Reading mode: Light Dark

17-55mm infinity focus problem...

Go to last post
J

John_of_LA

Senior Member
Messages
2,052
Reaction score
3
Location
Bangkok, TH
Hi,

Just got an excellent condition 17-55 for my D70. Unfortunately, it has focus problem at infinity (at wide angle 17-28mm).

I remember reading about this on the forum but didn't find any real solution. Did Nikon update on this?

My D70 focus perfectly for all lens I have. 18-70DX, Tokina 12-24 DX, 50 1.4D, 85 1.8D, Tamron 90 2.8 and 80-400 VR. I am able to focus the 17-55 at closer range (less than 15 ft is OK).

The lens is very sharp but I can't get sharp shot at wide end yet. My 18-70DX is much sharper at all aperture. I tried close range focus test shot, my 17-55 is obviously better. I assume it is the focus.

Any comment is appreciated. I have read several threads in the past. Some suggest to focus at 55mm and zoom back to 17mm. I will try that tomorrow. Nevertheless, I'd like to get it better since this is quite expensive zoom.
John...
 
I think it is a camera problem and not a lens problem.

Anyway, work around:

1) Focus on your subject at the long end (fl> 28).

2) Lock focus.

3) Zoom out to recompose and frame.

4) Expose.

I have reprogrammmed the focus to lock on the rear AF-L/AE-L to separate focusing and exposure. (Read the manual)

I have the problem on my D70 with both the 18-70 kit lens. the Nikkor 12-24 and on the Nikkor 17-55 which I have tested in camera stores!

Nikons service centre shrugs off the phenomena as a non problem??

The work around will get you pics sharp, leaving it up to the camera to focus at the wide end of the zoom wont!

I seem to remember?? that adjusting the mirror solved the problem for some people:

http://www.leongoodman.com/d70focus.html

but I havent tried it!!
--
Phil_L
 
If your AF target at infinity is smaller than the AF mark or lacks contrast and detail (all common at 17mm) AF is unlikely to be able to lock on.
--
Leonard Shepherd

Usually skill in using equipment has more to do with good photography than the equipment itself.
 
Leonard Shepherd said:
If your AF target at infinity is smaller than the AF mark or lacks
contrast and detail (all common at 17mm) AF is unlikely to be able
to lock on.
Click to expand...
Sure if the autofocus is not working correctly no pattern will work. Might as well not have an autofocus lens if this is always used as an excuse. I have to say this Lenord's response is nonesense. The lens would not consistently focus at 10 or 15 feet at the 17mm end for targets at infinity unless there were an autofocus problem.

I find with my lens that I can use an off center sensor to get better results. This is due in part to curvature of field. You might experiment with this too. I have been able to find work arounds for my lenses problems and have hesitated about sending the lens into Nikon for service. I worry that the lens might come back worse than it is now.
 
My d70 17-55 combination had this problem.

Since ive upgraded to a d200 all my images have been bang sharp throughout the range.

Its a cam problem not lens.

Marty
 
Adam,

I bought the 17-55 about 5 months ago and have the exact same problem you had with my D70s. I used one of the other focus selection as a work-around but it's not perfect. I'm kind of hesitant about sending the lens back to Nikon but think I will do that soon.

Did you send in your lens and D70 or just the lens?

-John
 
The technique works. If I focus @ 55mm first, and zoom out to 17mm. I got much sharper pic than using auto focus @ 17mm.
Tried that with D70 and D70s.

Wonder I should return the lens to the guy. He mentioned that he is using D200 and the lens focus perfectly on this body.
 
John_of_LA said:
Wonder I should return the lens to the guy. He mentioned that he is
using D200 and the lens focus perfectly on this body.
Click to expand...
My take on that is:

Base your decision on the image quality the lens is offering and what you want wrt IQ, not the handling to get focus right.

The work around becomes second nature after a while.

If I could find a used 17-55 with good IQ i would buy it quick despite the problem.

I have tried two new ones in a shop and they were both duds. Chills your bones at that price (~$1850 in my neck of the woods).

Emptor Cavaet.
--
Phil_L
 
When focus right, the image quality is good. Much better than my 18-70DX, which is a very good copy.

To be frankly, I'd like it to focus perfect. I'm not sure if I should send to Nikon for fixing. Or get a new one (and use warranty service until I get perfect... no guarantee here).

I really like to use AF-S autofocus all the time. That is one of the reason I try to get this lens. Losting ability to focus is quite hassle. I could go to screw-drive Tamron 17-50, which much cheaper with close IQ.

The problem is, I really like to know if my lens is a bad one or it is simply has compatilbility with D70(s) which focus good on other lens. I really like to try it on a D200 or D80. I tried it on a D200 today but can't tell much thing since I was trying at my local Ritz with limited test subject (no real infinity).
Phil_L said:
John_of_LA said:
Wonder I should return the lens to the guy. He mentioned that he is
using D200 and the lens focus perfectly on this body.
Click to expand...
My take on that is:

Base your decision on the image quality the lens is offering and
what you want wrt IQ, not the handling to get focus right.

The work around becomes second nature after a while.

If I could find a used 17-55 with good IQ i would buy it quick
despite the problem.
I have tried two new ones in a shop and they were both duds. Chills
your bones at that price (~$1850 in my neck of the woods).

Emptor Cavaet.
--
Phil_L
Click to expand...
 
There are several posters here who have the 17-55, D70 and D200.

If my memory serves me correctly, they report that the problem disappears on the D200??

Phil Youngblood is the guardian angel of this lens here on dpreview. :-)
He has also experienced this problem!

Do a search on his name.
--
Phil_L
 
My 17-55 has focus problems on both my D100 and my D2x. So don't assume that the problem will go away with a D200 or D80. Even though I have found a work around for my lens, focus using the right of center focus sensor (both cameras), I do think the lens should do better.

When I emailed Nikon about the problem and about the curvature of field their reply stated that the lens does have the curvature problem, but I would have to send it to them to determine if it is within specs. Seems like they could provide more specific details. I really don't want to pay for shipping and possibly have the lens come back worse than it is now just to find out that my lens is within specs.
 
I expect the lens to perform better too. I believe there are good copies out there, since some has reported no problem. Yet many reports problem with their camera.
I don't really expect much QC problem at this price range.
Did you try to adjust your camera focus using Leon Goodman method?
http://www.leongoodman.com/d70focus.html
Bernard Waxman said:
My 17-55 has focus problems on both my D100 and my D2x. So don't
assume that the problem will go away with a D200 or D80. Even
though I have found a work around for my lens, focus using the
right of center focus sensor (both cameras), I do think the lens
should do better.

When I emailed Nikon about the problem and about the curvature of
field their reply stated that the lens does have the curvature
problem, but I would have to send it to them to determine if it is
within specs. Seems like they could provide more specific details.
I really don't want to pay for shipping and possibly have the lens
come back worse than it is now just to find out that my lens is
within specs.
Click to expand...
 
John_of_LA said:
I expect the lens to perform better too. I believe there are good
copies out there, since some has reported no problem. Yet many
reports problem with their camera.
I don't really expect much QC problem at this price range.
Did you try to adjust your camera focus using Leon Goodman method?
http://www.leongoodman.com/d70focus.html
Click to expand...
John, thanks for your suggestion. But since all my other lenses focus almost perfectly, I really hesitate to fool with the camera. I would rather have a minor focus problem with one lens than to have the problem with all of my other lenses. Besides if the problem is with the camera, the 17-55 should misfocus at all focal lengths. Everything from about 24mm to 55mm focus just about right. There is a very minor front focus, but it is very slight.

By the way, I sent my D2x in for service two month's ago for a different problem. At that time, I got back a report from Nikon that autofocus was checked and within specs.
 
Hi John,

I just sent the lens back, I had visions of Nikon calibrating the D70 so it worked with the 17-55 and then no longer worked with my other lenses. Only Nikon really knows what the problem is (there is definitely a problem with DX lenses performing with the D70/S contrary to what some posters would have you believe) and they don't appear very interested in the poor consumer. My local dealer in the UK is absolutely exasperated with their poor service.

Despite the horrendous experience I had it's worth plugging away until you get a result, when you finally get it fixed you'll realise why everyone (who has a working copy) raves about this lens.

Bottom line: get Nikon to fix the problem!

Best of luck

Cheers
Adam
--
Make hay while the sun shines
 
Bernard Waxman said:
John_of_LA said:
I expect the lens to perform better too. I believe there are good
copies out there, since some has reported no problem. Yet many
reports problem with their camera.
I don't really expect much QC problem at this price range.
Did you try to adjust your camera focus using Leon Goodman method?
http://www.leongoodman.com/d70focus.html
Click to expand...
John, thanks for your suggestion. But since all my other lenses
focus almost perfectly, I really hesitate to fool with the camera.
I would rather have a minor focus problem with one lens than to
have the problem with all of my other lenses. Besides if the
problem is with the camera, the 17-55 should misfocus at all focal
lengths. Everything from about 24mm to 55mm focus just about
right. There is a very minor front focus, but it is very slight.

By the way, I sent my D2x in for service two month's ago for a
different problem. At that time, I got back a report from Nikon
that autofocus was checked and within specs.
Click to expand...
 
I sent it off to Nikon and it turned out to be my D100 that needed adjustment. I had the same problem with my 12-24 so I kinda expected the camera was at fault.
 
Bernard Waxman said:
I have to say this Lenord's response is
nonesense.
Click to expand...
1/ You nearly spelled my name nonsense right!

2/ Nikon would not go to the trouble of pointing out AF might not work in the instructions for this lens, and in camera body instructions, if there was not an AF issue.

3/I have seen 79 threads of the last 4 months alleging focus issues with this lens - all supported by images where the instructions may not work well, and none supported by good images.

4/ Against this background the predominant cause is either a failure or perhaps a refusal to accept putting larger AF sensor areas in the D2 series and D200 does not have AF target selection implications.
Yes the larger AF areas track moving targets better.

No - they do not work as well with small or fine detail AF targets - precisely what is most likely to be encountered at 17mm infinity focus.

If the lens owner switches to manual focus infinity and infinity is now sharp when the whole image is reproduced at 12x8 inches on a monitor.the chances are probably as high as 98% that the issue is AF target selection, not a poor lens.

12x8 inch image size (always much less than viewing at 100%) is important because this is the standard used for depth of field calculations, camera shake shutter speeds, and shutter speeds for "stopping" moving targets.

If Nikon indicate there is a problem, and if only the 79 out of 79 who do not select good AF have issues could it be I am not talking nonsense?i

--
Leonard Shepherd

Usually skill in using equipment has more to do with good photography than the equipment itself.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top