I thought it might be interesting to see how many people do or don't use the AF fine tune feature and why, since the use and test methods are nearly a religious endeavor.
Myself, I turn it off in both my D4 and D800E and get great results with four different lenses, three 1.4's and a 2.8. My results when turning AF fine tune on and calibrating, or far more erratic than with it off. I think Nikon is right in warning not to turn it on unless you have a specific problem.
Same here. I have one lens(Sigma 50) that needs some adjustment, probably only noticable because of the thin DOF. Most of my primes don't really need adjustment, and the FineTune is pretty useless with a zoom lens.
Oct 13, 2012 at 02:42 PM
Andre Labonte Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
To each his own re: "fine tune" 5 bodies (4 capable) with 9 lenses. Zero AF fine tune on any.
Lucky, perhaps....I dunno. I shoot, I sell. Not measurebating has set me free to enjoy my craft.
Creative Edge wrote:
I shoot, I sell, I fine tune :-)
Yet, I didn't have to fine tune the 200 f2 VR I bought from you...just sayin'
(and if you're gonna use "I shoot, I sell" ya owe me a beer)
My D200 is perfect with my 24-70 and 70-200 lenses. It doesn't have AF adjustment.
My D800 needs -14 for the central sensor on my 24-70; but the right and especially left is too bad. The camera needs a repair.
It is pretty simple to check if a lens/body combo needs to be AF fine tuned. It's not like it's on or off, you either adjust + or - to fine tune the AF or you don't. Different lenses may require different adjustments and some none at all, even when they are all used on the same body.
You can make it complicated with gadgets and/or software if you want to, but there are some pretty simple ways to test for it.
I used the method in this link and discovered my D7000 / 17-55 f 2.8 combo still slightly back focused even with the AF Fine Tune at -20. It also contains a good explanation of how AF sensors work.
I sent the combo to Nikon for callibration. I am glad to have the feature available.
I did a ridiculous amount of shots with every lens I had with a d7000.Found plus 15 is the sweet spot on my 300 f4 but the other lens needed nothing..go figure.Anyway camera remembers the lens and applies a plus 15 and it is stupid sharp now. Doug M
5 bodies (4 capable) with 9 lenses. Zero AF fine tune on any.
