Is this the right section for problem solving? As i need help.

wilt

wilt

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Steven
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I hope this is the right section as i can't find a problem section.

The problem i have is focusing/blurry shots (not the novice type reasons though i hope)
I've a Nikon D610 and when i use the center focus point to focus on a subject, half press the shutter to re-compose, i can see as the focused on subject is moved off center it becomes blurred.
I have the focus set to AF-S and i've tried different lenses and it continues to do the same thing.
I've tried from f2.8-f11 and i thought there should be sufficient depth of field to even keep it in the depth of field area but it is still blurred as i review the image if the focuses subject is moved to the edges of the image.
I wasted a whole days shoot trying to fix the problem and i'm at a loss. When i first noticed it i was using my 70-200 vrII at f6.3, iso 100, 125th sec in a studio.
I now find my focusing to be terrible whether it's in AF-S or AF-C (for moving subjects)

Can anyone shed any light on this, i hope it's a stupid mistake that i can't think off or something easily rectified.
I have included an image (SOOC) that i had focused on the subjects eye, but as you can see it's not sharp (this was with the above settings in the studio) in fact both the top and bottom of the image is blurred.


 
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Unless I have misunderstood your post, it just sounds like you need to use the AF-L (AF lock) button. Focus on your subject, press the AF-L button and recompose. You could always have a read up on back button focusing as well ;0)
 
Yep, check the manual [I can never remember which setting it is without checking and have neither camera nor manual to hand], if it's like other Nikons, you need to change a setting in the menu to lock the focus on half shutter press, or as Nick says, use back button focusing.
 
Hi,

Have you tried using the ae/af lock button?

Focus lock on subject, whilst pressing the ae/af lock button, the recompose and shoot.

Give that a try.

Edit - crossed posts above.
 
As above.

There is a white small white hair near the centre of the image (to the right of the top 2 buttons) which is much sharper, so presumably focussed in that area?
 
Also have you thought of using an shorter focal lens for full length in the studio shots,a 24-70mm would be much better,and maybe use the 70-200 for head and shoulder shots :)
 
Hmmm...as long as you are keeping your finger half pressed on the shutter, the only thing I can think is that when you are recomposing, you could be altering the plane of focus.
 
I've just setup a few things on the table and set the camera on a tripod, focused on a small toy, used the center column to just turn to another toy and used a cable release to rule out all i know.
The focused subject is blurred.
It seems that moving the focused on subject to the edges of the image/sensor is making it blurred.
I can actually see it blurring as i'm turning the camera on the tripod, but turning it back in to the center of the image/sensor it's focused.
 
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I think ae/af lock can be turned off in the settings menu so it won't activate when you half shutter.

Other than that, try a reset on the camera.
 
Can you provide a few details for the first example please (the attractive young lady)...aperture, focal length and distance to subject.

Ta
Bob
 
Okay...a quick bit of trigonometry shows that the offset caused by the recompose is only about 1/10 of the available DOF (single sided) so that's not an issue.

Bob
 
Hmm... Has the lens been dropped? Does it happen with other lenses?
 
I increased ISO to allow me to go up to f11 but the image suffered the same blurring, as i thought if i increased DOF it might have improved on the edges.
I also changed shutter up to 200th sec to try and remove any chance camera shake.
Switch VR on and then back off again.
The lens is like new and never dinged or dropped.
I thought it was happening with my 24-70 also but in checking again tonight i believe it's the 70-200 lens thats the problem.
I have a D7000 i'll try the 70-200 on tomorrow night to rule out the D610.
 
Summat wrong with the lens then, an element come loose. You seem to have covered off all the other possibilities.
 
wilt said:
How much would i expect to pay if the lens is the problem?
Click to expand...

No idea. Could be something simple, or maybe the VR gone haywire, dunno. If it is some kind of internal failure, then Nikon might look at it kindly. Their pro-spec lenses don't usually suffer like that, not without taking a tumble. You need to make certain it's a lens fault though obviously, but if other lenses on that camera are okay, then it can only be that one lens. Worth fixing regardless, not a cheap lens. Warranty? Insurance?
 
might be worth trying it on grass or textured floor and seeing what's in focus, like point camera slightly downwards, and get it so you should have a level plain of focus across the middle, with out of focus front and rear of that, then take pic.

a wonky element might give a tilt shift effect so your focus plain ends up at a angle.

maybe shoot a brick wall dead on too, so all of it should be in focus, if its only partly in focus then something funky going on
 
wilt said:
How much would i expect to pay if the lens is the problem?
Click to expand...
In your first post you said you tried different lenses and had the same problem.

Therefore it seems to more of a body problem.

The Nikon does have af micro adjust setting which may help, worth otherwise it it looks like the body may need to go back to Nikon for calibration I think.
 
Not sure how much help it is, but to have the front element replaced on a nikon 70-200 cost me around the 260 mark... so its probably fair to assume that its an internal fault that will require a strip down to some extent, so I would say you are looking at at least the same kind of money, though if its just labour, nothing actually needs replacing... so actually, no this probably isn't any use at all. You can send it to Nikon just for a quote before deciding whether to go ahead with the repair.
 
@Yv

Who are the preferred repairers Yvonne, Nikon in Surrey?
 
Nikon are going to charge you c £70 an hour to look at the lens. (They sometimes waive this especially if there's no fault found). VR modules are expensive and last time I checked only Nikon could do them but that was a while ago.

However, that camera is refocusing. It's not drifting around, it's not soft. It's focusing where you point it. From the settings you tell us it shouldn't be. But somehow this looks awfully like pilot error.

Also, somebody with a calculator can check this, but that doesn't look like f6.3.
 
Photo just taken with my D610 and 70-200 (SOOC).
13.5ft from camera to map (map parallel with camera) f6.3, iso 100
Single center focus point, focused on the gorilla in Africa. Camera not moved, used cable release, VR off.
It's soft all over the place especially towards Australia.
 
Lens element askew.

Edit: and I'll take a punt on it being a VR problem.
 
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I'd get a copy of FoCal and check it.

It's just possibly still pilot error (twisted grip) but it's looking like the lens.
 
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