AF Fine Tune

PDH7981

I posted this on the Tangents Facebook page but also wanted to ask here:  How many of you Nikon shooters need to use the AF Fine Tune function with your lenses? I know Nikon put it there for a reason, but with my new D810A, I had to use AF Fine Tune with all four of my fixed focal length lenses. In one case, my 85mm f/1.4, I had to adjust to +19. The adjustment only goes to +20, so I have no more room to adjust should the lens change over time. Not sure if it can... but that is concerning to me. In any event, is this usually necessary (or normal) with f/1.4 aperture lenses needing to "calibrate" and set a value for the AF Fine Tune for each lens?

CanonJay

I am not a Nikon user, but I fine tune all my lenses on my Canon 5D Mark III. I use the Reiken software and have had great results. For what its worth my 70-200 needs a +16 on the long end, and I have tested it three times in 2 years and it comes back with the same result. So I wouldn't sweat it too much unless it exceeds the limitations of calibration. 

-Jay

PDH7981

Awesome!! Thanks Jay.

mach0

My d700 needed fine tune but when I sent it to Nikon for service, they calibrated it and i had to re fine tune my lenses. My d800 only needed it with one lens.

Skipperlange

I never had to use it with my D700 or 800. Everything's been nice and sharp. I use the 70-200 and 24-70 lenses mostly. So I've been lucky. I just got a D810 so we'll see if I need it. 

PDH7981

Skipperlange... the two lenses you mentioned most likely won't need it.  That AF Fine Tune is mostly there for the f/1.4 lenses.  

Matrixphoto

Hi 

Ive have  all my Pro lenses done, but I had it done Mechanically and not  by software. I had all my lenses aligned and Focus shift on camera adjusted by and  expert  It makes focusing much more precise…..

For 2.8  I don't even take the lenses or camera out of the box until there aligned and adjusted  , for a F1.4 I would buy two lenses and test to see which one  is closer before I get them  aligned. 

Lou Recine

Owner Matrix Photography and design.

Skipperlange

Thank you PDH7981. 

PDH7981

Matrixphoto... who do you use for this service and what is the approximate cost and time?

Neil vN

I haven't had to fine-tune on my two D4 bodies, but I have to with the D810 ... the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II has real issues with not focusing accurately on the plane that I am focusing on.