Potential AF issues with Nikon D800?

BLK Fuel · Jul 2, 2019

Hi there,

I've been struggling to get sharp pictures with my D800 at wide apertures and I've been through many iterations at trying to figure out the problems. Trying to figure it out has gotten so bad that it has started to affect my mood around shooting at wider apertures.

At first I thought it was poor technique/too much focus/recompose at wide apertures, but even when trying to correct for that I found myself struggling and getting poor results when shooting at anything wider than f/5.6.

I had the camera body serviced by Nikon and I thought everything would have been fixed. I should have run some tests when I got the camera body back, but I didn't and just assumed that I could resume shooting without any issues anymore, but I'm still struggling. Shortly after I got it back I shot some light trails and shaked the camera a lot when doing so, not sure if I shouldn't have done that and if I could have messed up the AF sensor alignment once more when doing that.

Today I did a series of tests and with my Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8G ED I can't seem to be able to get a sharp picture at all at f/2.8 when using an off-center AF point. And that's shooting still life on a tripod with a timer, so camera shake is out of the question. When using the center AF point everything is good and I'm getting a sharp picture. I ran similar tests with my Sigma 105mm macro, and I seem to be getting better results, at its widest aperture of f/3. So maybe it could be something with the 24-70mm going on?

I also bought a lens calibration device to try and figure if my lenses just need calibration. I got the JJC ACA Autofocus Calibration Aid and followed the instructions from this video:

. For both lenses the "0" is what seems most in-focus, which indicates that the lenses don't need to be calibrated. But what's strange to me is that with my 24-70mm I'm getting pictures that are not quite clear when viewed at 100%, even with lens calibration activated in Capture One. Maybe that's just the nature of trying to shoot a target like that with that lens? Like moire or something? I'm attaching pictures of what I'm getting. Even the JJC logo in the corner appears soft. And those calibration tests are done using the center AF point.

If anybody knows if it's normal to get poor AF performance when using an off-center AF point on a D800, that would really help. I'm trying to figure out if it's the way things are and I have to live with that, or if something seems wrong and I should have it get checked again. It's still on a service warranty from the last service date, so I could get it serviced again for free if it's really an issue that can be fixed.

Thanks so much in advance!

Calibration target with Nikkor 24-70mm at f/2.8. Center point AF, camera on a tripod.

Calibration target with Sigma 105mm macro at f/3.2. Center point AF, camera on a tripod.

scokill · Jul 2, 2019

To be honest I wouldn't use a D800 if somebody gave it to me. I didn't own one, but used one off and on for years. Most frustrating camera I've ever used. Most of the time it was great and then it would inexplicably miss focus. My brother finally sold it. FYI, it had been back to Nikon several times.

ormdig · Jul 2, 2019

scokill said:
To be honest I wouldn't use a D800 if somebody gave it to me. I didn't own one, but used one off and on for years. Most frustrating camera I've ever used. Most of the time it was great and then it would inexplicably miss focus. My brother finally sold it. FYI, it had been back to Nikon several times.

I've shot over 100,00 images with different lenses on mine, mostly f/1.4 to f/3.5, depending on the lens and the type of shooting. Always dependable, DOF critically sharp,

scokill · Jul 2, 2019

ormdig said:
scokill said:

To be honest I wouldn't use a D800 if somebody gave it to me. I didn't own one, but used one off and on for years. Most frustrating camera I've ever used. Most of the time it was great and then it would inexplicably miss focus. My brother finally sold it. FYI, it had been back to Nikon several times.

Click to expand...

I've shot over 100,00 images with different lenses on mine, mostly f/1.4 to f/3.5, depending on the lens and the type of shooting. Always dependable, DOF critically sharp,

I'm not doubting others had good luck with it, but there are many who didn't/don't.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread to rant.

For the OP, I would suggest Fine tune and hope for the best. Tuning a zoom is almost impossible unless it's the perfect value for all focal lengths and distances unless you have the sigma dock or the like. Even then the outer points are always going to be less accurate.

Schrodingers_cat · Jul 2, 2019

As I have no access to your equipment the best I can do is a WAG based on personal experience and having read quite a bit about the experience of others. If some disagree their information may be better than mine.

BLK Fuel said:
I shot some light trails and shaked the camera a lot when doing so

I simply can't imagine this causing a problem.

BLK Fuel said:
when using an off-center AF point

Sounds like the rather well reported D800 focus issue using other than the center focus point. Google search for A TON of discussions.

BLK Fuel said:
For both lenses the "0" is what seems most in-focus, which indicates that the lenses don't need to be calibrated.

That would indicate a properly adjusted system.

BLK Fuel said:
But what's strange to me is that with my 24-70mm I'm getting pictures that are not quite clear when viewed at 100%,

Well, at 100% it's not going to be as clear is it would be under normal viewing conditions. That's just how it is.

BLK Fuel said:
even with lens calibration activated in Capture One.

I don't use Capture One, but if "lens calibration activated in Capture One" means what I suspect it means it will have no affect on the issue you are reporting.

The attached photos look fine to me.

BLK Fuel said:
Even the JJC logo in the corner appears soft. And those calibration tests are done using the center AF point.

But it looks better in the center, and that's where you focused.

I am curious however, how did you level the target to make it perpendicular to the lens/target axis? It really needs to be perpendicular, and I see no ballhead on your nightstand to allow such alignment.

BLK Fuel said:
If anybody knows if it's normal to get poor AF performance when using an off-center AF point on a D800

It was for some, but not for all. Some people got Nikon to correct it, some did not. When the issue was first reported some folks conducted quick and dirty tests, believed they had the problem, then did more rigorous test and discovered they didn't know what they were talking about, myself included. Mine worked fine if I tested properly.

You might consider returning it with a complaint referencing the well documented issues they had with other than the center focus point. Sometimes they fixed the problem during service, sometimes they didn't.

What was the reason for the camera being in Nikon Service to begin with? I suspect they would ONLY investigate whatever you originally complained about and not check all the outside focus points.

Nomoreheroes · Jul 5, 2019

scokill said:
ormdig said:

scokill said:

To be honest I wouldn't use a D800 if somebody gave it to me. I didn't own one, but used one off and on for years. Most frustrating camera I've ever used. Most of the time it was great and then it would inexplicably miss focus. My brother finally sold it. FYI, it had been back to Nikon several times.

Click to expand...

I've shot over 100,00 images with different lenses on mine, mostly f/1.4 to f/3.5, depending on the lens and the type of shooting. Always dependable, DOF critically sharp,

Click to expand...

I'm not doubting others had good luck with it, but there are many who didn't/don't.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread to rant.

For the OP, I would suggest Fine tune and hope for the best. Tuning a zoom is almost impossible unless it's the perfect value for all focal lengths and distances unless you have the sigma dock or the like. Even then the outer points are always going to be less accurate.

But you did, my D800 works flawlessly

scokill · Jul 5, 2019

Nomoreheroes said:
scokill said:

ormdig said:

scokill said:

To be honest I wouldn't use a D800 if somebody gave it to me. I didn't own one, but used one off and on for years. Most frustrating camera I've ever used. Most of the time it was great and then it would inexplicably miss focus. My brother finally sold it. FYI, it had been back to Nikon several times.

Click to expand...

I've shot over 100,00 images with different lenses on mine, mostly f/1.4 to f/3.5, depending on the lens and the type of shooting. Always dependable, DOF critically sharp,

Click to expand...

I'm not doubting others had good luck with it, but there are many who didn't/don't.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread to rant.

For the OP, I would suggest Fine tune and hope for the best. Tuning a zoom is almost impossible unless it's the perfect value for all focal lengths and distances unless you have the sigma dock or the like. Even then the outer points are always going to be less accurate.

Click to expand...

But you did, my D800 works flawlessly

Great. Good for you!

nuclearjock69 · Jul 5, 2019

I used to shoot a D800 with the reported "left af point issue". Sent it to Melville and it came back worse than before. Then I read a post on another forum regarding this issue and that it had been fixed by updating to latest firmware release. Seemed bizarre to me but after updating the firmware, the issue was 95% better. I know it sounds strange but that's my suggestion. Make sure you have the latest firmware. Good luck.

j_photo · Jul 5, 2019

Another way to check for lens fine tuning is to compare images focused using live view and others using the optical viewfinder. If there is a significant drop off in sharpness in the latter, AFFT may be needed.

But it sounds like that's not your problem. The center point is always the most accurate in my experience, so some of what you are experiencing may be normal. And it wouldn't surprise me if a 105 macro prime can produce a sharper image than the 24-70 zoom.

It's also possible that there is something going on with the 24-70 lens. In my case, after some years of rough usage and one drop, I sent both my D800 and 24-70 to Nikon. Various repairs and adjustments were made, and the performance of this combo has been much more satisfying since.

Good luck.

rrrremus · Jul 11, 2019

This is exactly the experience i am having with my D800.

Search

Potential AF issues with Nikon D800?

BLK Fuel

New member

Schrodingers_cat

scokill

Veteran Member

ormdig

Senior Member

scokill

Veteran Member

Schrodingers_cat

Guest

Nomoreheroes

Forum Enthusiast

scokill

Veteran Member

nuclearjock69

Well-known member

j_photo

Veteran Member

rrrremus

Well-known member

Keyboard shortcuts