in the camera over each of the three targets and found that if I focused on the LAF and found that all the targets were sharp as they should be.  This was all done in live view.

I then tested the camera with phase detection in the cameras normal shooting mode.  I found the center focus point  NOT QUITE AS SHARP as the center focus point in live view.  I then tested the outer points, one at a time and found that none of the targets were sharp, this included the right and left focus points.

I used the the D800 on vacation out west this summer by using the center focus point but I was not blown away with the cameras sharpness with 36mp sensor.

If you spend $3000 for a camera it should work as advertised.  SEND THE CAMERA BACK AND GET IT FIXED!

Respectfully,

David Miller

Wrong, not 1 out of the 109 times you have given a logical proof or experimental data that shows this is the case.

Nikon doesn't indicate anything at all, you abuse the word Nikon for your personal crusade and sad lies about AF.

Just curious David, did you send your D800 off to be fixed and if so what were your feelings after you got it back?

--
Allen
___________
"Easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."
-- Frederick Douglass

I just sent the camera back today.

I was going to keep the camera and either use live view or just the center focus point in standard mode.

After a serious test which took me a least three hours I determined that the focus with the center point was not quite as sharp as live view.  I will using this camera for portraits, many shot at 1.4 to f2.8, depending upon the lens.

I just figured that for $3000 I want the camera to work correctly just in case I need or want to used a different mode or focus point.

Nikon has really let their customers down.  I know Canon had an auto focus a couple of years ago with one of their better cameras but they owned up to the problem.  Nikon has just not owned up to the D800 or D600 problems.

If I wasn't 70 years old with only a couple more years of shooting at most I would definitely switch back to Canon.  I used to have both platforms and gradually over the last four years switch completely to Nikon.  It may have been a mistake.  The following pictures was taken last July with the D800 with center focus.  Its not bad but what if I wanted to shoot wide open?



respectfully,

David Miller

Then the reality of the matter is that Nikon should simply leave autofocus off there cameras as there will likely be no "real" subject to which the system can focus.  Unless of course one is photographing a white wall with a single line - but then Nikon could offer a special camera model with autofocus for people that shoot that all the time   The rest of us shouldn't be using autofocus.

The guy who attended to me at Nikon Corp HQ Yurakucho used the inappropriate test chart thing on me too, heh.

Would be cool if someone actually answered the questions I asked, instead of rambling on blah blah blah.

--
“ Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." – Henri Cartier-Bresson

Perhaps you should read the posts more carefully.  Your question was answered by the first post by Marianne............

Regards,

--
Craig Bennett
http://www.craigbennettphotography.com

Hi David,

The photo's info states it was taken by the Fuji S5Pro?

Regards,

--

Craig Bennett
http://www.craigbennettphotography.com

Of all the posters who have given feedback here regarding their focus issues when they took their cameras to Nikon, not a single one of them got that kind of generic automated response of yours from Nikon.

Are you taking the time to re-teach yourself how to shoot the big 36mp? It's not like shooting any other dslr . It's the worlds very best and requires the best hand held techniques to achieve nirvana like images. Were your focus target Leonard shepherd approved ? Do you have an MS in photography like Steve Bingman ? No ? You might consider staying with the 12mp cameras

Sorry, I posted the wrong picture.  this one was taken at the Grand Canyon last summer with the D800.  I used the center focus point the whole trip.

respectfully,

David Miler