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AF or AF-D?

Author	Post

Posted by Peter LO: Tue Jan 7th, 2014 20:15

1^st Post

I had trouble getting correct focus with the AF-D 80-200/2.8, it back-focussed consistently. So I took it to Nikon.

A Nikon staff showed me a note on pages 371-372 of the user manual of D800e, saying that it couldn't be fixed (I BOUGHT THE LENS NEW IN 2012 AND THIS LENS IS STILL ON THE CURRENT LINE-UP!!) :banghead:

(Note 9:
When focusing at minimum focus distance with AF 80â€“200mm f/2.8, AF 35â€“70mm f/2.8, AF 28â€“85mm f/3.5â€“4.5 <New>, or AF 28â€“85mm f/3.5â€“4.5 lens at maximum zoom, in-focus indicator may be displayed when image on matte
screen in viewfinder is not in focus. Adjust focus manually until image in viewfinder is in focus. )

I argued that Note 9 was about "Other AF Nikkors (except lenses for F3AF)", as shown in the table. On the other hand, this AF-D should be a Type D AF Nikkor, instead of "plain" AF Nikkors made before F90, so correct AF was expected.

What do you think?

Attachment: compatible lenses - D800e.JPG (Downloaded 53 times)

Posted by jk: Wed Jan 8th, 2014 02:45

2^nd Post

My understanding is the same as yours Peter.
Table is referencing older type lenses or current lenses to show full compatibility.
That said I would expect Nikon staff to know best as they have wide experience of issues so maybe the table in the manual has elements that are lost in translation!

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Posted by Gilbert Sandberg: Wed Jan 8th, 2014 03:57

3^rd Post

Peter,
After studying the D800/e PDf manual and a 2013 Lens compatibility chart/xls.
I agree with you, the lens indicated in the exception is the Pre-D af 80-200 2.8.
(i.e. not the AF-D 80-200 2.8 new-two-ring, that one has a full compatibility listing in the XLS chart I have).
Maybe the receptionist/technician was confused by the number of variants of the 80-200 2.8.
To test their knowledge, I suggest you ask him/her what the spec of the first 80-200 2.8 was (grin).
On the other hand, there may be one or more errors in the chart due to the enormous amount of possible lens/camera combinations.
I have not tried all possible permutations, but found some cases where the people of Nikon took the cautious approach.

Regards, Gilbert

Posted by Peter LO: Wed Jan 8th, 2014 20:03

4^th Post

Thanks. Glad to know that I'm not the only one who "misunderstands the manual", as the Nikon technician suggested.
I'm going to get a copy of the service manual and see if I can fix the lens by myself.

Posted by Robert: Thu Jan 9th, 2014 03:21

5^th Post

It seems to me you are right Peter, good luck with the adjustments.

Isn't there a built in menu adjustment for front or back focus on some Nikon DSLR bodies which can be adjusted on a 'per lens' basis? Perhaps that's worth investigating before adjusting the lens itself...

My understanding of the AF mechanism is that the focus movement is made until the AF sensor(s) find sharpest contrast/sharpness, then it locks on. I am not sure adjustment to the lens will make a difference. Perhaps it is worth finding a good repair man who knows his stuff and can advise?

I have a link on D200 focus adjustment and it explains it very well but I seem to have lost the link? A bit of searching seems to bring up a wealth of info and input.

____________________
Robert.

Posted by Eric: Thu Jan 9th, 2014 04:53

6^th Post

Can't the camera be adjusted to suit the lens using AF fine tune?

Ive never used it so dont know what its supposed to do.

____________________
Eric

Posted by Robert: Thu Jan 9th, 2014 05:53

7^th Post

As far as I understand Eric, it it is for exactly these conditions where one lens is consistently out while all other lenses are correct.

I just don't know if the D800E has that facility, although I would have thought it should. I understand the D300 has it.

____________________
Robert.

Posted by Peter LO: Thu Jan 9th, 2014 08:35

8^th Post

Yes, D800E has this feature, but the focal point is still way off even if I set the AF offset to -20. In fact, this is also my first time to use AF fine tune.

Posted by Iain: Sun Jan 12th, 2014 09:05

9^th Post

Eric wrote:
Can't the camera be adjusted to suit the lens using AF fine tune?

Ive never used it so dont know what its supposed to do.
It only adjusts in very small increments so if a lens is well out, as Peters seems to be, it won't work.

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