Front Focus Fixed (Largish pics)

[greencardigan]

I got a new 50 1.4D in the mail yesterday morning but that's where the good new ends.

Unfortunatly I think the new lens has revealed that my D70 has a front focus problem. The shallow DOF of the 1.4 lens makes it much more noticable than my 18-70.

Anyhow I did a few tests. Couldn't get much out of the standard test sheets so I concocted my own test as follows.

1. I stuck a sheet of text on a wall and set the D70 up on a tripod with a focussing rail.

2. Autofocused on the text, took a frame, then switched to manual focus.

3. Moved camera towards the wall in small increments using the focussing rail. Took a frame at each increment.

Results as seen below. 100% crop of centre of each frame. Shutter speed 1/500s.

What do you think?????

[johnd]

Looks a bit like a focusing issue. And on both lens. What's it ike on the same tests with 18-70? I know it doesn't help, but the D300 enables you to fine tune the focusing for each lens and store the fine tuning in the camera to be automatically used. Might be just what you need to justify a D300.

Cheers
John

[greencardigan]

What's it ike on the same tests with 18-70?

It's hard to tell on the 18-70. The minimum aperture of 3.5 and greater DOF hides anything.

the D300 enables you to fine tune the focusing for each lens and store the fine tuning in the camera to be automatically used. Might be just what you need to justify a D300.

The thought did enter my mind. But I might try a DIY focus adjustment first. I think Onyx adjusted his D70 once.

[greencardigan]

I did another quick test this morning.

This shot was AF on the far end of the brick wall (about 9m away). 50mm f1.4


To me it looks like the focus point is about midway along the wall.

Has anyone had a camera body focus adjusted by Nikon? How do they do it? What does it cost?

[greencardigan]

I just had a chat to a guy at Nikon regarding a focus adjustment. Seems like it would cost around $120.

DIY adjustment here we come.

[MATT]

I think you just need an allen key to do it.. $120 seems steep to do the body or do they calibrate the lens to the body????

MATT

[greencardigan]

The quote was for adjusting the camera body using the hex screws in the camera + checking/testing/confirming the adjustments.

[gstark]

Here's a link to the DIY D70 AF adjustment procedure.

[greencardigan]

Here's a link to the DIY D70 AF adjustment procedure.

That page has been superseded by his new page here..

[greencardigan]

I attempted the DIY adjustment on the weekend.

It was suprisingly easy. Got it almost spot on on the first attempt.

I'd recommend this DIY fix over a trip to Nikon.