Certainly a tough one. It may be a software issue, such as a memory leak that causes the processor to clean up the data garbage. The clean up process takes computational power that cannot be used for image processing. With new processors and new RAM layout, the program layer close to hardware may have changed, messing up communication with the more abstracted program layers. Maybe the D6 is waiting for some signal from the lens longer than the D5 does, or has a lower accuracy threshold?
It would be helpful to see if other D6/800mm combinations have the same problem.
Another approach would be to look if the characteristics of the issue change when you set the lens to manual focus, or change from focus to release button priority, or vary other setting on the lens and/or the camera.
Have you checked the row of connectors on the lens to see if there is movement, could be a poor connection slowing the instruction to close down the aperture.
Must ask what shutter speed, sorry.
Thanks for the reply.. yes I have tried other 800mm's same issue..
Nikon says to change out the power board to the D5 one? Not sure if thats the answer. I think it may be a power issue?
Thanks for your help I will try your suggestions and see what happens.
Kurt
AcuteShadows wrote:
Certainly a tough one. It may be a software issue, such as a memory leak that causes the processor to clean up the data garbage. The clean up process takes computational power that cannot be used for image processing. With new processors and new RAM layout, the program layer close to hardware may have changed, messing up communication with the more abstracted program layers. Maybe the D6 is waiting for some signal from the lens longer than the D5 does, or has a lower accuracy threshold?
It would be helpful to see if other D6/800mm combinations have the same problem.
Another approach would be to look if the characteristics of the issue change when you set the lens to manual focus, or change from focus to release button priority, or vary other setting on the lens and/or the camera. ...Show more →
Any shutter speed.. I will check the connectors, but it happened with a friends 800mm so i'm pretty sure its not the glass. I need to find a friend with a D6 and try theirs.
Thanks again for your help I will check and clean the connectors.
Kurt
TimMunsey wrote:
Have you checked the row of connectors on the lens to see if there is movement, could be a poor connection slowing the instruction to close down the aperture.
Must ask what shutter speed, sorry.
Did you try the D6 at the same fps rate as you used on the D5? If the D6 cannot match the D5's speed for stopped-down shooting, it could be a glitch.
It could be that 14 fps requires faster aperture operation than the lens is capable of.
Did you try other lenses, and did they have a similar effect or is it specific to the 800?
I would continue to be in contact with Nikon about it. It would be great if you can test another copy of the camera or ask Nikon to do so, to confirm whether it is an issue with the specific body or generally the D6.
I rarely stop down my f/5.6 tele for action subjects because to get acceptable shutter speeds and ISO, usually I need to shoot wide open. However, sometimes more depth of field is needed.
Thanks! Yes to all of that I tried every possible solution.. Tested it with D5, Z7, D500, D850 and with other lenses. Its only the 800mm.
Been in contact with Nikon so many times, not real help. Need to find the right person at Nikon!
Anyone have any good Nikon contacts? at this point i'm at a loss..
Thanks for your help.
Kurt
ilkka_nissila wrote:
Did you try the D6 at the same fps rate as you used on the D5? If the D6 cannot match the D5's speed for stopped-down shooting, it could be a glitch. I would be in contact with Nikon about it.
It could be that 14 fps requires faster aperture operation than the lens is capable of.
Did you try other lenses, and did they have a similar effect or is it specific to the 800?
Is it the fl or the older gen 800mm?? I know someone who has a d6 with a 800mm. I could ask her if she has a problem. She has the older version 800mm not the fl 800mm
I have a new D6 and picked up a slightly used 800mm 5.6.
Shooting wide open I get full 14 fps.. If I go to 7.1 or any other fstop the fps slows way down?
I have tried my D5 and its fine no slow down.. Called Nikon and where I purchased the 800 from and nobody seems to know why.
Anyone have this issue or even heard of it?
Thanks for any help!
Kurt
I have same problem with my D6 and 800f5.6 fl. Even I have noticed same slow down issue with 600 f4 plus1.4 extender. Also with 180-400 extender engaged.
I have other issues with D6. in continous mode, camera is just refusing to acquire initial focusing in Group or d9 while bird is doing across or coming toward me. Using 3d to initial focus and then switching to d9.
battery is also issue, with 18c getting 1400-2000 per charge while with 18b only 700-1200. Have talked to Nikon Canada, they asked to send battery but will be sending camera also.
One of my friend bought d6 a week before me and he also has problem with focusing, sent camera to Nikon Canada and now camera is with Nikon as they are waiting part from Japan. Issue with focusing unit.His and mine serial # are only two digit apart.
By chance do you have VR on? I don't have an 800mm, but I do have a 180-400 and noticed when I'm using Normal" VR the frame rate slows. "Sport" VR seems about the same as having it off.
rick2906 wrote:
Is it the fl or the older gen 800mm?? I know someone who has a d6 with a 800mm. I could ask her if she has a problem. She has the older version 800mm not the fl 800mm
Thanks everyone for the chime ins!! Trust me tried every scenario.. Been in touch with Nikon many times. For right now it shoots perfectly wide open. So until I get an answer that will be it.. I'm thinking its a power issue not enough!! Will see.. The D6 has a new firmware update which I'll load on and check maybe its fixed?
Thanks again.. when I get this figured out I'll post again.
KWeck wrote:
Thanks everyone for the chime ins!! Trust me tried every scenario.. Been in touch with Nikon many times. For right now it shoots perfectly wide open. So until I get an answer that will be it.. I'm thinking its a power issue not enough!! Will see.. The D6 has a new firmware update which I'll load on and check maybe its fixed?
Thanks again.. when I get this figured out I'll post again.
If it's a power issue, it should show with other lenses as well. Thus, I still suspect that it is some firmware issue, probably in a section specific to the 800mm lens. Let us know if the new firmware changes anything!
Assuming that the D6 is set on Ch (Cl 10 fps max), is the camera configured for focus + release as there is a lot less light with the f/5.6 lens and so autofocus is going to be impaired with fewer sensors available.
Even with the D6 having a f/5.6 lens reduces the available cross sensors to those in the center of the viewfinder and this could impact the use of a Group mode or Dynamic Area AF modes.
Setting the AF for Shutter release and using single point autofocus and checking the fps would provide a better idea as to what might be a gating factor. Or using Ch setting and camera in manual and lens in manual focus see what the fps rate is with the camera and this lens.
I see Nikon finally fixed the a5 issue I reported May/June, just noticed the post so haven't pulled or applied it. My suggestion is to open a case and if you don't get resolution then keep dogging it to be escalated to Nikon Japan. Until I did that all I got was the runaround. Even then it was a few weeks and at least one ping about it before they confirmed it as a bug (which shocked me they admitted to). They did say it would be in the next fw update and it might be quite a wait. Clearly has been but between work and covid I haven't got out much anyhow.
Your issue is interesting and there's some focusing fixes so maybe they knew about this issue and included it. Guess you'll know soon enough. I'll be interested to see if the AF improves on the 500PF, it has been noticeably slower than the 500G.
I wonder what this means "• Autofocus for viewfinder photography has been improved.", presume they are just being vague.
Hopefully everyone with issues will post again after applying the D6 fw update and let us know if your issue was fixed.
Hi, I am having the same issue with using the D6 and 800mm combo and when I am not shooting wide open.
I tested the D6 with the 600mm F4 and this issue does not exist there.
