I don't think new D3 firmware improved focus, but made it worse!

I read reports that the new firmware 2.0 on the D3 has improved autofocus. I find the opposite true. I tried ignoring it, but the AF has gotten about twice as slow as it was before.

I am thinking of going back to the older firmware (I better check and see if I still have it before I say that) just to confirm that the AF was much faster.

If the camera originally came with this firmware performance, I may not have been so enthusiastic about switching from the Canon 1D MK3 bodies to this one. I tried to ignore the focus degrade thinking it may just be situational, but it is working it's way into the irritational stage.

I am disappointed, but hopeful that there has to be more than just me that is getting these results and that a further firmware updates will balance out the focusing so that one shot, Auto auto-focus, and continuous auto focus will all live happily together.

To be exact in my findings, the completely auto auto-focus setting (top paddle position on camera back) where the camera determines the focus point itself using the same settings as before (3D 51 point) is about twice as slow in achieving focus now, and the setting where I select the focus point myself seems a little hesitant now.

Continuous focus setting seems to be quicker now and other folks have said the same thing so they are confirming that part to me, but I can't shoot a whole wedding set to continuous focus, or at least I haven't tried that yet.

I don't know if Nikon has a Chuck Westfall that can see the pulse of groups of people and pass that info on to the powers that be so I am not sure this feedback will get back to Nikon. I hope it does.

You would think that at least ONE camera company could walk and chew gum at the same time. Auto focus quickness and precision along with good high ISO in ONE camera boys - ONE camera

Peter
--
'Life is good - eternal life is better'

I tried on 51 points focus. it work great & fast.

--
James
http://community.webshots.com/user/cwkei

Peter Gregg said:

Continuous focus setting seems to be quicker now and other folks have
said the same thing so they are confirming that part to me, but I
can't shoot a whole wedding set to continuous focus, or at least I
haven't tried that yet.

Click to expand...

Exact opposite here - I only use continuous focus, on the AF-ON button. That way, I can use continuous when I want to and emulate AF-S by simply picking up my thumb - best of both worlds.

And the new firmware rocks for AF-C, at least - much faster and more "positive" (i.e., no jitter, just fast, quick focus).

--
John Walker
http://jhwalker.smugmug.com/

In just my home environment, where there is not pressure like there is in the hustle of a wedding, it takes a lot longer to acquire focus in the auto auto-focus mode.

Just using a static object like a kid's teddy bear or a Pepsi bottle, it takes over a second to almost 2 for the camera to determine and lock focus where before the firmware 2.0 it was about a half a second.

I thought I saved the firmware before the new 2.0 but I don't see it here. I would like to test it out to be sure this is in fact happening. Anywhere online to get the older firmware downloaded again?

Peter

--
'Life is good - eternal life is better'

Peter Gregg said:

I read reports that the new firmware 2.0 on the D3 has improved
autofocus. I find the opposite true. I tried ignoring it, but the AF
has gotten about twice as slow as it was before.

I am thinking of going back to the older firmware (I better check and
see if I still have it before I say that) just to confirm that the AF
was much faster.

Click to expand...

Peter, I will agree with you that some aspects of the AF revision have reduced the AF speed. I normally use 21-point AF, and my experience last weekend taking about 32,000 action photos was rather unpleasant. The camera just wasn't tracking subjects as promptly as it did before, and I was really struggling to obtain shots that would have been easy with the earlier firmware. By the end of the day, I had settled on the method of never interrupting AF - keeping the shutter release half-pressed continuously - which seemed to improve the tracking accuracy. I didn't notice any performance deficit with the auto-area mode, however, and I haven't tried the other AF modes yet.

I've changed one of my D3 bodies back to the 1.11 firmware, and will do some side-by-side comparisons. If you can't find the firmware, let me know and I'll give you a link to download it from my website.

Another point that I would like to bring up concerns a significant change to initial focus acquisition. One thing that I've been complaining about for a while, is that the D3 (except for auto-area AF) only uses a single AF sensor to initially acquire focus. This can cause the camera to go into focus search if that one sensor falls on a subject area which lacks sufficient detail, and this can result in several seconds of delay before focus can be re-achieved - a real problem in action situations. From my experience last weekend, it's apparent that Nikon have now brought additional sensors into play to cover this situation; the focus-search problem is essentially gone, but has been replaced by another problem: The camera will focus on the background instead! [I suspect that Nikon may have also increased the number of active sensors during tracking, which would explain the slower response in that case.]

We still need to have the surrounding-point options a la Canon 1D Mk III, which allows the user to select left+right adjacent assist points, or surrounding assist points, as a manual choice.

I haven't seen any difference in most conditions except dark ones, and for the better..
--
[email protected]
http://www.courtlevephoto.com

Didn't we used to have that option in the D2 series with the "pattern" areas which were selectable in the AF menu?

--
Jim Fenton
My Wildlife Images at:
http://www.pbase.com/soonipi1957

Peter Gregg said:

Just using a static object like a kid's teddy bear or a Pepsi bottle,
it takes over a second to almost 2 for the camera to determine and
lock focus where before the firmware 2.0 it was about a half a second.

Click to expand...

Peter, I just tried out the 51pt options indoors on static subjects and with v2 installed I am getting focus aquisition in less than 1 second using the 20-70 f2.8 in low light. What lenses have you tried it with?

--
Brian
Fine Art Print sales of the Isle of Skye at:
http://www.eyeofskye.co.uk/
Pbase gallery Pictures from Isle of Skye
http://www.pbase.com/xrdbear

Mine is a new cam with the 2.o and it is very very fast in almost no light...I dimmed lights way down to almost nothing and was still able to focus on object well

xrdbear said:

Peter Gregg said:

Just using a static object like a kid's teddy bear or a Pepsi bottle,
it takes over a second to almost 2 for the camera to determine and
lock focus where before the firmware 2.0 it was about a half a second.

Click to expand...

Peter, I just tried out the 51pt options indoors on static subjects
and with v2 installed I am getting focus aquisition in less than 1
second using the 20-70 f2.8 in low light. What lenses have you tried
it with?

Click to expand...

I use the same lens, the Nikon 24-70 2.8 lens.

At a child's portrait session on Tuesday it was quite difficult to get the focus quick enough and pretty frustrating too.

Peter

--
'Life is good - eternal life is better'

Thank you for posting on getting version 1.10.

I just put it back in the D3 and the camera returned to being very fast again.

I reset the camera settings before I changed the firmware to make sure nothing was causing a compatibility problem. In standard default settings there was no difference.

When I went back to firmware 1.10, and put my settings back to where I wanted them, there was an instant change in the speed of the focus. Very good, and now I am back to having that great focus experience again.

For those interested I make the following changes to my settings:

A1: Focus
A3: 51 3D
A6: +1
B5: 20
C2: 8
E1: 1/250 auto FP
E3: off
F4: FV lock
F5: Flash off
F6: AF reset on release
F7: reverse
F8: yes
F9: no mem card lock
F10: second choice

In quick situations I "shift" the camera between auto auto-focus, select my own focus point, and continuous or single shot mode. With the right thumb and left pinky finger I switch modes instantly as needed. They are all very quick and accurate.

Anyway, thanks for the info. It works for me now, hope a newer firmware after 2.0 will keep the same quickness in my camera for the focus system or I will just be happy with 1.10

Peter

--
'Life is good - eternal life is better'

I can't say I'm experiencing this. Mine seem faster everywhere now. Trying it here now (ISO5000 and f2.8 giving me 1/20s so low light) and even on lowish contrast it locks on quickly and accurately.
--

'All the technique in the world doesn’t compensate for the inability to notice.' - Elliott Erwitt ~ 'It's no good saying 'hold it' to a moment in real life.' - Lord Snowdon

Jim Fenton said:

Didn't we used to have that option in the D2 series with the
"pattern" areas which were selectable in the AF menu?

Click to expand...

Yes, the D2 groups were quite flexible. However, the great difference in scale and spacing of the sensors means that the practical applications and behavior are quite different.

It a lot faster to lock in low light and I only use AF C. I never use AF-S, so can't comment.

I was shooting multiple frames of my friend doing football moves using 3D color tracking last week, all the frames came out sharp.

--
Finn
http://www.flickr.com/photos/finteo/

Mine seems fine with the new firmware but I'm curious to hear what others say.
--
http://www.pbase.com/jeweller

http://www.usefilm.com/photographer/68206.html

Interesting ,i thought it was my imagination and the poor light on the day I upgraded to the new firmware.
I thought it wasnt possible to install a previous version of the firmware ?

Is there a link where we can download it ? I would like to have a play and see if it is just my imagination.

thanks for the heads up.

cheers

Ralph

Peter Gregg said:

Thank you for posting on getting version 1.10.

I just put it back in the D3 and the camera returned to being very
fast again.

I reset the camera settings before I changed the firmware to make
sure nothing was causing a compatibility problem. In standard default
settings there was no difference.

When I went back to firmware 1.10, and put my settings back to where
I wanted them, there was an instant change in the speed of the focus.
Very good, and now I am back to having that great focus experience
again.

For those interested I make the following changes to my settings:

A1: Focus
A3: 51 3D
A6: +1
B5: 20
C2: 8
E1: 1/250 auto FP
E3: off
F4: FV lock
F5: Flash off
F6: AF reset on release
F7: reverse
F8: yes
F9: no mem card lock
F10: second choice

In quick situations I "shift" the camera between auto auto-focus,
select my own focus point, and continuous or single shot mode. With
the right thumb and left pinky finger I switch modes instantly as
needed. They are all very quick and accurate.

Anyway, thanks for the info. It works for me now, hope a newer
firmware after 2.0 will keep the same quickness in my camera for the
focus system or I will just be happy with 1.10

Peter

--
'Life is good - eternal life is better'

Click to expand...

--

' You don't know where your going till you know where you've been '

I found it here, and for me there was an immediate diference. Even as skeptical as I was, I could see the difference in a heartbeat:

http://drivers.softpedia.com/progDownload/Nikon-D3-DSLR-Firmware-110-Download-58857.html

Those folks that use C mode a lot are better off with FW 2.0 as it seems to track and stay locked much better there. For for S mode user with a little C mode in the mix, FW 1.10 is a better one for me

Peter

Ralmez said:

thanks for the heads up.

cheers

Ralph

Peter Gregg said:

Thank you for posting on getting version 1.10.

I just put it back in the D3 and the camera returned to being very
fast again.

I reset the camera settings before I changed the firmware to make
sure nothing was causing a compatibility problem. In standard default
settings there was no difference.

When I went back to firmware 1.10, and put my settings back to where
I wanted them, there was an instant change in the speed of the focus.
Very good, and now I am back to having that great focus experience
again.

For those interested I make the following changes to my settings:

A1: Focus
A3: 51 3D
A6: +1
B5: 20
C2: 8
E1: 1/250 auto FP
E3: off
F4: FV lock
F5: Flash off
F6: AF reset on release
F7: reverse
F8: yes
F9: no mem card lock
F10: second choice

In quick situations I "shift" the camera between auto auto-focus,
select my own focus point, and continuous or single shot mode. With
the right thumb and left pinky finger I switch modes instantly as
needed. They are all very quick and accurate.

Anyway, thanks for the info. It works for me now, hope a newer
firmware after 2.0 will keep the same quickness in my camera for the
focus system or I will just be happy with 1.10

Peter

--
'Life is good - eternal life is better'

Click to expand...

--

' You don't know where your going till you know where you've been '

Click to expand...

--
'Life is good - eternal life is better'

Curious, do you enable focus lock "on" for that type of enviorment?
--
Mel
http://www.mellockhartphotography.zenfolio.com
http://www.mellockhartphotography.com

After returning the camera to FW 1.10, I shot a small party last night and the focus system no longer works like molasses in single shot mode, but is back to it's responsive operation.

It feels good to have the camera back to being a very solid performer. The firmware 2.0 for me is poor enough in single shot mode that I had to switch to using a back-up 40D Canon camera body and put the D3 away.

I honestly do not know why some folks are saying no change in performance for them, while I and quite a few others ARE experiencing a deadening of the single shot focus mode.That is extremely curious.

I am wondering if it is the lens selection or SB800 flash, or combination of both, that is causing the discrepancy. I am using (I am new to Nikon so I bought all new lenses) the new 24-70mm 2.8, 14-24mm, and 70-200VR. I also experience this focus slow down on the 50mm 1.8 lens too using the single shot mode where I select my own focus point and the auto auto-focus mode.

Unless I am in C mode for focus, the focus system is deadened down to being on par with the Pentax K10D in low light - and that is nowhere near pro body performance. The Canon 40D I reverted too ran circles around the D3's focus system in single shot mode with firmware 2.0. This is really very odd.

With 1.10 reinstalled, the D3 is back to pro level response in all focus modes for me. I hope Nikon monitors the forums so they are aware of this unique response the camera is having for some people.

Peter

--
'Life is good - eternal life is better'

I haven't made up my mind yet. Had a very frustrating shoot last week, wasn't really low light - 4 x 275w modeling lamps, studio shoot, strobes... camera wouldn't take the shot on several occasions in AFS, I switched to AFC which improved things enough to keep going but it wasn't ideal.

The problem seems to be tungsten light sources of a certain colour temperature, daylight and fluoro sources are fine where the camera is responsive and locks accurately even in very low light.

When the shutter finally releases you can be 98% sure the focus it spot-on but by the time the camera has sorted itself out you've missed the shot. I'm going to experiment a little more with the new firmware, I have a few ideas to try but if all else fails thanks for the link to v1.10.