Has the D800 left side focus problem been remided on newer built cameras?

Accretion Disc · Jul 5, 2013

Hi,

Does anyone know if the D800 left side focus problem been remided on newer built cameras?

Did Nikon find & fix the cause so if I buy one now I won't have the same problem?

What about the yellow LCD screen on the back? Has that been fixed?

Lastly, the issue with the print on the buttons rubbing off easily, has that been fixed?

I was hoping these problems would be remedied by Nikon if I waited, but I can't find any info about it.

Thanks,

AD

TOF guy · Jul 7, 2013

elliotn said:
elliotn wrote:

elliotn said:

TOF guy wrote:

We've read no reports of issues recently - or very rarely - means the problem is gone.

Click to expand...

There have been plenty of reports of people having AF issues with cameras bought over the last 6 months.

You should check the facts before you post:

http://www.dpreview.com/search/forums?query=d800+af+issue&page=3&forum=1021
3 independent reports (one a bit different because it affects only when the camera is used with a Sigma lens) regarding mis-calibration with a recently purchased camera in the last 3 months.

elliotn said:
These reports are generally met with scorn or ridicule by the dpreview community.

That has not prevented members of this forum from sharing their negative experiences. Besides feedback regarding mis-calibrated AF sensors have disappeared not just from this forum but from others as well. I challenge you to prove me wrong with a link as I did above.

And to top it all Thom Hogan did state that the problem has been solved.

elliotn · Jul 7, 2013

There have been regular complaints on dpreview about the D800's left AF issue throughout this year. On average, about one a week. Here are 4 from the last 3 weeks:

Today: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51762371

5 days ago: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3510972

1 week ago: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51724982

3 weeks ago: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3504926

A friend and I both purchased D800s in January this year, and both exhibit the left AF issue.

rdrebit · Jul 7, 2013

The lens used was the 24-70 set at 50mm and f2.8. I chose the 50 in this case to illustrate that it was not just a wide angle problem at 24 mm.

TOF guy · Jul 7, 2013

elliotn said:
elliotn wrote:

There have been regular complaints on dpreview about the D800's left AF issue throughout this year. On average, about one a week. Here are 4 from the last 3 weeks:

Today: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51762371

Okay this one

elliotn said:
5 days ago: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3510972

This one is for a camera bought in March 2013, more than 4 months ago.

elliotn said:
1 week ago: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51724982

This one is for a camera bought in May 2012, more than 1 year ago

elliotn said:
3 weeks ago: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3504926

This one okay

You've found only 2 posts related to cameras acquired in the last 3 months.

I rest my case

elliotn said:
A friend and I both purchased D800s in January this year, and both exhibit the left AF issue.

Sorry to read that. The number of reports about D800 with miscalibrated AF had decreased a lot by January 2013 compared to the first months of production, but there were still a few coming in. The number of this type of complains has decreased even further since and is now very rare, as you've proven yourself.

Mr Gadget · Jul 7, 2013

reginalddwight said:
reginalddwight wrote:

I had an issue with an early production copy (S/N 3000XXX) but for all intents and purposes, most newer samples have the left AF issue fixed.

Buy and test for yourself.

D800E - $3300

14-24 f2.8 - $2000

24-70 f2.8 - $1900

$7200 for some of us is a lot of money for a crap shoot as to if the issues that Nikon has never offically acknowledged nor offically notifed anyone that the fix has been implemented. For me I will wait until Nikon announces a D800ES version. Between the D800/E & D600 quality issues and the long delayed D400 I am beging to loose faith in Nikon.

--

Conrad
---------------------------------------------------
Show Low, Arizona

Leonard Shepherd · Jul 8, 2013

elliotn said:
elliotn wrote:

I'm not sure if the volume of chatter on dpreview is a good indicator of the status of the D800's AF problems.

That is a fair comment.

144 out of 144 posting links to images on this forum claiming a fault did not seem to use an AF target likely to confirm the alleged fault. None have explained why, using similar less than ideal testing, some complain of right hand AF problems. Several still seem to believe FoCal is infallible even though Nikon's page 100 guidance explains why it might not be.

If you ignore the volume of chatter on this forum and instead look at the images there is remarkably little evidence using sensible testing that a widespread fault ever existed.

To the OP, do you honestly believe 16 months after launch if there was a fault it was not resolved relatively quickly? If you believe Nikon cannot resolve any initial manufacturing issues quite quickly, switch to Canon

Off topic on the D600 dpreview chatter there has been a thread about 1 speck of dust after 5,000 shots being a fault, and another after 6 months use suggesting dust on the sensor coinciding with a trip to the dusty Death Valley area showed a fault could develop overnight

Some D600 owners, like some D800 owners, seem to have an unreasonable expectation of photographic reality.

Nikon have confirmed on very rare occasions a D600 can have a sensor issue not resolved by normal maintenance by using the sensor clean facility or a rocket blower. Nikon have not said there is any fault with the D800. Maybe when Nikon talk about being within tolerance it is a coded message for read the instruction book and apply what it says before complaining.

--
Leonard Shepherd
Many problems turn out to be a lack of intimate knowledge as to how to get the best out of modern and often complex camera equipment.

ne beginner · Jul 8, 2013

OP joins on July 5, posts about an issues that seems to have largely gone away 8 months or so ago, and never responds to or joins in the discussion he started? And his only other posts are on another thread, one that starts with an outrageous hypothesis on the D600, and which by the way was also a first post by someone who just joined the forum.

There have been a few other first posts recently which follow a similar pattern: new member, first post, old topic regarding largely past problems with the D600 and D800, and disappear. The way these posts revive the topic also seem to follow a consistent approach: a definitive statement that is negative about either camera. The recent D600 "all units have dust and oil" thread comes to mind as an example.

Not saying these are coordinated, or all are trolls, but it does seem interesting at least. If I were a more skeptical type, I might wonder if someone might have an agenda of keeping some negative subjects alive?

elliotn · Jul 8, 2013

TOF guy said:
TOF guy wrote:

TOF guy said:

elliotn wrote:

A friend and I both purchased D800s in January this year, and both exhibit the left AF issue.

Click to expand...

Sorry to read that. The number of reports about D800 with miscalibrated AF had decreased a lot by January 2013 compared to the first months of production, but there were still a few coming in. The number of this type of complains has decreased even further since and is now very rare, as you've proven yourself.

--
Thierry - posted as regular forum member

Well, I hope you're right, as I'll be forced to buy a new D800 when I send my current one for service later this summer.

PHXAZCRAIG · Jul 8, 2013

Gosman said:
Gosman wrote:

Gosman said:

TOF guy wrote:

Bottom line: problem solved.

Conclusion: there is no reason to be concerned about these issues and they should not stop your from buying a D800 or D800e today.

Click to expand...

CFynn · Jul 8, 2013

Gosman said:
Gosman wrote:

Gosman said:

TOF guy wrote:

Bottom line: problem solved.

Conclusion: there is no reason to be concerned about these issues and they should not stop your from buying a D800 or D800e today.

--
Thierry - posted as regular forum member

Click to expand...

Who the heck are you to say problem solved?! Hopefully some real life people will respond to this and let us know if your 2013 D800 has given you problems.

My D800(e), purchased in March, does not have the "left-af issue", the "green LCD issue" - or any other problem. Anything wrong with the photos it takes are down to the person using it.

TOF guy · Jul 8, 2013

elliotn said:
elliotn wrote:

Well, I hope you're right, as I'll be forced to buy a new D800 when I send my current one for service later this summer.

Please let us now how it goes - good or bad - good luck

rdrebit · Jul 16, 2013

The second camera I received was supposed to have come from Japan and I did wait two weeks for it to arrive after Nikon agreed to replace the first D800. It arrived as mentioned earlier just a few weeks ago.

Testing by Reikan revealed the following which falls in line with DotTune values and real life photos. On the other hand I used the D800 as a backup (to a 5D2) at a wedding and used center and right points only with very good results, so I am torn about sending it back to Nikon.

24-70mm@24mm centre

24-70mm@24mm right

24-70mm@24mm left

onasj · Jul 16, 2013

I just posted a report today on a new D800E with the problem, which was replaced by a new D800E WITHOUT the problem. Both were serial numbers ending in 13XXX. The difference was striking.

I'll point out that even in cases in which the leftmost AF point is defective, the D800/E is still arguably the best DSLR for studio and landscape work in existence

Gosman · Jul 29, 2013

onasj said:
onasj wrote:

I just posted a report today on a new D800E with the problem, which was replaced by a new D800E WITHOUT the problem. Both were serial numbers ending in 13XXX. The difference was striking.

I'll point out that even in cases in which the leftmost AF point is defective, the D800/E is still arguably the best DSLR for studio and landscape work in existence

Oh my! Over a year and a half after I published my famous "Guinea Pig" note, we are still having problems with the D800! When will Nikon publish a report on the problem/issue! Meanwhile I continue to read this thread occasionally to see how the Guinea Pigs are doing!

CFynn · Jul 29, 2013

elliotn said:
elliotn wrote:

A friend and I both purchased D800s in January this year, and both exhibit the left AF issue.

I bought one in March and it doesn't have a problem.

studio460 · Aug 3, 2013

What are the US serial numbers of those who recently purchased D800E US bodies (August 2013)? Approximately, at which serial number series did the "fix" take place at Nikon? I just received a D800E which appears to focus properly in all quadrants, S/N: 3012XXX. (My first D800E was S/N: 3002XXX.)

RudivanS · Aug 4, 2013

PHXAZCRAIG said:
PHXAZCRAIG wrote:

PHXAZCRAIG said:

Gosman wrote:

PHXAZCRAIG said:

TOF guy wrote:

Bottom line: problem solved.

Conclusion: there is no reason to be concerned about these issues and they should not stop your from buying a D800 or D800e today.

--
Thierry - posted as regular forum member

Click to expand...

Who the heck are you to say problem solved?! Hopefully some real life people will respond to this and let us know if your 2013 D800 has given you problems.

Click to expand...

I trust Thom Hogan's writings.

MY D800e, purchased in March 2013, is fine.

--
Craig
www.cjcphoto.net

Yes, just got my D800E body new a few days ago and all seems fine.

Australian serial number - 8017***

--
Rudi - freelancer
'15 years in bladerunner Tokyo - back in sunny Sydney now'

Onetrack97 · Aug 4, 2013

Mine never had it. Ordered the first day available.

The complaints seemed to have diminished lately.

Has the D800 left side focus problem been remided on newer built cameras?

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