Youre not alone. My d800 and my previous D300s both do this. It's annoying but I always assumed the first characteristic was because I touched something, though i am usually very careful not to, and the second usually seems to happen in low light and I assumed the camera was struggling to find something to lock on to. I assumed it was the camera letting me know that it was not going to be able to focus.. I always shoot in afs-c or afs- single or 9 point mode, though I can't say I know which of those 4 settings correlates with the AF point racing across the view finder phenomenon beyond the 9 or 1 point I selected. A half shutter press restores the camera to normalcy.

atilla ozturk said:
I was showing a friend the difference between DX and FX lenses on my D800E, I had a DX lens on when all of a sudden the auto focus stop working. I changed to an FX lens, still nothing, took the battery out, reset the camera checked everything still not working.
very frustrated I took the battery out and left it for a day. When I reattached the lens it worked but only for 15 min then it stopped again. Anybody have this problem?

And, now that we are here...make certain the battery is fully charged. Reset the camera as instructed on page 193 of the manual. Also, if by chance you are changing lenses with the camera on, this is prohibited. Always turn the power off when changing lenses, memory cards, etc.

Once camera is reset, check to make certain you have format set in the menus: Camera/Image Area/Auto DX crop "On"

If this does not help....let's see what others have to offer.

Interesting, Dutch Nikon, thanks very much!

Just for the record though I've never once flown from Schiphol to the US. Finland (Schengen country as I recall), Russia, Canada (my country), and mostly Curacao (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands--in some sense, a domestic flight!). I've always gone through the second check--but to be fair I haven't flown through there in a couple years.

The biggest hassles were actually on the flights to Curacao. And I found that strangest of all: yes, there's a drug trade between Holland and the Islands but I'm betting 95% of the drugs by cash value are flowing in the opposite direction. (And Curacao customs/immigration couldn't care less... "You're leaving? OK!")

From the guys I work with, they all have told me that the D3s is the best camera that they have ever shot with. Some shoot the D4, but they have kept the D3s as a second body and often find themselves going back to it constantly because they like the results better. Even for landscape photography, the D3s has has a better iso 50. It seems the D3s is the best Nikon body ever made. I'd love to have one and would not buy the D4.

"so I didn't get that either"

Me neither .... :-)

"the inspector wanted to know where I bought my D90"

Well in tense times they do ask that kind of questions because it also seems to have happened that ppl were given "presents" which seemed to contain xplosive stuff at the entrance of the airport.

Never had any trouble with those inspectors at Schiphol..

The second check & metal detectors at the exit gates do not function as an exit check, but a check for entering USA territory when boarding the planes.
These were, as far as i'm aware, installed at request of the USA government as they are always paranoid for ppl carying stuf they do not like to much into the airplanes, so do not blame the Dutch for that..

Generally when boarding a plain that flies between European countries this second check is not there, and you only go once through the metal detectors for those flights..

Has anyone seen any comparisons of the D3x vs D800/D600?

I haven't ran across any at all. Just curious if it has held it's own.

I've been thinking of getting a 2nd FF body or new D400 if it comes out like a mini D4. Checking some D3 and D3x on fleabay I see some nice D3x in the low 3's and D3 in the low 2's. I D3x might be an interesting compromise between old and new. I've done some framing for a pro that uses a D3x and I can say I never seen better 30 x 40 photographs. It was better than some Mamiya 7 stuff from years past.

framer

Dutch Nikon... as well you might, but I have a question for you.

I've flown through Schiphol many times. I've seen some weird stuff there. (I was mistakenly booked on the semi-secure floor of the hotel after the fire in the holding pens, for starters...) but here's what I don't get: Why is there a second round of metal detectors and questions at the gate? That is, I've already gone through Passport Control (we don't do exit interviews in North America, you don't want me in your country, fine, I'm leaving anyway damnit, but never mind...) and Security and then there's another whack of it at the gate. Without fail, this delays our boarding and without fail the plane leaves late. Like, 20 times out of 20.

The last time through, the inspector wanted to know where I bought my D90. "Not in the aeroport" was not a good enough answer... and if it was in the aeroport, who cares? He asked me over and over what I had pictures of. Walking down the ramp the passenger behind me said "Don't mind him, he's Frisian", and everybody I met in Leeuwarden and Groningen were fine, so I didn't get that either.

Ok guys, you have convinced me, i am not traveling to the USA , no holydays, no "Vegas trip", no California Beaches, nothing of that all ..:-)
I rather stay at this side of the atlantic ocean... :-)

LOL McFAILin'

The InfoWars.com story is misleading in one important respect. It is true, as the storyteller wrote, there's no FEDERAL law or rule against photographing an airport security check-in point (as long as you don't take a picture of the screen of one of the security scanners), but there could be local or state laws that prohibit it, as the TSA Web page warns. The incident reported in the InfoWars article took place in Puerto Rico, which might have such a rule---which is what the TSA agent alleged before confiscating the camera although I didn't try to confirm that claim---and if that's the case, the TSA is entitled to enforce the local ordinance against photography. My understanding could be faulty but in any event the TSA has no arrest authority; they can deny you boarding a plane or entry past the checkpoint, but if they accuse you of breaking some law, whether real or imaginary, they must summon a policeman to execute an arrest. In other words, despite the fancy badge and uniform, TSA personnel are AGENTS, not OFFICERS.

The head of the TSA is called Janet Incompetano for good reason. She runs the TSA like a butch frat house. Come next January, we can only hope she'll be retired to live on her fat government pension and, if she ever flies commercial, will get a taste of what it's like to be treated as a lowly plebe by her former underlings.

msmoto said:So, I pull out the Olympus 1030SW, hold it up and all of a sudden three Port Authority workers start running toward me, yelling, using profanity, describing me in various derogatory terms. I was so surprised I apologized and as I had not taken any photos, I explained I was waiting for my son. They continued stating I was so stupid and "should have known" no photos as there were no signs anywhere. They then said to get out of there. The three stooges then retreated as I rode off to wait up the road.

I think I've mentioned this story before, but one time I was yelled at by DHS for taking photos with my D7000 and 70-200 on a bridge over the Delaware River. I was taking photos of birds on the bridge, like this:

The bridge carries a state highway, NJ 179, from Lambertville, NJ into New Hope, PA. Both towns are very heavily visited destinations for shopping, eating, arts, etc. Thousands of people must take photos on the bridge / of the bridge every year. Go to wikipedia and there are photos and information covering all details of the bridge. However, I have a noticeable camera so I must be up to no good!

So of course I must have known I was doing wrong, right? Here are the signs on approach to the bridge:
Bridge | Weight Limit 4 Tons | Weight Limit Strictly Enforced
Motor Vehicles Only | Horses Not Permitted On Bridge
Bridge May Be Slippery
Delaware River
Weight Limit 4 Tons
Speed Limit 15
Bicycles Prohibited | Walk Bicycles On Sidewalk

Maybe my camera looked like a bicycle?

...

Okay I guess to be fair and play against myself, here's a positive example of security (in this case, local police) interaction. One night me and one of my friends went to an empty playground to play around long exposures. We were putting lights on a carousel and spinning it to get interesting light trails. Someone living across the street called the police on us. When they pulled up and I identified what was happening, I made contact with them, explained what we were doing, and showed them the images we were getting. They were understanding, and were relieved that there wasn't any actual trouble to deal with.

From talking with friends who have shot over 100,000 clicks on their D3's and D3s', and now have the D4, they really think the D4 is a clear improvement in all respects. But, the D3 is a phenomenal camera and will be an excellent primary body for a lot of folks, especially those who want a paparazzi camera for a lot less money than a D4.

Just a note for all.... let's try to keep all the comments here focused on our own experiences, less on the political aspects. It is easy to get off topic, but NRF is not for the discussion of politics...

Gitzo: Janet Napolitano is the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. Don't know what planet your from but labeling and name calling shows you haven't grown up.

Why is the T.S.A. such a disaster ? It's really very simple, IMHO; just take a good look at any highly successful organization, from the military, to big corporations ; the very successful ones ALL have one thing in common.......great leadership; now, take a very close look at the T.S.A.'s "top" .............( I'm searching for a word to describe Queen Janet Napolitano that won't "offend" everyone on the forum, but I can't think of any "non-offensive" words that would have a chance of accurately describing this "woman"; ( and with that, I have just offended ladies everywhere, referring to her as a "woman"!) About the kindest thing I can I can think of to say about the former Governor, is the fact that I can think of a few female bureaucrats in government at the moment who are even WORSE than she is.

I don't suppose this is a good place to get into politics, but if you want to have any chance of understanding what the big problems with the T.S.A. are, it's impossible to do it, without getting into politics.

Thinking back to "pre 9-11-2001", security in commercial aviation was a complete Joke; if you think the individuals working for the T.S.A. are bad now, you should look at a few "employees" of such outfits as "Wakenhut"; very few of their people even spoke English, and 90% of the minority that did, spoke it as a "newly learned, second language". In "those days", the average airport security "screener's" big "goal", was to get a "better paying" job.......at Burger King or Mac Donald's ! (Fortunately, I had very little need to fly very often back then.)

When the disaster in NYC happened on 9-11, and Geo. Bush's administration started the T.S.A., I was "ecstatic" ! Former Pa. Governor, Tom Ridge is a great guy, but he was "less than thrilled" with his appointment to head up the T.S.A. It will always be my opinion that when Tom Ridge stepped down, and Bush named Michael Chertoff as his successor, the T.S.A. had it's best chance ever, to become a viable organization. ( Mike Chertoff is one very sharp, and very dedicated guy. ) But when our new "pretender-in-cheif" "took over", and appointed J.N., it's been all "down hill" ever since. ( But as bad as she is, she's still not even the worst "high level" appointee that the Obummer has made.

I had a very "unique" opportunity about 4 or 5 years ago, to get a very close-up "peek" at some of the people of T.S.A. We have a very close family member who was at the time, the Assistant Station Manager of a very successful airline, at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix; then, when a bunch of rich Florida businessmen built the first new international airport in the U.S. in thirty years, my "friend" was promoted to become the first Station Manager for his company at the new terminal, at the new N.W. Florida Beaches Int. Airport. When we drove down to Panama City Beach to attend the Grand Opening, I had the rare opportunity (for me at least), to "hang out" all day at the brand new terminal, on the last day before the place was opened to the public.

The T.S.A. had transferred a bunch of people to Panama City to staff the new airport, and I had the "once-in-a lifetime" chance to take pictures any place and every place, ( with my very own mid-level airline management "boss" as my personal "guide" ) On the day before the grand opening, the T.S.A. people, (and the H.L.S. people) were just as "disorganized" as everyone else was, and the construction workers were literally still putting the place together ! ( I inadvertently had a "minor brush" with a female H.L S. "babe", with a great big Glock on her hip, while I was wandering around, shooting pictures on the flight line, and I had gotten some 50 feet or so, from "Charlie", my personal guide, (who had the necessary I.D. tags around his neck), and I was supposed to stay within "very close proximity" to my "guide", "at all times" ! After she got her "kicks" rousting me, (and I smiled, and acted properly "impressed" with her "authority", the whole thing "blew over",as quickly as it started; Government people, (especially the one's who have Glocks on their hips), "require" lot's of "deference"! (at which I'm fairly good, when it becomes necessary) My point here is, if and when you become "involved" with "authority figures", (such as T.S.A. and Home land Security "types", the ONLY way to come out on top, is to "go overboard" with the "yes sirs" and "no sirs", and just go "on and on. about how "important THEY are, and how "insignificant" YOU are, and if you do it properly, after a time, they will get so "fed up" with all of the B.S., that they'll invent a way to get you out of their hair !

While I was talking with some T.S.A. guys, I "pointed out"........"you know, if you should ever have any "problems" with terrorists, I can guarantee you that it WON"T be today"; when they heard that, one guy said......"how the hell are you so sure of that"? I said, "it's simple; the only thing terrorists are interested in, is blowing up airplanes, and shooting "civilians"........so right now, that brand new 10,000 ft runway has never had a single plane land or take off on it, so there are NO airplanes here, YET, also, there are NO "civilians", and until tomorrow, there won't be any TV cameras or news reporters, running around taking pictures, and terrorists don't "do anything" unless they're on TV ! ( I just wish I could I could have gotten a shot of those guys faces when I "announced" my theory !

So.....is there any likelihood of getting any "relief" from the T.S.A. any time soon ? I'd say, probably not; ( but if you lean to "live" with the "problem", it reduces it to a manageable level !)

TaoTeJared said:
By the looks of it, the D4 has better color range at high isos. I think it looks better even if it did come at the cost of some noise. The richer tones of the photos outweigh the noise for sure.

+1

By the looks of it, the D4 has better color range at high isos. I think it looks better even if it did come at the cost of some noise. The richer tones of the photos outweigh the noise for sure.

one of the photographers for a local paper was telling me that his friends that shoot the D4 think it is superior to the D3s and they would not go back. He was hoping his paper would buy a few D4's to replace their aging D3s's as theirs did.

I cant say one way or the other since I have not shot with either, but put a bit of weight on local photog's with no desire to drive traffic to their site. NOT saying this person is trying to do just that (come on, if you have a site you want traffic) as their only reason for this review. I am certain many do it because they enjoy it.

I was surprised to notice in this months UK What Digital Camera magazine, an editorial comment that the D3s in spite of the arrival of the D4, retains their crown for the best low light (hi ISO) performing DSLR. Seems some believe the old girl is not dead yet!

Some people did not think it was perfect...

http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=3564&page=2

http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=2236

http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=3993

http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=1034

Was the D3s so perfect that no complaints or problems needed to be discussed?

framer

TTJ--great stuff. And thanks for the clarification.

When I said packed away I meant in my carry-on camera bag. I never put gear in luggage proper.

I'm not expecting too much grief as I am just connecting planes. I actually pre-clear US customs in my own country (Canada) on the way down so I always, in theory, have the option of walking away. (It's coming back that's the nervous bit.)

I inadvertently forgot about a multi tool in a bag that I hadn't normally used in probably 4 years. Going through TSA they saw it on the x-ray, asked me, which I had no clue. They then handled it with gloves like it was radioactive. I just told them to "Keep it or toss it" and that I had even forgotten it was lost and it had to be in there for years.

After 2 hours of interviews (with the dumbest questions imaginable) they finally asked me to open it - it was rusted and seized shut. They tried to use two pair of pliers to open it and it didn't budge. They finally got it open with a hammer and a small pry bar. The blade was so rusty it was rounded on the sharp edge. It was at that time the head honcho of the TSA at that airport came in - said "You have to gotta be shitting me?", scolded the agents, apologized, authorized me and set up my travel on the next flight out for free. He was trained, etc. The idiots were not. I didn't have a deadline that day so it was rather amusing watching it all. The memory's image is more of a cartoon at this point.

shawnino said:
TTJ: Are those death counts (heart attack, stroke etc.) annual? I want to check before I go spouting them off to all and sundry elsewhere.

Those are annual USA deaths.

Note on traveling with your gear - I would not pack it but rather carry it on. Luggage get's lost all the time or gets delayed. If you want your gear, carry it with you. Just don't take it out and take pictures of the TSA or any security. It is best not to take any photo gear out in an airport. Cell phone, tablets or laptops are fine.

If I can, I keep a 3 sets of images when I travel. One on an external HD (1 in my suitcase) and the 2nd & 3rd being on the cards and/or on my laptop (if I can.) I try to upload the photos as well but that will end with the D800 files being so large.