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Here's a much easier way to figure a reasonable target distance if you're used to working in feet rather than meters, using 30x the focal length as a general guide. For a 50mm lens, that's 50mm x 30 = 1500mm which converts to 4.9 feet-call it 5 feet for our purposes. So just take the focal length of the lens, move the decimal point one to the left, and label it feet. For a 24mm lens, 2.4 ft. 105mm lens, 10.5 ft. Plenty close enough to get into the sweet spot of that 25x-50x range.
If you get an error message..come out of Live View. Move the focus point away from the centre and then back to the middle. Go back into Live View and the error has gone! Worked well after reading that tip on DP review.
I just did this on my D7200 for a Nikkor 80-200mm f2 8 af D that I got last week. I've been a bit underwhelmed. Test shots so far look sharper than anything I've ever shot! Can't wait to take it out tomorrow!! Also, going to fine tune my other lenses. So....Thanks!!
Hi Steve and hello from the U.K , I'm just about to take delivery of my D500 and 200/500. I think I'm going to be asking you many question and reading many of your guides. I've already purchased the Secrets to stunning wildlife and it's fantastic.
Thank you so much for this , I recently purchased the Tamron 24-70 G2 and I found focus soft and not all good , thankfully I remembered you had a video on this....I did it, a like patience and bang my Tamron is tac sharp 🙂
I have a D500 and the Sigma 70-200mm Sport. I already knew the lens was back focusing really bad, it needed somewhere between neg 15-20 to get sharp. Great Video but I fight for about an hour to get it to work. THIS IS WHAT I FOUND. I kept getting a message about "Focal Lenght" when I pressed the 2 buttons. I was using Steve's formal as to how far away I needed to be from the focusing print out. So I set up at about 25ft, nothing I did work. So I decided after total failure to bring everything closer together, so I set up at about 12ft and everything started working perfectly. After much testing at 70 and 200mm. I then moved back to 18ft and everything worked fine. So if you continue to get a message about "FOCUSING" please move closer to your target.
Great Nikon AF fine tuning vid. I originally bought the book for my D500. Then, when I picked-up a D850, Steve had already updated his book to cover that body, too. Highly recommend!
I have just checked the calibration on two Tamron lens and one Nikon lens. The video and the downloaded instructions were fabulous. I have a couple of more Nikon lenses to check. Thanks for the great instructions.
Thank you so much Mr Steve Perry to learn to calculating AF fine tune for getting correct each lens I own for the sharpest focus. Before saw AF Fine tune but I am no clue on it at all.
Steve thanks for the upload, always a gentleman and keeping your promise, Although the content is satisfactory, I would highly recommend anyone to download the E-book. I have it and let me tell you its the MOST comprehensive guide on autofocus for Nikon anyone could ever wish for. Really valuable reference always at hand for ANY query anyone might have , amateur and pros alike. Simply the best. Again thank you Steven....you sir are precious and a breath of fresh air in a world full of RUclips trash. Well done.
I agree. I tried to do a bit of DIY tuning but didn’t read or view this video properly and so all of my ‘test shots’ are completely wrong. Note to self (and others), R-T-Flipping-M and W-T-Flipping-Video properly next time and you’ll save yourself a lot of wasted time!
I did use the touchscreen, I think its a great suggestion, but the flipping it out part I consider unnecessary.* *I do baby my gear and I had previously decided to leave my screen the way it is except for those times when I think the contemplated shot is "sponge-worthy."
Steve, I am glad I have bought both your eBooks as they are extremely informative, and fun to read with so many funny quotes keeping the reader interested. All your videos are awesome. Thank you for sharing so much with all Nikon users.
Steve. Very nice tutorial and a ton better than one of your competitors who set his camera on a wood block outdoors, focused on a telephone pole, and took the resultant value after one shot. In your next update, recommend you talk about how the D500 saves the values for up to 20 different lenses and, if AF Fine Tune is ON, the camera will make the Fine Tune correction automatically when you change lenses.
Wow! This could not have been more helpful. Got my first big boy lense arriving tomorrow (used Nikon 200-500) and I was nervous about this step. Just did a full run through after watching this video with my kit lenses and everything worked perfect with points coming within 3 points for all 12. Got my paper all laid out for tomorrow and going to tape off the distances on the floor to make lining up each length easier. Thanks again great stuff! Bought your Nikon AF Ebook I’m sure it won’t be my last from you. Best channel to learn photography on RUclips
I have seen advice before indicating to use only the images taken for calibration, and to NOT use the Live View to achieve focus. I guess these are all just different methods. But I am glad that I know THIS one now, which seems fairly easy and straightforward, and also what Nikon had intended. I would probably use both methods just out of curiosity, the other method involves finding focus on the optical viewfinder, so it makes sense that Nikon has allowed for the use of live view to accomplish the same thing, since many of the new Cameras are mirrorless, and would still need to be calibrated like any other. So this makes perfect sense to me now. Thanks. I have watched about 5 of these videos so far, and each of the 5 offer a different method, so bottom line I am learning a lot. Databyter
Thank you for this great instructional video. I followed the procedures closely to fine tune focus on my refurbished Nikon D500 with 50mm AF-S f/1.4G lens. While the focus looks really good when I zoom in on the playback image, when I compose and focus the viewfinder goes blurry. I have dialed back the diopter as far as it goes in the direction that is most helpful but it just isn't enough. Any thoughts on what else to try?
Hi Steve, brilliant production again and just what I needed to have - an actual 'how to' action video for this topic you cover in your most excellent, well written ebook. Thanks so much for creating this. Makes a MASSIVE difference.
Awesome guide - just got my D500 2 days ago and the focus seems to be ever so slightly off with my trusty 50mm. Will have to run through this setup and see if it helps 👍🏻
had an interesting chat with a technician at Nikon Germany concerning the AF targets. There is a reason why Nikon suggests to use a purely black and white target: It has to do with certain wavelength (especially red) of the light. A purely black and white chart enables a less confused AF under all light circumstances. I did the test on all my lenses and the results do vary in comparison using your "camouflage" target. This is purely scientific and probably irrelevant for most photographers, but nonetheless interesting. Tested on a D850
@@neglectedloves In your comment you said or at least I took it like that, that you've made AF Fine Tune with Steev's and Nikon's targets and results vary. So, I wonder if the values obtained with these two targets are sharply different? I beg your pardon, if I understand you wronly. I am not native English speaker. Thanks!
Thanks! This is a huge help! One thing someone else mentioned on a forum is, when doing this, DON'T refocus between runs. Just focus for the first AF-fine tune, and then don't focus again when repeating the calibration. Is this correct? That's the way I did it, and it seems to have worked.
One of the reason I bought the Sigma 150-600 Sports over the Nikon 200-500 is because I can't put different calibration values at different focus length. At the time of my purchase, Tamron lenses also lacked the support, but they've added it now.
You have to leave AF Fine Tune turned on or the camera won't apply the adjustments when you attach the lens. Auto Fine Tune should be off once its input the value.
@@backcountrygallery Thank you very much. Please, just one more question....I tried used the method with my Nikon D750, but, unfortunatelly, when I tried push AF button together with recording button, the notice of Auto tune didn´t appear. Do you know any issue related with this model??? If I use the scale, manually, it´s work as well?? Thank you again and best regards from Brazil!
@@vameza1 The D750 doesn't have Auto AF Fine Tune, it's only on the newer cameras (the D780 has it, for instance). It still has AF fine tuning, but you have to do it manually.
Thank you so much for this wealth of information Steve. I've just returned to the DSLR world after continuing to be primarily a digital RF and MF/RF/SLR film shooter for many years. My last DSLR was the Canon 20D if that's any indication, so how things have changed...mostly for the better. I'm mainly shooting wildlife, landscapes, and portraits with my D850 and this is exactly what I was needing to help me further hone my Nikon system. I now have all your e-books. Great stuff. Many thanks!
Just got a D500 and am reading your ebook right now, it's fantastic. Just answers so many little questions that pop into my head. Nice and clear, easy to read and understand. I'm now wondering if my Tamron 150-600 needs fine tuning or if it's my skills that need honing. Just not getting that pin sharp focus especially when the subject is far off. I'll do some tests.
Thanks! The last chapter of the book talks about subjects that are far away and the potential sharpness problems so you may want to skip ahead to that one. It covers a few other possibilities as well. Also, it's totally possible that it needs some tuning - Tamron has a TAP console that allows AFFT adjustments at different focal lengths and focus ranges.
Steve thank you this helped me with my D850, however I just got the Z7II but I notice my 24-70mm 2.8 is soft at times. I do you Fine tune Z7II thank you, love your videos. I have learned so much from you. Be safe
Great tutorial! One question though... Once I’m finished with the entire process as you have described, do I turn off (or leave on) the AF fine tune feature in my camera menu?
@@backcountrygallery Sorry I'm so late to the party but your video was extremely helpful and much appreciated. However would you know why Nikon say "AF tuning is not recommended in most situations and may interfere with normal focus; use only when required." With this in mind I'm cautious about leaving AF Fine Tune switched on for the few lenses that I've not yet calibrated.
@@rigbyphoto It's possible (although I've never seen it happen) that a severe AFFT adjustment could prevent the lens from focusing at infinity. That's why they say it. Although, I do tend to agree with the "don't use it unless you need it" sentiment.
Thanks for this video. I am always suffering with my nikon 50mm 1.4G Lems. Its gives bad focus from time to time. Gunna try your AF Tuning Method . Thanks Again.
thanks so much for answering my question re the lens/camera fine tune. It's just amazing how much I'm clueless about. It's actually a little scary. Thanks again. 😎👍
Hey Steve, thank you for this brake down! I just upgraded from the d3400 to the d850 and I just finished fine tuning one of my lenses. Now just one question, do I leave the af fine tune on or off once I have completed the process? Oh and BTW it averaged out to -5.3.
Can I use this auto af fine tune to actually put the calibration values for a sigma 500 f4 at different distances with the usb dock? So I am suggesting that say I need the value at 3,5 meters then I find it out with the auto af fine tune and then I input the result with the dock (of course in the end the body will have a fine tune value of 0 as the lens will have all the necessary info already). Thanks for the video in any case 🙂!
I have a problem. I have a Nikon D500 with a Nikon 80-400 4.5-5.6 vr. I am trying to calibrate my lens to this camera. I did what you said in the video. Here are my findings. At 150mm -4 at 400mm +18 how can that be? And more importantly what do I do to fix this? Thanks so much, miss you on UGG.
I have a Nikon D7000, purchased new with warranty in late 2014 for less than half its introductory price. I had high-end Nikon gear in the waning days of film but settled on mid-level for digital. After a family visit a few months ago I looked at the images on the computer and they all sucked - soft and out of focus. I don't get how a camera and lenses that worked fine would suddenly not focus properly. I think I fixed things with AF Fine Tune.
The key for success with my new d850 was to center up the AF area point in the viewfinder and then in live view by pressing the multi select button in both cases. - no more error coded.
Hi Steve, I have a D7200 and wanted to check to see if my camera is focusing correctly. At the begging of this video it mentions that this video is not for a D7200. I have tried to find your video on the alternative way of doing this on my camera. Can you post a link to this please, I am unable to find it. Cheers Steve
Steve, I'm sure that you know this, but LensAlign and Focus Tune from Michael Tapes Design has been discontinued due to Michael retiring. I was trying to find it to purchase it. I can find the LensAlign but not the LensAlign and Focus Tune. I'm going to use your method and the chart you provide. Love your Videos they are really helpful.
Hi Steve, thanks for the awesome videos you make !! I was wondering if i am using a USB dock or a Tap In console on a lens used on Nikon. And i end up putting the values in. If i use that same lens on a Sony mirrorless will that fine tuning still matter ? or it will only matter if i use DSLR ?
Pushing focus mode button and movie Rec, doesn't bring up a dialogue window on Nikon D810, how to get it fix? Maybe you should tell us what Nikon you use, lots of people do have the same problem here.
I bought the ebook and it has been an incredibly valuable tool. Thank you. I have a D500 and a D800E and I now have them set up properly. I really appreciate you taking the time to make these videos. You have been a great help and mentor.
Great how-to video..I will follow this soon ~ zoom kit lens is off and I'm having to focus manually which either way, doesnt work very well for capturing birds.
hi steve how do you know when do calibrate your lens or should i say that do you it as soon as you buy a new or 2nd hand lens and how much sharper have your images become do you before after pics?
Steve, Your input would be greatly valued. I meticulously followed your advice, conducting 12 tests at both 70mm and 200mm focal lengths to calibrate my Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC G2 lens on a Nikon D850. The results indicate a average of +3 at 70mm and +14 at 200mm. This difference between the two focal lengths strikes me as quite notable. In your experience, do you believe this variance is within an acceptable range for this lens? Your insights and advice would be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
I think Tamron has some sort of dock for this purpose. I'd look at that - that's just too much of a difference IMO. Sometimes you can split it, but I have a feeling it'll just make the long and short ends poor while the mid-range might be OK.
Thanks Steve! I just looked into the dock. It's the Tamron Tap-in Console, it works on the new G2 Zoom lenses from Tamron. I just ordered one from Amazon and will get it this afternoon. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Does the correction value stored in the camera need to be manually reset back to 0 for each of the 12 tests, or does it automatically do this when you do each run?
Very useful, I was concerned my new D500 had a fault and I'd have to send it back, but I will definitely use this to try to fix the issues I'm having with back focusing. But what if you use multiple lenses? Will the camera remember the setting for each lens (if different) and adjust the autofocus fine tune value when you connect that lens?
Steve, I tried the af-autofocus procedure with my 24-70mm f/2.8 ED Nikkor. At 50mm I'm getting values in the range of -4..-2 while at 24mm I'm seeing values around +15 with a significant jitter. Values for 28mm are around +4. Would you consider this lens (which has at times been treated roughly) a case for sending to Nikon for adjustment or repair? Huge thanks for this howto video, it's not only good, exactly as long as it needs to be but also fills in where Nikon's manuals leave something to be desired.
Hello I ordered the secrets to AF fine turning book March 13 2022 but still have not received it. I love watching your RUclips videos and would love to have this book to help me with my photography.
In the video, he said to “shoot wide open”. That means to shoot at the largest aperture. If your lens is a 50mm 1.8, then shoot at 1.8. For the iso shoot at the lowest iso for your camera.
Hi Steve excellent demonstration. I would like to ask if the focusing to the target is done using autofocus or is done manually. Thanks. Costas Karseras
Doesn't matter - the big thing is that it's 100% as sharp as it can be. Usually, just regular contrast detect AF in Live View is fine, but as long as it's as sharp as possible, you're good.
Hi Steve, Nice tutorial indeed. Thanks 🙏 Could I done it with my D7200 ? As I know..My D7200 have "AF Fine Tune" menu feature in it 😇🙏 And what is behind you ? Is it design tab..? 😱
Hi Steve, Video is very Helpful, I have a NIkon 200 500, Sigma 17-70 & Sigma 70 - 200, to fine tune what should be the distance between the subject and camera? Just now I have purchased your e book SECRETS TO THE NIKON AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM
Thanks for the purchase :) The distance should be between 25 and 50 X the focal length. For zooms, I just use a middle value for the mid range point. So, for a 200-500, I'd maybe use 350mm X 25 = 8.7 meters.
This was a very helpful video! But, I'm having an issue on a couple of my lenses. I had no issues with my Nikkor 105. With my 24-70 and Tokina 11-16, I get a successful reading a couple of times, then I start getting "Auto AF Fine Tune Failed". I re-checked all settings, and have the camera as stable as possible. Any suggestions?
If there is a setting already in there, does the new test overwrite it or add to the list? I am doing my wife's D500 for the 2nd time, for the same lens, after some years. Thanks.
So I tried this with my D7500. Numbers all over the place! +10 +18 -7 -1 +2 +6, etc. I ended up just manually adjusting with a focus target until I got what I was happy with. Honestly, it was a lot faster as I could home in on the target. Am I missing something? Coincidentally enough, the number I settled on, for now, was the first number the "auto" system produced which was +10.
In all honesty, it sounds like a technique problem. Either the target was poor or poorly illuminated, or the camera was moving too much, or improperly focused. Most of the time, my results are within a few points of each other - sometimes, it's only between two points (like +6 or +7). The other thought is this - were you doing it outside? Temperature differationals between you and the target would definitely cause those kinds of results.
I bought a second hand nikon 300 f2.8g vr lens recently, and I find out it works well on my nikon D7000 for nearer objects, but for further away, I can not get sharp images for a kingfisher standing on a branch, Is that a lens problem? or Is it a camera problem. but Using nikon 55-300 mm lens this problem is gone. Please tell me how can I fix this, thanks a lot.
Hi Steve! As a result of this video I bought your eBook and I love it! Your writing style is wonderful and makes the topic easy to follow. It can be easy to get glassy eyed reading about the buttons and features, but your book keeps me interested and on task! But a question for you. I tried to Auto AF Fine Tune my D850 with Sigma 150-600mm "Contemporary" lens at 600mm and a working distance of approximately 50 feet. Camera/lens were locked down on a sturdy tripod, but every time I even breathed on the camera the image shook in the Live View window, and I would receive an error message saying the AF Fine Tune could not be performed. This is the only lens I own that I can't Auto AF Fine Tune. Nothing I tried eliminated that shake. How can I Auto AF Fine Tune this lens at 600mm? Thanks!
Thank you for this great video. I followed the procedures to fine tune focus on my Nikon D750 with 24mm AF-S f/1.4G Sigma lens. While the focus looks really good , As per your video i have pressed Record + AF button but no message is coming ...Any reason, I have following resting my settings...
First thanks so much for this video - really well explained. My one questions is if I do this for let's say my 35mm lens and save the value, and then I have my 85mm that I'm shooting with - does my D500 automatically detect which lens I have mounted and use the value that I saved in Tuning? Or do I manually have to do something each time I mount the lens to have it reflect the Tuning number I saved?
Thanks for the video Steve! I purchased a used Nikkor 17-55mm F2.8G for my D500. First time trying the lens it was out of focus and needing to do a calibration I found your video. So far it's the best one I've found, but I still have a lot to go through. Being a calibration virgin, we will see how this helps.
I tried doin this today and it was crazy. I did 3 different lenses, and with the camera locked down, in bright light with a good target, I was getting readings of +12, -17, +4, +10, -20, -10 just all over the place. I ended up doing it manually, the auto AF just was too erratic. Not sure what I was doing wrong.
@Steve - Can you please clarify (or anybody else) for me, we have a Tamron 100 - 400mm and the main subject type we photograph are military (airborne) aircraft and them at UK airshows. However, as we can only tweak and set one focal length as you state in your video, what happens to all the remaining focal lengths within the lens for instance please... will they continue to work just as one would expect, if say a little soft not being a dear lens or prime etc - OR - If I set up Auto AF Fine Tune to be the best possible on the longish end (i.e. 350mm as we don't tend to get decent shots from maxed zoom focal length anyway) will this affect all other focal lengths throughout the 100-400? Many thanks.
Have nature and wildlife photography questions? Check out the BCG Forums! Ask and answer gear and technique questions questions, post photos and more. Check it out and sign up today!
bcgforums.com/index.php
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Would be nice if you'd also answer on your facebook....
6 years later this is still helping people !
Thank you!
Here's a much easier way to figure a reasonable target distance if you're used to working in feet rather than meters, using 30x the focal length as a general guide. For a 50mm lens, that's 50mm x 30 = 1500mm which converts to 4.9 feet-call it 5 feet for our purposes. So just take the focal length of the lens, move the decimal point one to the left, and label it feet. For a 24mm lens, 2.4 ft. 105mm lens, 10.5 ft. Plenty close enough to get into the sweet spot of that 25x-50x range.
Do we need to multiply by the crop factor for aps-c systems?
If you get an error message..come out of Live View. Move the focus point away from the centre and then back to the middle. Go back into Live View and the error has gone! Worked well after reading that tip on DP review.
I just did this on my D7200 for a Nikkor 80-200mm f2 8 af D that I got last week. I've been a bit underwhelmed.
Test shots so far look sharper than anything I've ever shot! Can't wait to take it out tomorrow!!
Also, going to fine tune my other lenses.
So....Thanks!!
Hi Steve and hello from the U.K , I'm just about to take delivery of my D500 and 200/500. I think I'm going to be asking you many question and reading many of your guides. I've already purchased the Secrets to stunning wildlife and it's fantastic.
Thank you so much for this , I recently purchased the Tamron 24-70 G2 and I found focus soft and not all good , thankfully I remembered you had a video on this....I did it, a like patience and bang my Tamron is tac sharp 🙂
what was your settings please. my portraits arent sharp when i zoom in
I have a D500 and the Sigma 70-200mm Sport. I already knew the lens was back focusing really bad, it needed somewhere between neg 15-20 to get sharp.
Great Video but I fight for about an hour to get it to work. THIS IS WHAT I FOUND. I kept getting a message about "Focal Lenght" when I pressed the 2 buttons. I was using Steve's formal as to how far away I needed to be from the focusing print out. So I set up at about 25ft, nothing I did work. So I decided after total failure to bring everything closer together, so I set up at about 12ft and everything started working perfectly. After much testing at 70 and 200mm. I then moved back to 18ft and everything worked fine. So if you continue to get a message about "FOCUSING" please move closer to your target.
Every new upload from you convinces me to get a D500.
Great Nikon AF fine tuning vid. I originally bought the book for my D500. Then, when I picked-up a D850, Steve had already updated his book to cover that body, too. Highly recommend!
I have just checked the calibration on two Tamron lens and one Nikon lens. The video and the downloaded instructions were fabulous. I have a couple of more Nikon lenses to check. Thanks for the great instructions.
Thank you so much Mr Steve Perry to learn to calculating AF fine tune for getting correct each lens I own for the sharpest focus. Before saw AF Fine tune but I am no clue on it at all.
Steve thanks for the upload, always a gentleman and keeping your promise,
Although the content is satisfactory, I would highly recommend anyone to download the E-book. I have it and let me tell you its the MOST comprehensive guide on autofocus for Nikon anyone could ever wish for. Really valuable reference always at hand for ANY query anyone might have , amateur and pros alike. Simply the best.
Again thank you Steven....you sir are precious and a breath of fresh air in a world full of RUclips trash. Well done.
Thanks so much for the kind words :)
Christos Phillippou I agree, I bought it yesterday and already have learned a lot about some really useful functions.
I agree. I tried to do a bit of DIY tuning but didn’t read or view this video properly and so all of my ‘test shots’ are completely wrong.
Note to self (and others), R-T-Flipping-M and W-T-Flipping-Video properly next time and you’ll save yourself a lot of wasted time!
You can flip the screen and use touch instead of OK button that pushes the camera forward. Touch screen requires very minimal physical contact.
Good point for the D850 - but the D5/D500 don't support touch for menu items like that.
I guess I got spoiled to quickly by d850. Did not know d5/d500 lack this menu touch feature.
I did use the touchscreen, I think its a great suggestion, but the flipping it out part I consider unnecessary.*
*I do baby my gear and I had previously decided to leave my screen the way it is except for those times when I think the contemplated shot is "sponge-worthy."
This solved my problem when I tried it on my D850. Thanks so much for the tip.
Steve, I am glad I have bought both your eBooks as they are extremely informative, and fun to read with so many funny quotes keeping the reader interested. All your videos are awesome. Thank you for sharing so much with all Nikon users.
Thanks!!
Steve. Very nice tutorial and a ton better than one of your competitors who set his camera on a wood block outdoors, focused on a telephone pole, and took the resultant value after one shot. In your next update, recommend you talk about how the D500 saves the values for up to 20 different lenses and, if AF Fine Tune is ON, the camera will make the Fine Tune correction automatically when you change lenses.
Wow! This could not have been more helpful. Got my first big boy lense arriving tomorrow (used Nikon 200-500) and I was nervous about this step. Just did a full run through after watching this video with my kit lenses and everything worked perfect with points coming within 3 points for all 12. Got my paper all laid out for tomorrow and going to tape off the distances on the floor to make lining up each length easier. Thanks again great stuff! Bought your Nikon AF Ebook I’m sure it won’t be my last from you. Best channel to learn photography on RUclips
Thanks so much!
I have seen advice before indicating to use only the images taken for calibration, and to NOT use the Live View to achieve focus. I guess these are all just different methods. But I am glad that I know THIS one now, which seems fairly easy and straightforward, and also what Nikon had intended. I would probably use both methods just out of curiosity, the other method involves finding focus on the optical viewfinder, so it makes sense that Nikon has allowed for the use of live view to accomplish the same thing, since many of the new Cameras are mirrorless, and would still need to be calibrated like any other. So this makes perfect sense to me now. Thanks. I have watched about 5 of these videos so far, and each of the 5 offer a different method, so bottom line I am learning a lot. Databyter
Thank you for this great instructional video. I followed the procedures closely to fine tune focus on my refurbished Nikon D500 with 50mm AF-S f/1.4G lens. While the focus looks really good when I zoom in on the playback image, when I compose and focus the viewfinder goes blurry. I have dialed back the diopter as far as it goes in the direction that is most helpful but it just isn't enough. Any thoughts on what else to try?
Hi Steve, brilliant production again and just what I needed to have - an actual 'how to' action video for this topic you cover in your most excellent, well written ebook. Thanks so much for creating this. Makes a MASSIVE difference.
All your videos provide critical information for taking better pictures and have served me well always. Thank you! Definitely getting your book.
Awesome guide - just got my D500 2 days ago and the focus seems to be ever so slightly off with my trusty 50mm. Will have to run through this setup and see if it helps 👍🏻
had an interesting chat with a technician at Nikon Germany concerning the AF targets. There is a reason why Nikon suggests to use a purely black and white target: It has to do with certain wavelength (especially red) of the light. A purely black and white chart enables a less confused AF under all light circumstances.
I did the test on all my lenses and the results do vary in comparison using your "camouflage" target.
This is purely scientific and probably irrelevant for most photographers, but nonetheless interesting.
Tested on a D850
Considerably vary???
@@parusland ???
@@neglectedloves Yes, what confuses you?
@@parusland what do you mean by considerably vary?
@@neglectedloves In your comment you said or at least I took it like that, that you've made AF Fine Tune with Steev's and Nikon's targets and results vary. So, I wonder if the values obtained with these two targets are sharply different? I beg your pardon, if I understand you wronly. I am not native English speaker. Thanks!
Thanks! This is a huge help! One thing someone else mentioned on a forum is, when doing this, DON'T refocus between runs. Just focus for the first AF-fine tune, and then don't focus again when repeating the calibration. Is this correct? That's the way I did it, and it seems to have worked.
One of the reason I bought the Sigma 150-600 Sports over the Nikon 200-500 is because I can't put different calibration values at different focus length. At the time of my purchase, Tamron lenses also lacked the support, but they've added it now.
Thank you Steve! Your videos are the best and I send ppl to your videos constantly.
Wow, thank you!
Hello, great tutorial. Just one question remained? When finishing the proccess, we need to turn the auto tune option off, right???? Thank you!
You have to leave AF Fine Tune turned on or the camera won't apply the adjustments when you attach the lens. Auto Fine Tune should be off once its input the value.
@@backcountrygallery Thank you very much. Please, just one more question....I tried used the method with my Nikon D750, but, unfortunatelly, when I tried push AF button together with recording button, the notice of Auto tune didn´t appear. Do you know any issue related with this model??? If I use the scale, manually, it´s work as well?? Thank you again and best regards from Brazil!
@@vameza1 The D750 doesn't have Auto AF Fine Tune, it's only on the newer cameras (the D780 has it, for instance). It still has AF fine tuning, but you have to do it manually.
@@backcountrygallery thank you!! Now I get it. Cheers!!!!!
Thank you so much for this wealth of information Steve. I've just returned to the DSLR world after continuing to be primarily a digital RF and MF/RF/SLR film shooter for many years. My last DSLR was the Canon 20D if that's any indication, so how things have changed...mostly for the better. I'm mainly shooting wildlife, landscapes, and portraits with my D850 and this is exactly what I was needing to help me further hone my Nikon system. I now have all your e-books. Great stuff. Many thanks!
Thanks!!
As always, explained so regular folks like me can understand. Big thumbs up.
Just got a D500 and am reading your ebook right now, it's fantastic. Just answers so many little questions that pop into my head. Nice and clear, easy to read and understand. I'm now wondering if my Tamron 150-600 needs fine tuning or if it's my skills that need honing. Just not getting that pin sharp focus especially when the subject is far off. I'll do some tests.
Thanks!
The last chapter of the book talks about subjects that are far away and the potential sharpness problems so you may want to skip ahead to that one. It covers a few other possibilities as well. Also, it's totally possible that it needs some tuning - Tamron has a TAP console that allows AFFT adjustments at different focal lengths and focus ranges.
@@backcountrygallery Thanks Steve, I'm skipping ahead right now.
A very professional presentation, thank you. You’ve convinced me to buy the book now.
Thank you very much!
Another great video, I now totally understand how the auto fine system works. I look forward to your future videos. Well done Steve!
Thank you Steve. I shoot high school sports for Maxpreps, a division of CBS. I wanted to fine tune all my lenses. I shoot with a 500 also.
Steve thank you this helped me with my D850, however I just got the Z7II but I notice my 24-70mm 2.8 is soft at times. I do you Fine tune Z7II thank you, love your videos. I have learned so much from you. Be safe
How can do af fine tune in z7 camera
Hi Steve - Great video. Makes me want to sell off all my Sony gear and pre-order a D850 & Nikon primes. Thanks again for the great video!
That's the sprit :)
Excellent video. Answered all my fine tune answers especially the ones I had for my zoom lenses. Will spend a couple hours doing this.
Great video.
What about cameras like D750 without an auto AF calibration ? how to properly set it manually ?
Possibly the best tutorials. Brilliant. Thank you.
Thank You for a clear tutorial! did wonders and kept me from buying another lens.
Awesome - best description ever. Well done Steve.
Great video. If I'm using my D7500 which has a 1.5 crop sensor and I have a 35mm lens, am I using 35mm as the focal length or am I using 52.5mm?
Great tutorial! One question though... Once I’m finished with the entire process as you have described, do I turn off (or leave on) the AF fine tune feature in my camera menu?
Leave it on or the camera won't use the settings you've entered.
Thanks so much! @@backcountrygallery
@@backcountrygallery Sorry I'm so late to the party but your video was extremely helpful and much appreciated. However would you know why Nikon say "AF tuning is not recommended in most situations and may interfere with normal focus; use only when required." With this in mind I'm cautious about leaving AF Fine Tune switched on for the few lenses that I've not yet calibrated.
@@rigbyphoto It's possible (although I've never seen it happen) that a severe AFFT adjustment could prevent the lens from focusing at infinity. That's why they say it. Although, I do tend to agree with the "don't use it unless you need it" sentiment.
@@backcountrygallery Many thanks. Your help is very much appreciated.
Good news. The D780 allows calibration for the wide end and tele end of zooms. Not sure if this is available as a firmware update on older DSLRs.
As far as I know, it's not. It's super-useful though.
Steve, I'm all the way to -20 on my D600 and 50mm 1.8g and it's still back focusing. The D600 focuses correctly with other lenses. Thanks!
The lens may need to go into Nikon - there's not much more you can do.
Thanks for this video. I am always suffering with my nikon 50mm 1.4G Lems.
Its gives bad focus from time to time.
Gunna try your AF Tuning Method .
Thanks Again.
thanks so much for answering my question re the lens/camera fine tune. It's just amazing how much I'm clueless about. It's actually a little scary. Thanks again. 😎👍
Hey Steve, thank you for this brake down! I just upgraded from the d3400 to the d850 and I just finished fine tuning one of my lenses. Now just one question, do I leave the af fine tune on or off once I have completed the process? Oh and BTW it averaged out to -5.3.
Can I use this auto af fine tune to actually put the calibration values for a sigma 500 f4 at different distances with the usb dock? So I am suggesting that say I need the value at 3,5 meters then I find it out with the auto af fine tune and then I input the result with the dock (of course in the end the body will have a fine tune value of 0 as the lens will have all the necessary info already). Thanks for the video in any case 🙂!
Thanks a bunch, used this on my Nikon D500 with a 17-35 f/2.8
I have a problem. I have a Nikon D500 with a Nikon 80-400 4.5-5.6 vr. I am trying to calibrate my lens to this camera. I did what you said in the video. Here are my findings. At 150mm -4 at 400mm +18 how can that be? And more importantly what do I do to fix this? Thanks so much, miss you on UGG.
I have a Nikon D7000, purchased new with warranty in late 2014 for less than half its introductory price. I had high-end Nikon gear in the waning days of film but settled on mid-level for digital. After a family visit a few months ago I looked at the images on the computer and they all sucked - soft and out of focus.
I don't get how a camera and lenses that worked fine would suddenly not focus properly. I think I fixed things with AF Fine Tune.
You need to use the min focus distens from the lens to exclude out depth of field.
The key for success with my new d850 was to center up the AF area point in the viewfinder and then in live view by pressing the multi select button in both cases. - no more error coded.
It also includes the D780, I'm pleased to say.
Steve Perry, I thank you for your lesson - help that is of great value. A big hug from Brazil.
Did you pre-order your Z9? Hoping to see Nikon back in your hands...
Hi Steve, I have a D7200 and wanted to check to see if my camera is focusing correctly. At the begging of this video it mentions that this video is not for a D7200. I have tried to find your video on the alternative way of doing this on my camera. Can you post a link to this please, I am unable to find it. Cheers Steve
Steve, I'm sure that you know this, but LensAlign and Focus Tune from Michael Tapes Design has been discontinued due to Michael retiring. I was trying to find it to purchase it. I can find the LensAlign but not the LensAlign and Focus Tune. I'm going to use your method and the chart you provide. Love your Videos they are really helpful.
Absolutely perfect - THANK YOU for this great explanation, dear Steve !
Hi Steve, thanks for the awesome videos you make !!
I was wondering if i am using a USB dock or a Tap In console on a lens used on Nikon. And i end up putting the values in. If i use that same lens on a Sony mirrorless will that fine tuning still matter ? or it will only matter if i use DSLR ?
Love this guy! Thanks for all your expertise and effort making these videos! Thanks!!!
Pushing focus mode button and movie Rec, doesn't bring up a dialogue window on Nikon D810, how to get it fix?
Maybe you should tell us what Nikon you use, lots of people do have the same problem here.
I bought the ebook and it has been an incredibly valuable tool. Thank you. I have a D500 and a D800E and I now have them set up properly. I really appreciate you taking the time to make these videos. You have been a great help and mentor.
'Set-up properly'.. what are, if any differences.. before & after ??
Great how-to video..I will follow this soon ~ zoom kit lens is off and I'm having to focus manually which either way, doesnt work very well for capturing birds.
hi steve how do you know when do calibrate your lens or should i say that do you it as soon as you buy a new or 2nd hand lens and how much sharper have your images become do you before after pics?
Steve, Your input would be greatly valued. I meticulously followed your advice, conducting 12 tests at both 70mm and 200mm focal lengths to calibrate my Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC G2 lens on a Nikon D850. The results indicate a average of +3 at 70mm and +14 at 200mm. This difference between the two focal lengths strikes me as quite notable. In your experience, do you believe this variance is within an acceptable range for this lens? Your insights and advice would be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
I think Tamron has some sort of dock for this purpose. I'd look at that - that's just too much of a difference IMO. Sometimes you can split it, but I have a feeling it'll just make the long and short ends poor while the mid-range might be OK.
Thanks Steve! I just looked into the dock. It's the Tamron Tap-in Console, it works on the new G2 Zoom lenses from Tamron. I just ordered one from Amazon and will get it this afternoon. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Does the correction value stored in the camera need to be manually reset back to 0 for each of the 12 tests, or does it automatically do this when you do each run?
HI Steve
Once again an excellent, clearly explained tutorial.
Cheers
Thanks for the nice clarification on how to do the fine tuning :-)
maybe i should finally read your e-book :)
Very useful, I was concerned my new D500 had a fault and I'd have to send it back, but I will definitely use this to try to fix the issues I'm having with back focusing. But what if you use multiple lenses? Will the camera remember the setting for each lens (if different) and adjust the autofocus fine tune value when you connect that lens?
Yes, it will remember each lens you use (I think up to 20)
Thanks- Great video and book - I'm going to try it with my 500mm lens however what does 500mmx25 convert to as to feet to target?
Auto auto focus fine tune? Amazing video. New subscriber but I've stalked your channel. It's amazing
Steve, I tried the af-autofocus procedure with my 24-70mm f/2.8 ED Nikkor. At 50mm I'm getting values in the range of -4..-2 while at 24mm I'm seeing values around +15 with a significant jitter. Values for 28mm are around +4. Would you consider this lens (which has at times been treated roughly) a case for sending to Nikon for adjustment or repair?
Huge thanks for this howto video, it's not only good, exactly as long as it needs to be but also fills in where Nikon's manuals leave something to be desired.
I hate to say it, but that's a pretty wide spread. If it were me, I'd probably send it in.
Hello
I ordered the secrets to AF fine turning book March 13 2022 but still have not received it.
I love watching your RUclips videos and would love to have this book to help me with my photography.
Hi -
Thanks for the purchase. It's an e-book so you have access from the moment of purchase. You can log in here:
bcgwebstore.com/my-account/
Steve, thank you making this video, would you please be able to make one with Prime lens and hopefully a 3rd party lens like Sigma 35 1.4?
mailhaniel sigma as its own dock for calibrating the lens. I find it more accurate than fine tuning within the camera.
Hi Steve, I have some questions 1- What is f/no supposed to be set? 2- What aperture suppose to be set? 3- Has ISO had any effect?
In the video, he said to “shoot wide open”. That means to shoot at the largest aperture. If your lens is a 50mm 1.8, then shoot at 1.8.
For the iso shoot at the lowest iso for your camera.
Hi Steve excellent demonstration. I would like to ask if the focusing to the target is done using autofocus or is done manually. Thanks. Costas Karseras
Doesn't matter - the big thing is that it's 100% as sharp as it can be. Usually, just regular contrast detect AF in Live View is fine, but as long as it's as sharp as possible, you're good.
Great video again! Thanks Steve, looking forward to the next one
Hi Steve,
Nice tutorial indeed. Thanks 🙏
Could I done it with my D7200 ?
As I know..My D7200 have "AF Fine Tune" menu feature in it 😇🙏
And what is behind you ? Is it design tab..? 😱
Excellent tutorial (and book!)
Hi Steve, Video is very Helpful, I have a NIkon 200 500, Sigma 17-70 & Sigma 70 - 200, to fine tune what should be the distance between the subject and camera? Just now I have purchased your e book SECRETS TO THE NIKON AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM
Thanks for the purchase :) The distance should be between 25 and 50 X the focal length. For zooms, I just use a middle value for the mid range point. So, for a 200-500, I'd maybe use 350mm X 25 = 8.7 meters.
Steve, Do I do this for each lens? If so, how set that up?
This was a very helpful video! But, I'm having an issue on a couple of my lenses. I had no issues with my Nikkor 105. With my 24-70 and Tokina 11-16, I get a successful reading a couple of times, then I start getting "Auto AF Fine Tune Failed". I re-checked all settings, and have the camera as stable as possible. Any suggestions?
Thanks Steve. Simply brilliant.
I've received a notice "Auto AF fine-tune is not available at current focus setting"
Awesome video, you are a great teacher. I appreciate your help!
If there is a setting already in there, does the new test overwrite it or add to the list?
I am doing my wife's D500 for the 2nd time, for the same lens, after some years.
Thanks.
Excellent information perfectly explained and mastered. Thank you
So I tried this with my D7500. Numbers all over the place! +10 +18 -7 -1 +2 +6, etc. I ended up just manually adjusting with a focus target until I got what I was happy with. Honestly, it was a lot faster as I could home in on the target. Am I missing something? Coincidentally enough, the number I settled on, for now, was the first number the "auto" system produced which was +10.
In all honesty, it sounds like a technique problem. Either the target was poor or poorly illuminated, or the camera was moving too much, or improperly focused. Most of the time, my results are within a few points of each other - sometimes, it's only between two points (like +6 or +7).
The other thought is this - were you doing it outside? Temperature differationals between you and the target would definitely cause those kinds of results.
I bought a second hand nikon 300 f2.8g vr lens recently, and I find out it works well on my nikon D7000 for nearer objects, but for further away, I can not get sharp images for a kingfisher standing on a branch, Is that a lens problem? or Is it a camera problem. but Using nikon 55-300 mm lens this problem is gone. Please tell me how can I fix this, thanks a lot.
Hi Steve! As a result of this video I bought your eBook and I love it! Your writing style is wonderful and makes the topic easy to follow. It can be easy to get glassy eyed reading about the buttons and features, but your book keeps me interested and on task! But a question for you. I tried to Auto AF Fine Tune my D850 with Sigma 150-600mm "Contemporary" lens at 600mm and a working distance of approximately 50 feet. Camera/lens were locked down on a sturdy tripod, but every time I even breathed on the camera the image shook in the Live View window, and I would receive an error message saying the AF Fine Tune could not be performed. This is the only lens I own that I can't Auto AF Fine Tune. Nothing I tried eliminated that shake. How can I Auto AF Fine Tune this lens at 600mm? Thanks!
To over come the vibrating lens and camera try turning the lens mount thing 90 degrees and put the camera and lens on a sturdy table.
Awesome!... Thank You!
Great video as always Steve!!!
Thank you for this great video. I followed the procedures to fine tune focus on my Nikon D750 with 24mm AF-S f/1.4G Sigma lens. While the focus looks really good , As per your video i have pressed Record + AF button but no message is coming ...Any reason, I have following resting my settings...
First thanks so much for this video - really well explained. My one questions is if I do this for let's say my 35mm lens and save the value, and then I have my 85mm that I'm shooting with - does my D500 automatically detect which lens I have mounted and use the value that I saved in Tuning? Or do I manually have to do something each time I mount the lens to have it reflect the Tuning number I saved?
The camera will automatically detect the lens, no worries.
Thanks for the video Steve! I purchased a used Nikkor 17-55mm F2.8G for my D500. First time trying the lens it was out of focus and needing to do a calibration I found your video. So far it's the best one I've found, but I still have a lot to go through. Being a calibration virgin, we will see how this helps.
I tried doin this today and it was crazy. I did 3 different lenses, and with the camera locked down, in bright light with a good target, I was getting readings of +12, -17, +4, +10, -20, -10 just all over the place. I ended up doing it manually, the auto AF just was too erratic. Not sure what I was doing wrong.
@Steve - Can you please clarify (or anybody else) for me, we have a Tamron 100 - 400mm and the main subject type we photograph are military (airborne) aircraft and them at UK airshows.
However, as we can only tweak and set one focal length as you state in your video, what happens to all the remaining focal lengths within the lens for instance please... will they continue to work just as one would expect, if say a little soft not being a dear lens or prime etc - OR - If I set up Auto AF Fine Tune to be the best possible on the longish end (i.e. 350mm as we don't tend to get decent shots from maxed zoom focal length anyway) will this affect all other focal lengths throughout the 100-400?
Many thanks.
Great video :) Always enjoy your videos!
Spot on, Steve. Thanks as always.