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D90 problem or me?

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chrislyse

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Joined: Mar '10
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I had to send in my kit lens for my D90 because it was not turning, in the mean time i broke out my 35mm lens and started using it (seriously for the first time). I've noticed things are not as well focused as I would hope. how can i tell if its something i'm doing or the camera is messed up? I tried some test pics with this:

http://regex.info/blog/photo-tech/focus-chart

They seemed relatively good, but while taking pics with random subjects and other papers it seems to be not perfectly focused when stopped down to 1.8. I would say its a bit front focused, how can you tell for sure? Do i need to send it to Nikon to test/calibrate it? Would they do that under warranty, if not what would be the cost?

Posted 3 years ago #
anjz

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Try this:
1. Put the camera on a tripod.
2. Focus on something stationary (don't recompose after you focus)
3. Snap a photo.
4. Open the photograph in Nikon View NX or Nikon Capture NX2, find "show focus point" in the menus and activate it.
5. A red square appears on the photograph right where the camera was focused.
6. If what is under the red square is in focus, you are all set and the issue was that, with the narrow depth of field afforded to you at 1.8, you may have been mis-focusing.

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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What do you mean by not "turning"?

Posted 3 years ago #
chrislyse

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It was real stiff to zoom, i tried to work it a bit slowly, then it seemed to be ok, then back to stiff, then later when trying to zoom it felt like something "popped" inside, then like something was rattling...none of which could be good :(

Thanks, anjz...i was eyeballing photos, i will try the Nikon app and check the focus points.

Posted 3 years ago #
chrislyse

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I have to do some more tomorrow, but i would say the ones i took earlier, the focus rectangle is slightly below what i recall focusing on, or close but it seems like the part that is shart is at the lower portion of the rectangle, not the center of the rectangle...is that normal?

Posted 3 years ago #
anjz

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Please post a link to your photograph so we can all take a look.

Not sure exactly how accurate the software focus rectangle is, other than to say it is "pretty accurate."

See if this helps: Your lens should be focusing along a plane that is parallel to your image sensor. So if you were to focus on a wall located 5 feet away from, and parallel to, the sensor in your camera, the whole wall should be in focus. Let's say that there was a plant located 3 feet in front of the wall and your aperture was at 1.8: that plant would not be in focus. Does this help at all?

Posted 3 years ago #
anjz

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Take a look at this photo. It illustrates shallow depth of field. Are you experiencing something like this? If so, you are probably dealing with depth of field and not a defective lens issue.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4393869244_9455289d5a_b.jpg

Posted 3 years ago #
heartyfisher

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At these wide apertures its definitely hard to judge if its gear or operator. If these shots were hand held its very very easily could have been that You moved between focus lock and shutter release. the only way to be more sure is with a tripod. It looks to me like you have "focus recomposed" for some of these and that can cause the "missed" focus.

Posted 3 years ago #
heartyfisher

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LOL chrislyse last posted 1 year ago ?? time warp??

Posted 3 years ago #
chrislyse

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Joined: Mar '10
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Thanks, yeah i know its a very shallow depth of field. Here's 3 pics, the take menu i was focusing on the phone number and its definately focusing on the lines below it, where as the chart i printed seems to look pretty good (focusing center on the 0 line and it looks like that is more or less the center of the focus). On the samurai doll i focused on the purple top know on his hair, it is close to being in focus but it seems the forehead or hair is slightly more in focus. I don't know if i'm being overly critical, going mad or my camera is not calibrated properly :| I'm certainly no pro, but somewhat obsessed with sharpness.

http://picasaweb.google.com/wildmilne/FocusTest?feat=directlink

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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When you're doing stuff like this, if you really want to focus on what you want to focus on, you really should be using manual focus. I think your lens is working fine, my 35mm 1.8 also has depth of field as shallow as this.

Edit- I just noticed on the photo of the menu you took, there's a bit of flare as well. That's fine too, my lens does that too because I don't think Nikon nanocoated the lens.

Sometimes I get ghosting too from the filters.

Posted 3 years ago #
chrislyse

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Joined: Mar '10
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Thanks. Sorry i didn't mention it. I was using a bright overhead light, a tripod but i was taking the picture with my hand not a remote from a close distance, maybe 1.5-2 feet (with the 35mm). I was not focusing and recomposing (I do this all the time when taking pictures but not for these "controlled tests").

I wonder if i just send it to Nikon to make sure it's all correct if i'll be charged (it's new but i don't know if i'm just going crazy :) I recently upgraded from the D70 and so far love the D90 but am just a bit paranoid with the 35mm lens (which is also relatively new). I would think in a controlled environment with a tripod focus would always be pretty much perfect. Normally people would use manual focus for something like this or rely on the autofocus?

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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Of course people still manual focus! :D

The depth of field is so shallow that to absolutely make sure you get what you want, you most certainly can manual focus.

Posted 3 years ago #
anjz

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I bet NSXType-R is correct about your lens. I also bet that if you are as half as paranoid as me, you are sending your lens back anyway. I would call Nikon repair at this number and see if they will look at it for free: 1-800-645-6678.

(NSXType-R, I just started a separate thread on manually focusing a D90--would you please help me out?)

Posted 3 years ago #
chrislyse

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Joined: Mar '10
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Thanks. Yeah i'm thinking of sending in the camera and the lens together to look at it (after i make it through Cherry Blossom picture time). I guess then I can stop guessing about it and go back to assuming my technique sucks :)

Posted 3 years ago #
mb

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You could send it but the focus is just right.
There is 1/3 in front focus and 2/3 in back focus DOF as it should be ...

Posted 3 years ago #

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D90 problem or me?

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