D70 Focus

[Elliot]

Is anybody experiencing focus problems with the D70. Soft images, lack of crispy clear - sharp focus? Have you ran any of the focus tests with any of the Nikon digital cameras, specially the D70 or D2X.

 

Elliot

[derijones]

Elliot

No problems here that I can see - the autofocus doesn't seem as good as my old F601 for getting a positive lock with a Nikon 24-85 lens, though. What lens are you using?

Email me a RAW image and I'll compare it with one from mine if you like.

Regards

Deri

[Jape]

I dont know when you have bought the camera but its a known fact that some early d70 productions has an 'back focussing' issue that, i must underline, only was a problem with a small percentage of the produced cameras.

 

Quote from a site concerning this issue

 

The D70

 

Although this test was originally devised in response to the back focus issue that manifest in some Nikon D70 cameras, it can be used to check any camera.

 

Human nature is such that when we’re happy with a new toy we tend to simply enjoy it quietly but, if our new toy gives us grief, we want to tell everyone who’ll listen. And some who won’t.

 

So, in evaluating Internet discussions on the back focus issue, one has to be careful not to be misled into believing that every D70 suffers from back focus just because it’s a hot topic.

 

The truth is that only a minority of D70s have been faulty in this regard. The majority work just fine.

 

I copy pasted this alinea from a site that is about this issue, go to the link and youll find a test that will help you see if it really is the 'back focus issue'

 

Link -->

http://md.co.za/d70/chart.html

 

[Off-topic]I have just got the d70 for about a week now and i must say i truly love it. Lots of customizable options and really nice colors compared to my last (lowbudget) ixxus camera. Am just about to try some night shots at the beach [off-topic]

[Jeff Mottle]

Hey Elliot, my D70 is fine. The only time I have focus issues it when I mess up.

[Elliot]

Deri and Jape,

 

 

Thanks for the response. I bought my unit 10 months ago. I have done the test you mentioned and I have a small amount of backfocus. Nikon refuses to admit it and they will not issue a return authorization.

 

From the begining I identifed the problem but I did blame myself. Now I am almost sure it is not me but Nikon doesn't want to admit it. There is lot of people having problems now with the D2X. Look into this site http://www.nikonians.org/

 

The workflow I am using is the following:

 

1. Set the camera on shutter (or apperture) priority. Preferably

Aperture Priority

2. Set the Automatic Focus

3. Disable the closest-subject priority

4. Set AF-C or AF-S ? Preferably AF-S if the object is not moving

5. Set metering on Center Weight or Dynamic ? Preferably spot

6. Set WB.. Automatic or measure with the light meter and set it

correctly

7. Make sure I have low ISO selection

 

 

Do you have any suggestions....?

 

I have the 18-70mm DX, the 60mm DX, the 10.5 mm Fisheye DX, 12-24mm DX. I have done the test with all except the fisheye and I get the same results I am attaching the test results....

 

Thank you again for your response

 

Elliot

[Jape]

It actually looks good to me, if you had problem with the backfocus bug, i think the focus would have shifted more to the back as normal the focusrange is 1/3 in front of the focuspoint en 2/3 behind it. Maybe decrease the DOF (set it to Aperture mode and pick lowest f-stop number)to a maximum and try again, if the center focuspoint on the page is still in focus and not to much shifted i think you are ok.

[Elliot]

Jape,

 

Thanks for your response. I am going to try tomorrow morning. I am confused with this thing.

 

Thanks

Elliot

[Ballistician]

Is anybody experiencing focus problems with the D70. Soft images, lack of crispy clear - sharp focus? Have you ran any of the focus tests with any of the Nikon digital cameras, specially the D70 or D2X.

 

Elliot

The photographs I take demand clarity!; this D-70 is the biggest disappointment. I have an N-90S, 35mm that gives me spectacular clarity with a 60mm macro, 1:2.8 D nikkor lense. I expected the same from this at 6 mp let alone the 12 mp raw. I have come close throwing it several times, but the $1350.00 sticks me you know where. By the way Elliot, I have tried everything, all in vain. My coolpix 3100 (before it was stolen) gave me much clearer photos in everything from landscape to macro.

 

I emailed Nikon; I sent them photo samples; they didn't even respond. I am very frustrated! Michael

[vizwhiz]

hi There Elliot

 

This is slightly Off Topic but it might be somewhat useful or Interesting Info

 

http://www.photo.net/learn/poormansis/

 

**

 

The Poor Man's IS, by Richard Harris

 

**

 

a brief quote

 

....

 

"The technique itself is very simple: simply compose your image in the viewfinder and take a series of consecutive frames – as many as your camera will allow or is economical. On my 10D I take a burst of nine frames. Now while this may sound simple to the point of being totally obvious, there is a twist. My handholding technique is fairly poor, I can barely use the 1/focal length rule and have in fact resorted to shooting a least a stop higher than this “rule” in the past after discovering that any less would sometimes result in soft photos in my case, as clearly my technique is lacking.

 

However after trying out the method outlined above I have not only been able to get consistently great results at the 1/focal length setting, but in fact can also get very good results two or more stops slower, which is comparable to the results people have been getting with IS lenses – but without IS and with all types of lenses, including the shorter focal lengths that IS isn’t designed to cater for. As an aside I have found that the 1/focal length rule doesn’t seem to be affected by the DSLR cropping factor, in my case anyway."

 

....

 

all Text by Richard Harris

 

**

 

just some etc info

 

i am going to get a D-SLR sometime (maybe Next Year at Tax Time)

 

Randy

 

d*mn i am bored Today i am still waiting for something to do at work

it is already after 11:00, so Today = Play Day (got to find something to do)

[Elliot]

Michael and Randy,

 

Thanks very much for the response. I am on a trip. I am in Cleveland on my way to Columbus, Ohio.

 

The camera issue is one of the most frustrating things I have at this momment. Some of my photos are very clear and crispy and other are very fuzzy.

 

I spent several hours today with a friend that has a Canon and he showed me some photos that look similar to my Nikon. I think the technology is simply not there right now....!

 

I am not happy witht the D70..... many people are un-happy with the D2X. I have tried everything, I am almost sure it is not me.....!

 

See you

Elliot

[nuno]

hi elliot,

i have a d70 for 12 months now.... i seem to had the same focus problem you have, not too often though... maybe 10 or 15 % percent of my shots didnt focus correctly, and perhaps 30% of those shots were my mistake.

anyway, i updated the firmware to 2.0 (A and B), and all focus problems seems to disapeared. D70 is focusing faster (you will notice this for sure) and from +/- 150 photos i took with this new firmware, not even one photo was out of focus, not even slightly. (although, i cant asure you that´s because of firmware, but all points to that).

 

i strongly advise you to update your firmware.

 

good luck,

nuno