Advices about "AF Fine Tuning"...issue? on my D-300!

Hi D-300 owner, & fans,

I will be extremely pleased, if somebody...can advice & or explain in a plain English (Sorry...but it's NOT my mother language!), how to use & get the best results with this "AF Fine Tuning' possibility?. I read the user book...but among us...don't comprehend 100% how to do it!

Thanks so much for been so polite with me!

Peace,
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Alex 007!

I did the af-fine tunning in my 85mm f1.4 and my 17-55mm and I'm pretty happy w/ the results.

It is fairly noticeable in my pics. My 85mm got a +8 and my 17-55mm got a +4 as a compromise between the best 17mm setting and the 55mm best one.

I've tried many approachs and I found this simple one the better:

1- Get 3 9V batteries, w/ flat/square shape (not rounded ones)

2- Place them over a table (suposing u dont have a tripod) w/ good light (u might use flash too)

3- Place your camera over the same table at a distance of 2 meters, using as a support something like a book to get the center focus point pointed to the middle battery.

4- The batteries must be disaligned in depth by 1.5 inch and separated sideways by 2 inches

5- Shoot w/ fine tunning option activated from -20 to + 20 in 5 clicks steps. Choose the best ones, close your gap and so on...

6-Aperture mode plz, wide open.

7-Try/check/recheck/use other settings many times just to make sure that your final choice is the best.

8- Bigger lens? Try olive oil cans and go farther...

It's worth any effort and the results are very clear in your photos.

Regards

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Ray Soares

See my pictures at http://www.pbase.com/raysoares

use this test, it's described very nicely http://www.focustestchart.com/focus21.pdf

obviously you want to use the smallest possible aperture, depth of field would be smaller with longer focal length, but you should test all on each lens and of course on the focus distance - you can have FF/BF if focused on a close subject and a different FF/BF if you focus somewhere further

so - test each lens you want to set up on a couple "zoom settings" each with a close subject and a distant one, write down the best AF tuning value or each test and then decide the result value

Hi my dear all of you!

I read many times...& make some "Test" using my most sturdy "Linhof" tripod...to my "Only" acquired lens for my lovely D-300 the travel zoom 18-200mm & found finally that the "0" one is the best...so press "OK"...& now this "Combo"...it's 100% focus accurately!.

Thanks again & again to all of you for your cute/clever explanation!

Peace,
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Alex 007!

Hi, I'm glad you are satisfied.

From what I heard the AF-D lenses do need the focus fine tuning more than the AF-S ones.

Thanks for this. I think I neet to check my 16\85 as I think it could be sharper! Do you test at different focal length's ?

Thanks Paul
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Don't be afraid of the dark, as it's only a lack of light !!!!!!
http://www.pbase.com/paulbreen

Hi...

Really don't know as I acquired the body with the 18-200mm as "Kit'...with my heart fully intention NO to change lenses...so the viewfinder & sensor will be ALWAYS meticulous clean!.

Among us...meet my 99.99% of my photographic needs!

Anyway...thanks so much to all of you, for your cute & logical explanation + advices!

Peace,
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Alex 007!

Good to know.

Cris

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1039&message=25877441

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http://www.pbase.com/enricopog
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