D800 sharpness test with various lenses - advice please

[mmmmmmmm]

informal test set-up

I have not been happy with a D800 that I purchased a year ago last July. So I would like some advice as to what you might do for a course of action.

Cameras used in test D700(for comparison) and a D800(serial #3020681)

Lenses used during informal test. 50mmf1.4D, 85mmf1.4D, 24-70f2.8, 70-200f2.8VRII, and 105f2.8 macro. All Nikon lenses

NOW THE TEST I set up in a staggered pattern, three identical boxes with the same printing on the side. The camera was on a tripod. Focus was on the center red box. I zoomed in on the LCD to check sharpness. Since I do 90% portraits, I used the lenses at my normal portrait distances. I checked all the above lenses with normal focus and live view. Here are the values I found with the D800 using normal focus, not live view. These values let me focus sharp on the center box.

50mmf1.4D +20 85mmf1.4D +10 24-70f2.8(at70mm) +5

70-200f2.8VRII(at 200mm) +0 105mmf2.8 macro +0

With the D800 and D700, all lenses were shot wide open as I am doing a lot of my portraits with a very shallow depth of field.

With the D700, all lenses were sharp except for the 50mmf1.4D which showed a slight front focus shooting at f1.4. This lens will go.

Since two of the lenses on the D800 required no fine tuning, I am not so sure that there is something wrong with the D800. The 50mm lens concerns me - I am probably going to get rid of it. The Question is should I get ride of the D800?

I know my testing procedure is pretty crude but I think it is a good indication as to its performance. WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE ME ABOUT THE D800?

respectfully,

David Miller

PS this camera has been back to Nikon twice and both times Nikon said that the focus was good!

 

[elliotn]

You haven't explained what the problem is.

 

[ScottnLaguna]

Sometimes it is the lens.

My 70-200vr2 was driving me crazy w/D800. Nikon service took both to calibrate and told me lens was decentered, which they fixed. Before -15 now 0. Brand new, decentered. Go figure. Roger Cicila from LensRentals has a good article on lens variation. It is understandable that some folks buy 3 lenses and return two. I haven't but it makes sense.

 

[BFab]

Just a thought, why have your subject (the boxes) on an angle and have the camera tilted down at them. I think you have made it impossible for the camera to decide what to focus on as even the focus point's small size will still have a variance in its field of view.

A better way may be to have a flat subject and the camera perfectly centered and level.

 

[mmmmmmmm]

I took the posted picture in a way that showed the boxes better. The camera was level and on center with the boxes.

david millerl

 

[elliotn]

You still haven't explained what the problem is.

 

[David314]

informal test set-up

Since two of the lenses on the D800 required no fine tuning, I am not so sure that there is something wrong with the D800. The 50mm lens concerns me - I am probably going to get rid of it. The Question is should I get ride of the D800?

I know my testing procedure is pretty crude but I think it is a good indication as to its performance. WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE ME ABOUT THE D800?

So the problem is?

i am guessing the d800 doesn't look as sharp as you expect?

if it was a focus issue your test setup would show that, is it a focus issue?

the image able appears to be front focused

i don't think any lens is at its best wide open, try hour test with f4 or f5

there is four reasons your images might not be as sharp as you want

1. Camera subject movement, could be the tripod, or mirror slap

2. Focus, and your test will show if it back or front focuses

3. Lens and that includes aperture

4 processing, including sharpening

so what is the problem That you are experiencing.?

 

[mmmmmmmm]

It is obvious from what I posted that I have had problems taking sharp portraits with my D800.

With 38 years as a full time photographer, owning several dozen cameras over the years, the D800 is the ONLY camera that I have owned that I have problems getting sharp focus.

What I was doing was adjusting the fine tuning of each lens so that I can take SHARP pictures with the lens wide open or very close to wide open. I want shallow depth of field. I was wanting some feedback from other D800 owners to tell me if my fine tuning adjustments are in the same ball park as their camera.

respectfully,

David Miller

 

[michaeladawson]

I took the posted picture in a way that showed the boxes better. The camera was level and on center with the boxes.

david millerl

I don't know how you can say the camera was level unless you cropped the photo that was posted. It seems clear that you did not have the camera level with the middle of the boxes. With the camera level you should lower the tripod until the center focus point is pointed at the text on the center box.

Given the fine tune numbers you posted there is nothing wrong with your camera. I would agree with Nikon support that your camera is within tolerances. The 50mm lens may need adjustment, however.

 

[elliotn]

It is obvious from what I posted that I have had problems taking sharp portraits with my D800.

No, that wasn't obvious.

What I was doing was adjusting the fine tuning of each lens so that I can take SHARP pictures with the lens wide open or very close to wide open. I want shallow depth of field.

So, did that solve your problem?

I was wanting some feedback from other D800 owners to tell me if my fine tuning adjustments are in the same ball park as their camera.

Fine tuning figures will be specific to individual lenses and bodies.

 

[David314]

What I was doing was adjusting the fine tuning of each lens so that I can take SHARP pictures with the lens wide open or very close to wide open. I want shallow depth of field. I was wanting some feedback from other D800 owners to tell me if my fine tuning adjustments are in the same ball park as their camera.

respectfully,

David Miller

those numbers look about the norm and yes, if a lens is that far out like the 50mm I would wonder about

are you using the latest firmware? The firmware issued a few months after the d800 was released seem to improve change the focus and resultant calibration

if you get sharp picture in live view and not with the pdaf, then it would seem the issue is the focus system or lens

 

[InTheMist]

What I was doing was adjusting the fine tuning of each lens so that I can take SHARP pictures with the lens wide open or very close to wide open. I want shallow depth of field. I was wanting some feedback from other D800 owners to tell me if my fine tuning adjustments are in the same ball park as their camera.

Yes, my D800 requires extensive tuning on all my lenses. Sharp ears when the focus box was on the eye - extensive. I tuned and (mostly) forgot.

New Dƒ isn't that way. Now that I have another FX camera, I'm thinking of sending the D800 back for adjustment.

 

[Art Jacks]

I have seldom found the printing on cardboard boxes to be of high enough quality to judge the sharpness of a lens, some laser prints of a page of text may be a better option for a target.

 

[Trazan]

informal test set-up

With the D700, all lenses were sharp except for the 50mmf1.4D which showed a slight front focus shooting at f1.4.

Are you comparing the D800 downscaled to D700 size? Comparing 100% to the much greater magnification of the D800 would make no sense.

The focus is on the very top edge of the middle box, very narrow. Hard to judge from a couple of centimeters on a cardboard box at ISO 1250 with a wide open lens. You're testing lenses and/or AF this way...not the resolution/sharpness the D800 is capable of.

 

[olyflyer]

If you want to test your camera AF there are several things you have to do better.

1. Test AF in very good light, use daylight only

2. Use ISO100

3. Use the right WB and exposure

3. Don't take test images in an angle. ...and that should read DON´T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

4. Use a steady tripod

5. Set Priority to focus

6. Use a wire or radio remote, or the self timer

7. Single fixed AF point

8. Use a target which gives you focus confirmation 100% of the time

9. Always reset the lens to one end or the other between every image

10. Don't use the AF assist light of a flash. ...and that should read DON´T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

11. Read this page before start

All of the above are VERY important, especially if you suspect there is something wrong with your camera or lenses.

You have started at least one other thread about your problems, do you think this will result in any different manner? I think the problem is the way you are using your camera. It is just simply too much for you, or you have got buyers remorse. The D800 is winning over the D700 in EVERY aspect. I don't think there is anything wrong with yours, other than you don't know how to handle it.

Using ISO1250 for AF test is pointless. The camera applies NR and that will always reduce the resolution. Comparing with the D700 is pointless as well, unless you know how to compare the images.

About your lenses:

50mmf1.4D is old, it has been replaced by the 50/1.4G and that lens is fantastinc in my opinion. Very nice wide open as well.

85mmf1.4D is old as well and has been replaced by the G, not only because of the AF motor but most probably also for the IQ.

24-70f2.8 Several other people reported AF issues with that lens, I have no idea, I don't have it.

70-200f2.8VRII is supposed to be nice, especially regarding sharpness but I don't have this lens.

105f2.8 macro. Is that a D or a G? I have the G and is wonderful on the D800, but it is my understanding that the D isn't that great.

All in all, I think you should sell the D800. You are happy with the D700 using those lenses, so what is the point in keeping the D800? After all, you have not been happy with that camera ever since you got it over a year ago. Not that I understand how you could live with that camera for so long...

 

[olyflyer]

It is obvious from what I posted that I have had problems taking sharp portraits with my D800.

No, that was not obvious at all, because as far as I remember...

With 38 years as a full time photographer, owning several dozen cameras over the years, the D800 is the ONLY camera that I have owned that I have problems getting sharp focus.

...in that other thread you admitted that you were a "little too sloppy with" you focusing with this camera. Having 38 years of experience does not make you immune against mistakes. Having had many cameras makes no difference at all, I bet none of the cameras you had was as advanced as the D800. Perhaps you have reached your personal limit. I don't know, but certainly somebody with 38 years of experience, which you gladly pointed out even in that other thread, should in my opinion not have such problems and should know how to test the camera and exclude lens issues, and should be able to see if there is really something wrong with the camera or not.

What I was doing was adjusting the fine tuning of each lens so that I can take SHARP pictures with the lens wide open or very close to wide open.

...and did it help?

I want shallow depth of field.

Fine, but most of these don't indicate that statement. However, in some of those you have used ridiculously small aperture and most are stopped down. Why would you suddenly want shallow DOF when you did not need it before? Anyway, accurate focus doesn't really have anything to do with narrow DOF, but of course, inaccurate AF is easier to see with narrow DOF.

I was wanting some feedback from other D800 owners to tell me if my fine tuning adjustments are in the same ball park as their camera.

So what do you expect us to tell you? How can we tell you if your values are fine unless we test your equipment? Each camera and each lens is individual. I have not tuned my camera because my lenses don't require any tuning, but there is no way to tell you that your values are right or wrong. If you are happy with the results then they are right, but apparently you are not happy with your camera, so the values may be wrong, there can be something wrong with your lenses or the camera as well, or a combination of all.

Anyway, Nikon told you that your camera is fine, and I am sorry, but I believe Nikon more than I believe you. They have more than 38 years experience, have handled more cameras than you can ever dream about and employ competent people who really know how to test and tune a camera. I don't believe in conspiracy and don't think that they don't know what they are talking about or that they are lying to you. The problem is that you don't seem to believe anyone except yourself and those who support you in your worries.

 

[Stujomo]

I can get super sharp shots with my D800 like this.







Picture found in the picture.







100% crop





but as with all AF systems it will miss some times.

--
Stuart...

http://sjmphotography.carbonmade.com/

SJM Photography

A blog for my personal photography

sjmphotography.wordpress.com

 

[Stujomo]

You should be able to get sharp shots with a D800 without having to down sample to D700 sizes.

It might be worth stopping down if you are shooting wide open. Somewhere something is going wrong if you constantly find it hard to get sharp shots. With portraits it could be the subject moving a few centimeters after you have focused. If you are shooting handheld are you 100% sure that your stance doesn't change or your balance of weight from front foot to back foot from focusing to shooting. All little things show up with a 36mp DSLR much more than with a 12mp DSLR.

 

[snellius]

I think, this is not one of his test pictures but a picture of the setup.

 

[snellius]

What have you done to prevent it set the focus on the glasses frame?