Do new D800's have left AF problem?

Haven't come here for a long time. I am wondering what's the status with the new D800/D800E's?

Do they still have AF problem with left outermost focus points?

Do they still need large amount of AF Fine tuning  on most lenses? By large amount, I meant AF fine tune value from -10 to -20 or from +10 to +20.

Thanks.

Do old ones have a focus problem?

I have seen 109 images posted on this forum complaining about D800 focus where the photographer either ignored the guidance on how to get sharp focus on page 100 of the instruction book or, if testing an outer autofocus point, the target did not contain detail in the vertical direction needed by an outer autofocus point.

I have not seen any complaint supported with an autofocus target which would seem to be good enough to ensure reliable autofocus.

There may well be 1 or 2% of D800 cameras with a defect but, based on images posted on this forum, the biggest issue seems to be owners expecting autofocus to work good with a subject where Nikon caution AF can be unreliable.

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

Targets are not the issue.  AF should be designed for the real world of photography:  It should work on eyes and faces, it should work on wildlife, it should work on race cars, it should work on the wide variety of common subjects.  If it does not, it is deficient.  It is well past time for you to cease making excuses, Leonard!

Your estimate is likely low by an order of magnitude.  Nikon have acknowledged the problem.  Professional photographers who actually know how to use AF, have acknowledged the problem.  Do you not understand the concept of preponderance of evidence?

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- Marianne

The biggest issue is your unreliable interpretation of the experimental data, and the fact that you speak as if your claims are supported by Nikon.

Mod's should be able to censor this sort of mis-information. It doesn't help anybody...

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If the AF in the D800 was as picky about it's target as you like to suggest it would be absolutely useless for real world use. Many examples and tests show the middle and right AF points achieving perfect focus on the same target the left AF point can't. Anyone with any amount of reasoning ability, objectivity, experience, and common sense can see the problem has nothing to do with the AF target and is very real. No one is impressed or fooled by your attempts to use this issue to project an air of arrogant superiority and an undeserved sense of authority on these forums.

Leonard's problem is a lack of intimate knowledge of the way the AF works

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Thierry - posted as regular forum member

A reliable source of info: Thom Hogan promised to let us know when the problem will be fixed out of the manufacturing line, and he did so a while ago.

Reports of newly bought D800 with faulty AF have become very rare (totally consistent with Thom's info). Not completely zero presumably because there may be a very few D800 made several months ago but sold only now.

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Thierry - posted as regular forum member

Leonard,

Your analysis is flawed.  If the target were the issue, than the right AF points would be equally unable to focus as well.....this simply is not the case with the reported issues and test methods.

Regards,

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Craig Bennett
http://www.craigbennettphotography.com

IIRC the "unofficial" root cause of the left-focus issue was related to mis-configured and/or incorrectly calibrated equipment at the factory - which was apparently resolved sometime during the second quarter of 2012. This was reported by an "anonymous" Nikon spokesperson who was not authorized to speak 'officially' on the matter. From this we can reasonably assume that the issue was resolved (if we are to believe the information was correct). What product remained in the channel that was not 'fixed' remains to be seen. Other unsubstantiated reports are that US models with serials after 3005xxx are not effected- this information was posted here in DPReview a few days ago.

You are correct.  My understanding it was a jig at the factory and seemed to not affect D800e's as much as the D800's, which makes sense due to the production differential between the two models. Most likely, fewer D800e's went through the mis-calibrated jig.  I got lucky that both of my D800e's appear to be okay.

Bottom line, I felt comfortable purchasing mine last year, but I still checked them throughly.  I would certainly check any one purchased now, especially since it is fast and easy enough to do.  I have used "non-approved" targets and real-life objects as well.  Both work equally as well to determine a problem.  Another thing folks might be missing is the mis-focus really shows up with a wide-angle lens.  Should test at 24mm or wider.  My understanding is past 50mm, you might not see an issue.

Regards,

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Craig Bennett
http://www.craigbennettphotography.com

I had the issue. For one year, Nikon "repaired it" but the issue was still present. Then I prepared my speech, took photos, printed articles and went back to Nikon (Tokyo). One week later, they gave me back my D800... and now, it is perfect.

Still today, when I go to a shop, I try the D800 they have (still Tokyo). They all have the left-AF issue! It's not 2%. It's 98%! And I am not kidding. You are in a lucky world surrounded but lucky users but don't assume it is the case for everyone. It's a terrible issue and to blame the users first is not going to help.

Is there an easy way to test for the left focus issue?

Are you, by any chance, referring to the topmost entry of this compilation:

http://www.bythom.com/D800autofocus.htm

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regards
Janne Mankila, Finland

Status is fine.

What you mean "still"? I believe only "some" cameras had problems (if any at all). User errors and Internet hysteria blew this totally out of proportions.

If a camera needs large amount of focus tuning then there is something wrong and should be sent in for service. That's what warranties are for. The wast majority of cameras are fine and they have always been fine. Nikon did not change anything in their manufacturing process because there is nothing to change.

The D800, D800E and the D4 have all EXACTLY the same AF modules, are made in the same factory yet only the D800 has had this "issue". Ask yourself the question "why". My answer to that is that the D800 was bought by many people with very little experience and very high expectations because it was the cheapest FX at that time. I don't believe the D800 had more issues than any of the other two, especially not in regard of AF. I don't believe there was a real "AF issue" at all but it was blown up by all the hysteria around this camera by people with buyers remorse syndrome.

The D800 is fine, but you must know how to use it and if you consider testing it you must know how to test it. This forum is full of faulty performed tests documented by people who panicked and threw more petrol on the fire by publishing their faulty tests and wrong conclusions.

In theory yes, but in reality targets are very important for the AF accuracy. You of all people should be very much aware of this.

I don't care much about Leonard (I don't know him) but I think he is right in this question.

No, I think he is right here also. That is unless you have better figures to show from more reliable sources.

No they have not. Unless I missed something, in which case I beg you to post your source of information and a link to that.

Can you list some of them? Do they have access to ALL Nikon statistics? Also, you can't seriously claim that professionals never make mistakes, never draw the wrong conclusions and never panic, can you?

Which evidence? Please help.

Show us the proof, please.

Please, some proof for this.

Again, provide some evidence.

So, now we have evidence that you believe some things. Would you, now, please provide the evidence that lead you to believe these things?

See:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Preponderance+of+evidence

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regards
Janne Mankila, Finland

Please, could you point me to the thread where this was discussed? I can't find it.

Thanks!

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regards
Janne Mankila, Finland

I think he knows more about the "issue" than you do, but he seems to be a free target for flame throwers on this forum. Sad to see that even people who I respected before for their seemingly high technical knowledge joined this mob.

Enjoy it.

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Regards.