D7100 - yes, the saga of the left AF issue continues.

steras · Mar 20, 2013

I've tested the D7100 over the last few days and it is a cracking camera.

The 1.3 crop mode is great, AF is really fast and the files (even at higher ISOs) really, really good.

But, it does suffer from the dreaded left side AF misalignment. I have ample experience judging AF performance and do not think I am dreaming this up.

I noticed this during real life shooting outside and wanted to quantify the error when back home.

I used the Datacolor Spyder LensCal target and repeated the tests at least 20 times on each sensor, defocusing the lens (50/1.4G @ f/1.4) between shots. The exact same AF test using my D800 with the same lens shows good left-centre-right behaviour. Light source was dual daylight led lamps. I did test this with AF fine tuning set OFF, ON (0) and ON (-5).

Here is a good representation of the 20+ shots:

steras · Mar 20, 2013

Just back from my dealer and testing another D7100 showed good AF performance.

Conclusion: Always test before buying

dfstarman · Mar 20, 2013

how can you test this in a store?

Can you describe the procedure?

Thanks

steras · Mar 20, 2013

dfstarman said:
how can you test this in a store?

Can you describe the procedure?

Thanks

You simply focus on a good flat target and observe axial chromatic aberrations for each of the focus points. Magenta halo = backfocus, green halo = front focus. I set potential AF fine tune for the centre point first, then proceed to check the outer ones.

This is of course not so easy for true APO lenses but those are few and far apart and often in non-AF versions ;-)

toomanycanons · Mar 20, 2013

Boy, that's a relief to hear that. I was afraid the D7100 was going to ship without any "issues".

rska2013 · Mar 20, 2013

what are you a freakin engineer ? you know way to much ...please test my copy cause i aint that smart

mypobox · Mar 20, 2013

steras said:
Just back from my dealer and testing another D7100 showed good AF performance.

Conclusion: Always test before buying

can u post the new results please

jonrobertp · Mar 20, 2013

steras said:
I've tested the D7100 over the last few days and it is a cracking camera.

The 1.3 crop mode is great, AF is really fast and the files (even at higher ISOs) really, really good.

But, it does suffer from the dreaded left side AF misalignment. I have ample experience judging AF performance and do not think I am dreaming this up.

I noticed this during real life shooting outside and wanted to quantify the error when back home.

I used the Datacolor Spyder LensCal target and repeated the tests at least 20 times on each sensor, defocusing the lens (50/1.4G @ f/1.4) between shots. The exact same AF test using my D800 with the same lens shows good left-centre-right behaviour. Light source was dual daylight led lamps. I did test this with AF fine tuning set OFF, ON (0) and ON (-5).

Here is a good representation of the 20+ shots:

Well, this gives Nikon 2 mo. to fix it before the Canon 70D hits the shelves.

SHood · Mar 20, 2013

jonrobertp said:
jonrobertp said:

I've tested the D7100 over the last few days and it is a cracking camera.

The 1.3 crop mode is great, AF is really fast and the files (even at higher ISOs) really, really good.

But, it does suffer from the dreaded left side AF misalignment. I have ample experience judging AF performance and do not think I am dreaming this up.

I noticed this during real life shooting outside and wanted to quantify the error when back home.

I used the Datacolor Spyder LensCal target and repeated the tests at least 20 times on each sensor, defocusing the lens (50/1.4G @ f/1.4) between shots. The exact same AF test using my D800 with the same lens shows good left-centre-right behaviour. Light source was dual daylight led lamps. I did test this with AF fine tuning set OFF, ON (0) and ON (-5).

Here is a good representation of the 20+ shots:

Click to expand...

Well, this gives Nikon 2 mo. to fix it before the Canon 70D hits the shelves.

Not sure how another 2 months will get this resolved since the D800 has had this issue since it starting shipping a year ago.

mistermejia · Mar 20, 2013

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BobDeWilde · Mar 20, 2013

steras said:
Just back from my dealer and testing another D7100 showed good AF performance.

Conclusion: Always test before buying

Thank you for testing for this issue and posting the results! I'm extremely relieved that the second copy was OK.

I think I'll gather all my courage and go and buy one tomorrow... I'm upgrading from D40, so D7100 seems perfect for me: it doubles the resolution, has sophisticated AF system and much better high ISO image quality.

lordbeau · Mar 20, 2013

Sadly, my new D7100, which I was enjoying so much, has left AF problems. Middle and right are fine, but towards and especially at the far left, it backfocuses. I have tried this with several lenses and they’re all the same. My D300s does not have this problem.

Rather than deal with Nikon Customer Service AGAIN, I shall return the camera as it is still within a week and this will be, “Bye, bye, Nikon” unless I have somehow messed up my testing.

However, the fact that it is so obvious with the D7100 and non-existent on the D300s is a bad sign, plus I saw another thread with similar.

<SIGH>

<DEPRESSED>

Otherwise, the D7100 was great (apart from the RAW buffer)....

rhlpetrus · Mar 20, 2013

BobDeWilde said:
BobDeWilde said:

Just back from my dealer and testing another D7100 showed good AF performance.

Conclusion: Always test before buying

Click to expand...

Thank you for testing for this issue and posting the results! I'm extremely relieved that the second copy was OK.

I think I'll gather all my courage and go and buy one tomorrow... I'm upgrading from D40, so D7100 seems perfect for me: it doubles the resolution, has sophisticated AF system and much better high ISO image quality.

Unless you really use a lot dynamic 51pt AF, this left AF point issue is not really relevant. Besides this, this camera should be stellar.

carauction · Mar 20, 2013

I own lens align. Just tested my 35 F/1.8 very thoroughly . I tested the center, and two over to the left and two over to the right. Took some real world shots as well. I did not adjust AF Fine tune yet. It appears like all shots are pretty much the same, perhaps all front focusing very minutely if anything...but all pretty much the same.

I was a bit surprised though, on a couple of shots the camera misfocused very bad

I guess reluctantly, I will have to test a few more points;-).

Mike

jonrobertp · Mar 20, 2013

carauction said:
I own lens align. Just tested my 35 F/1.8 very thoroughly . I tested the center, and two over to the left and two over to the right. Took some real world shots as well. I did not adjust AF Fine tune yet. It appears like all shots are pretty much the same, perhaps all front focusing very minutely if anything...but all pretty much the same.

I was a bit surprised though, on a couple of shots the camera misfocused very bad

I guess reluctantly, I will have to test a few more points;-).

Mike

I suspect Nikon may not have completely fixed everything from the D7k....sad...and leaves me just a bit leary.

thx guys for reporting your findings.

Snapshotx7 · Mar 20, 2013

Well, I had originally tested all my lenses (18-200mm, 35mm, 85mm, 17-50mm, and 70-200mm) with just the center point and everything turned out perfect. After reading this post, I decided to test every AF point.

The result? All points focused perfected on what I was point at. Nikon has passed the Day 5 test.

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D7100 - yes, the saga of the left AF issue continues.

steras

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steras

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dfstarman

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steras

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toomanycanons

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rska2013

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mypobox

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jonrobertp

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SHood

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