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Nikon still sending out faulty D800s / Checked two at a local store!

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bmcdad

bmcdad

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Went by a local camera store to pickup another D800 hoping I'll get a properly working body before I send mine back to Nikon for repair. The Salesman told me they received 5 yesterday and were down to 2. I asked to check the cameras before buying and to my surprise both exhibited the same auto focusing issues. I would've spend another 3000 to get a good working D800 but it seems Nikon still chooses to send defective cameras to dealers.. It's time they take responsibility and admit the issue rather than keep selling defective cameras to hard working professionals.

Half a day waisted on this crap...

Making not Taking!

http://www.billmcdad.com
http://www.modelmayhem.com/1270611
 
how did you test them ?
my left point is fine
bmcdad said:
Went by a local camera store to pickup another D800 hoping I'll get a properly working body before I send mine back to Nikon for repair. The Salesman told me they received 5 yesterday and were down to 2. I asked to check the cameras before buying and to my surprise both exhibited the same auto focusing issues. I would've spend another 3000 to get a good working D800 but it seems Nikon still chooses to send defective cameras to dealers.. It's time they take responsibility and admit the issue rather than keep selling defective cameras to hard working professionals.

Half a day waisted on this crap...

Making not Taking!

http://www.billmcdad.com
http://www.modelmayhem.com/1270611
Click to expand...
--
http://www.haroldmiller.me
 
I got my d800 today. Zero problems. Outside AF point are excellent. Not quite as fast as the center cluster, but very accurate.

--
My travel photography blog - http://www.frescoglobe.com
 
I too would be interested in reading the OP's description of the in store testing method used to determin that the faults existed, when I tested mine at home it took me some time setting up the tripod, ensuring the camera and target were parallel in all directions, taking the shots and then examining the results on my computer, I am not in denial about the reported problems but if there is a quick and efficient way of testing I will re test my camera to see if my initial test results hold up.
 
How did you test those bodies in the shop?
At least on tripod with a professional AF check tool as a target..., or?
Do you have the results still on your CF card? Can you post the results?
Curious...

We bought 3 D800's under while(2x D800, 1x D800E), 2 were absolutely perfect, the 3rd one exhibits severe back focusing after serious testing in studio. I have an appointment at Nikon service on Monday morning and I'm convinced it will be perfect by Monday afternoon. Went through the same thing with D7000.
I love Nikon cams but their QC at the end of their production chain sucks.
bmcdad said:
Went by a local camera store to pickup another D800 hoping I'll get a properly working body before I send mine back to Nikon for repair. The Salesman told me they received 5 yesterday and were down to 2. I asked to check the cameras before buying and to my surprise both exhibited the same auto focusing issues. I would've spend another 3000 to get a good working D800 but it seems Nikon still chooses to send defective cameras to dealers.. It's time they take responsibility and admit the issue rather than keep selling defective cameras to hard working professionals.

Half a day waisted on this crap...

Making not Taking!

http://www.billmcdad.com
http://www.modelmayhem.com/1270611
Click to expand...
--
Kindest regards.
Stany Buyle
http://www.nikonuser.info

I like better one good picture in a day than 10 bad ones in a second..
 
stany buyle said:
How did you test those bodies in the shop?
At least on tripod with a professional AF check tool as a target..., or?
Do you have the results still on your CF card? Can you post the results?
Curious...
Click to expand...
+1
stany buyle said:
We bought 3 D800's under while(2x D800, 1x D800E), 2 were absolutely perfect, the 3rd one exhibits severe back focusing after serious testing in studio. I have an appointment at Nikon service on Monday morning and I'm convinced it will be perfect by Monday afternoon. Went through the same thing with D7000.
I love Nikon cams but their QC at the end of their production chain sucks.
Click to expand...
I think they always had these AF calibration issues (or just tolerance), now with higher res it became more obvious. My D7000 shows a slight difference left to right.
stany buyle said:
bmcdad said:
Went by a local camera store to pickup another D800 hoping I'll get a properly working body before I send mine back to Nikon for repair. The Salesman told me they received 5 yesterday and were down to 2. I asked to check the cameras before buying and to my surprise both exhibited the same auto focusing issues. I would've spend another 3000 to get a good working D800 but it seems Nikon still chooses to send defective cameras to dealers.. It's time they take responsibility and admit the issue rather than keep selling defective cameras to hard working professionals.

Half a day waisted on this crap...

Making not Taking!

http://www.billmcdad.com
http://www.modelmayhem.com/1270611
Click to expand...
--
Kindest regards.
Stany Buyle
http://www.nikonuser.info

I like better one good picture in a day than 10 bad ones in a second..
Click to expand...
--
Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/

Good shooting and good luck
(after Ed Murrow)
 
rhlpetrus said:
stany buyle said:
How did you test those bodies in the shop?
At least on tripod with a professional AF check tool as a target..., or?
Do you have the results still on your CF card? Can you post the results?
Curious...
Click to expand...
+1
rhlpetrus said:
We bought 3 D800's under while(2x D800, 1x D800E), 2 were absolutely perfect, the 3rd one exhibits severe back focusing after serious testing in studio. I have an appointment at Nikon service on Monday morning and I'm convinced it will be perfect by Monday afternoon. Went through the same thing with D7000.
I love Nikon cams but their QC at the end of their production chain sucks.
Click to expand...
I think they always had these AF calibration issues (or just tolerance), now with higher res it became more obvious. My D7000 shows a slight difference left to right.
Click to expand...
+1 1000%

most are fine, but some have AF alignment

Rangefinder and Phase focus systems are mechanical and so occasionally need adjustment
rhlpetrus said:
rhlpetrus said:
bmcdad said:
Went by a local camera store to pickup another D800 hoping I'll get a properly working body before I send mine back to Nikon for repair. The Salesman told me they received 5 yesterday and were down to 2. I asked to check the cameras before buying and to my surprise both exhibited the same auto focusing issues. I would've spend another 3000 to get a good working D800 but it seems Nikon still chooses to send defective cameras to dealers.. It's time they take responsibility and admit the issue rather than keep selling defective cameras to hard working professionals.

Half a day waisted on this crap...

Making not Taking!

http://www.billmcdad.com
http://www.modelmayhem.com/1270611
Click to expand...
--
Kindest regards.
Stany Buyle
http://www.nikonuser.info

I like better one good picture in a day than 10 bad ones in a second..
Click to expand...
--
Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/

Good shooting and good luck
(after Ed Murrow)
Click to expand...
--
http://www.haroldmiller.me
 
rhlpetrus said:
stany buyle said:
How did you test those bodies in the shop?
At least on tripod with a professional AF check tool as a target..., or?
Do you have the results still on your CF card? Can you post the results?
Curious...
Click to expand...
+1
rhlpetrus said:
We bought 3 D800's under while(2x D800, 1x D800E), 2 were absolutely perfect, the 3rd one exhibits severe back focusing after serious testing in studio. I have an appointment at Nikon service on Monday morning and I'm convinced it will be perfect by Monday afternoon. Went through the same thing with D7000.
I love Nikon cams but their QC at the end of their production chain sucks.
Click to expand...
I think they always had these AF calibration issues (or just tolerance), now with higher res it became more obvious. My D7000 shows a slight difference left to right.
Click to expand...
My 3rd D800 I have to dial -15 to -18 to get perfectly sharp images after test with F1.4 lenses. This has to be calibrated. I had exactly the same story with my D7000. After my D7000 came back it was a dream with all my lenses.

My first D800 and my D800E were perfect out of the box with all lenses and with all focus points.
rhlpetrus said:
rhlpetrus said:
bmcdad said:
Went by a local camera store to pickup another D800 hoping I'll get a properly working body before I send mine back to Nikon for repair. The Salesman told me they received 5 yesterday and were down to 2. I asked to check the cameras before buying and to my surprise both exhibited the same auto focusing issues. I would've spend another 3000 to get a good working D800 but it seems Nikon still chooses to send defective cameras to dealers.. It's time they take responsibility and admit the issue rather than keep selling defective cameras to hard working professionals.

Half a day waisted on this crap...

Making not Taking!

http://www.billmcdad.com
http://www.modelmayhem.com/1270611
Click to expand...
--
Kindest regards.
Stany Buyle
http://www.nikonuser.info

I like better one good picture in a day than 10 bad ones in a second..
Click to expand...
--
Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/

Good shooting and good luck
(after Ed Murrow)
Click to expand...
--
Kindest regards.
Stany Buyle
http://www.nikonuser.info

I like better one good picture in a day than 10 bad ones in a second..
 
harold1968 said:
rhlpetrus said:
stany buyle said:
How did you test those bodies in the shop?
At least on tripod with a professional AF check tool as a target..., or?
Do you have the results still on your CF card? Can you post the results?
Curious...
Click to expand...
+1
harold1968 said:
We bought 3 D800's under while(2x D800, 1x D800E), 2 were absolutely perfect, the 3rd one exhibits severe back focusing after serious testing in studio. I have an appointment at Nikon service on Monday morning and I'm convinced it will be perfect by Monday afternoon. Went through the same thing with D7000.
I love Nikon cams but their QC at the end of their production chain sucks.
Click to expand...
I think they always had these AF calibration issues (or just tolerance), now with higher res it became more obvious. My D7000 shows a slight difference left to right.
Click to expand...
+1 1000%

most are fine, but some have AF alignment

Rangefinder and Phase focus systems are mechanical and so occasionally need adjustment
Click to expand...
Totally agree, but if I would be Nikon production chief, I would do a serious AF check before putting them into the box. That's a 30 minutes procedure if organised well and would add $ 30.00 to the initial wholesale price and eliminate lots of troubles afterwards. Raise the final sales price from €2899 to €2949 or e2999, nobody would bother. I'm in production for 30 years now, I know what I'm talking about.
harold1968 said:
harold1968 said:
harold1968 said:
bmcdad said:
Went by a local camera store to pickup another D800 hoping I'll get a properly working body before I send mine back to Nikon for repair. The Salesman told me they received 5 yesterday and were down to 2. I asked to check the cameras before buying and to my surprise both exhibited the same auto focusing issues. I would've spend another 3000 to get a good working D800 but it seems Nikon still chooses to send defective cameras to dealers.. It's time they take responsibility and admit the issue rather than keep selling defective cameras to hard working professionals.

Half a day waisted on this crap...

Making not Taking!

http://www.billmcdad.com
http://www.modelmayhem.com/1270611
Click to expand...
--
Kindest regards.
Stany Buyle
http://www.nikonuser.info

I like better one good picture in a day than 10 bad ones in a second..
Click to expand...
--
Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/

Good shooting and good luck
(after Ed Murrow)
Click to expand...
--
http://www.haroldmiller.me
Click to expand...
--
Kindest regards.
Stany Buyle
http://www.nikonuser.info

I like better one good picture in a day than 10 bad ones in a second..
 
Did you sell it, did they steal it or what ?

lock
 
First, the shop lets this customer open several new unopened cameras, take test shops with each one (putting actuations on the shutter). Then the customer analyzes the results (in the shop?), and proclaims that 2 have defective AF's. (Do they let all, or just some, potential customers come in, open boxes and play with "new" cameras?)

The shop now has 2 less than new-out-of-the-box cameras. So what do they now do with these? Put them back on the shelf and hope the next person finds them to be OK? Check them themselves to confirm this AF problem? Or send them back to Nikon, 2 units of an extremely hot new item that is in short supply (and perhaps their entire inventory if this is a small shop)?

I find these kinds of stories hard to believe ...
 
rhlpetrus said:
stany buyle said:
How did you test those bodies in the shop?
At least on tripod with a professional AF check tool as a target..., or?
Do you have the results still on your CF card? Can you post the results?
Curious...
Click to expand...
+1
rhlpetrus said:
We bought 3 D800's under while(2x D800, 1x D800E), 2 were absolutely perfect, the 3rd one exhibits severe back focusing after serious testing in studio. I have an appointment at Nikon service on Monday morning and I'm convinced it will be perfect by Monday afternoon. Went through the same thing with D7000.
I love Nikon cams but their QC at the end of their production chain sucks.
Click to expand...
I think they always had these AF calibration issues (or just tolerance), now with higher res it became more obvious. My D7000 shows a slight difference left to right.
rhlpetrus said:
bmcdad said:
Went by a local camera store to pickup another D800 hoping I'll get a properly working body before I send mine back to Nikon for repair. The Salesman told me they received 5 yesterday and were down to 2. I asked to check the cameras before buying and to my surprise both exhibited the same auto focusing issues. I would've spend another 3000 to get a good working D800 but it seems Nikon still chooses to send defective cameras to dealers.. It's time they take responsibility and admit the issue rather than keep selling defective cameras to hard working professionals.

Half a day waisted on this crap...

Making not Taking!

http://www.billmcdad.com
http://www.modelmayhem.com/1270611
Click to expand...
--
Kindest regards.
Stany Buyle
http://www.nikonuser.info

I like better one good picture in a day than 10 bad ones in a second..
Click to expand...
--
Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/

Good shooting and good luck
(after Ed Murrow)
Click to expand...
+1
 
lock said:
Did you sell it, did they steal it or what ?
Click to expand...
Had D800 on March 22nd but wanted D800E, the AF of my first D800 was absolutely perfect, with all lenses and with all focus points.

http://www.nikonuser.info/fotoforum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1571&sid=f74db1226b6d0fa278ffccf28dc57286

Got D800E in April, did some tests D800 vs D800E and sold my D800 to a friend.

http://www.nikonuser.info/fotoforum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1624&sid=f74db1226b6d0fa278ffccf28dc57286

http://www.nikonuser.info/fotoforum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1629&sid=f74db1226b6d0fa278ffccf28dc57286

Discovered more moire than expected with D800E, sold it to another friend. Also my D800E was absolutely perfect, no lock ups, no AF issues, no problems at all.

http://www.nikonuser.info/fotoforum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1632&sid=f74db1226b6d0fa278ffccf28dc57286#p4598

http://www.nikonuser.info/fotoforum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1655&p=4596&sid=4fdea8768d6882a2c601cafa4fddfdcc&sid=4fdea8768d6882a2c601cafa4fddfdcc#p4596

Got another D800 two weeks ago. Works fine with AF fine tuning but I prefer a professional AF calibration at Nikon service center.
lock said:
lock
Click to expand...
Kindest regards.
Stany Buyle
http://www.nikonuser.info
 
ne beginner said:
First, the shop lets this customer open several new unopened cameras, take test shops with each one (putting actuations on the shutter). Then the customer analyzes the results (in the shop?), and proclaims that 2 have defective AF's. (Do they let all, or just some, potential customers come in, open boxes and play with "new" cameras?)

The shop now has 2 less than new-out-of-the-box cameras. So what do they now do with these? Put them back on the shelf and hope the next person finds them to be OK? Check them themselves to confirm this AF problem? Or send them back to Nikon, 2 units of an extremely hot new item that is in short supply (and perhaps their entire inventory if this is a small shop)?

I find these kinds of stories hard to believe ...
Click to expand...
It is very easy to see that people are in such a frenzy over this. I am sure the problem exists, but no where near the extent it does on the forum. Lets face it, I don't find what he is saying at all credible, what kind of shop would allow that? There is no way they would and even if they did the test setup says more about the results than the results themselves...
 
When I part with $3300, I want untouched merch, that's for sure.
 
bmcdad said:
Went by a local camera store to pickup another D800 hoping I'll get a properly working body before I send mine back to Nikon for repair. The Salesman told me they received 5 yesterday and were down to 2. I asked to check the cameras before buying and to my surprise both exhibited the same auto focusing issues. I would've spend another 3000 to get a good working D800 but it seems Nikon still chooses to send defective cameras to dealers.. It's time they take responsibility and admit the issue rather than keep selling defective cameras to hard working professionals.

Half a day waisted on this crap...
Click to expand...
A pro would never use the left focus point for wedding, importend is the center and the right one for portraits. I´m working 90% in studio, i have never ever used the left focuspoint for exact focus!
manfred
bmcdad said:
Making not Taking!

http://www.billmcdad.com
http://www.modelmayhem.com/1270611
Click to expand...
--
Pbase supporter, NPS Austria
http://www.studio96.at
 
Manfred Bachmann said:
A pro would never use the left focus point for wedding, importend is the center and the right one for portraits. I´m working 90% in studio, i have never ever used the left focuspoint for exact focus!
manfred
Click to expand...
You are basing this on YOUR photography, I use the LH AF quite a bit as i use just about all the AF points, The D800/E bodies are not just used by wedding and studio photographers

http://www.wildlifeinfocus.com
 
stany buyle said:
Totally agree, but if I would be Nikon production chief, I would do a serious AF check before putting them into the box. That's a 30 minutes procedure if organised well and would add $ 30.00 to the initial wholesale price and eliminate lots of troubles afterwards. Raise the final sales price from €2899 to €2949 or e2999, nobody would bother. I'm in production for 30 years now, I know what I'm talking about.
Click to expand...
yes completely

I feel that even though Canon and Nikon have upped prices they have also reduced costs. even so a good factory test for such an expensive camera is worth it.
At this level reputation is so important
 
Reilly Diefenbach said:
When I part with $3300, I want untouched merch, that's for sure.
Click to expand...
Exactly. First thing I did when I got it from Amazon UK was check the shutter was at 1 after the first photo, which it was. It looked new too, box undamaged, camera mint etc. Just checking that Bill McDad's hands weren't all over it before I decided to keep it...
 
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