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Nikon D4/D800 issues

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Eric

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@apvie Is it possible that your camera is setup for bracketing? I ask because you can obtain this exact sequence of exposures in manual mode by setting bracketing to "7F" and a step of ".3" with the "Auto Bracket Order" set to "MTR>under>over". Setting your shutter speed to 1/100 will yield the bracketed shutter speed sequence of:

1/100
1/200
1/160
1/125
1/80
1/60
1/50
then repeat.

Push the BKT button, it should say "0F" and have another value. If it says anything other then "0" before the "F", change it by rotating the rear command dial.

See if this solves your problem.

Posted 11 months ago #
msmoto

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Eric said:
Hi all
I just received my D4. While making a post to the "HDR passe'"thread, I looked at the bracketing options on the camera and received a surprise. All of the info I had seen about exposure bracketing on the D4, as well as the Nikon website says:

"2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV"

Which is just like the D3 series. However, I discovered that the camera I received also has the capability of shooting:

2 to 5 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1, 2 or 3 EV.

In other words, except for the 7 & 9 exposure options, the D4 I received will also allow bracketing at steps of 2 and 3 EV. In other words, instead of 9 stops of bracketing, you can get as many as 15. I think this is a terrific feature and yet I have not seen it listed in the manual or online. I tested this in Aperture priority by shooting 3 frames at 3EV between. The standard exposure was 1/160s, the two bracketed exposures were at 1/15 and 1/1250

I am at firmware version A 1.0, B 1.0 and L 1.004. I know that there is an upgrade available, but I'd hate to lose this feature.

Can anyone (msmoto?) verify this bracketing option on their D4? Is there anyone who has upgraded to firmware versions A1.01 & B1.01 who can verify this bracketing capability?

I am assuming that this is just a standard feature and I just missed seeing it mentioned, but since I like it, I'd like to verify that before I upgrade my firmware.

Thanks

Posted 11 months ago #
msmoto

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Hello...I have the F-D4-V101M.dmg update, which is D4_0101.bin.... ...but have not loaded it yet.
My D4 is A 1.00 B 1.00 L 1.004
So, we have the same firmware. My bracket can be +3F, -3F, +2F, -2F, 0F, 3F, 5F, 7F, or 9F frames at 0.3, 0.7, 1.0 ev.
The bracket is +3F, -3F, +2F, -2F, 0F, 3F, 5F at 2.0 or 3.0 ev.

This is true in Manual, Aperture, Shutter, or Program mode.

And, has I am having no consistent problems with my D4, I am a bit reluctant to upgrade.

But, I think I will get out the instructions and do so now...if anything changes I will let you know.

********

I am back....now Version A 1.01, B 1.01, L 1.004

Bracketing is no different.

*****

And, you are welcome....

Posted 11 months ago #
Thomas R

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zakai said:
I've got my D800 a couple of weeks ago. No issues whatsoever, except the oil spots after 1K shots visible @ small apertures. It was 'clean' OOTB.

I'm thinking to send it to Nikon repair but my question is how many times do you guys think I'll have to send it before these spots won't appear anymore? Thanks!

I now have a nice big fuzzy spot too. It shows up in all my images, but there's just one thus far. Seems like it occured just past the 1000 mark.

Posted 11 months ago #
Thomas R

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PavelVK said:
Hey i got my D800 couple days ago, and the firmware was up to date.
1.00
1.00
1.004

Didn't find any issues listed above so far. Love the camera.

My problem here is that i tried to format my CF cards that i previously used in D700 only will show me the error. And D800 will not let me reformat it.

Did anyone here have the same problem? If so how did you solve it?

Thanks!

Some CF cards will not work in the D800. I have a 16G CF that simply doesnt read.

Posted 11 months ago #
andyp

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DOF preview button non-functional

Purchased d800 approx 1 week ago from local shop. Depth of Field preview button does not stop aperture down. Button is functional as it can be assigned to other alternate functions available. I actually don't use the dof preview button, I always accidentally hit it on my d7000 when I pick it up. I checked all of my lenses on my d7000 and the dof preview is fine on that camera but dead on the d800. Firmware is up to date, I haven't tried to reinstall firmware, will return the body tomorrow for replacement or refund (14 day return). I like the camera so much I actually considered living with the issue even though I am in the no-questions-asked return window!

Posted 11 months ago #
msmoto

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I think I would go through the manual pages 63, 117, 315, 322, and make certain none of the menus have somehow been set up to disable or change the DOF button. It may be, by resetting these, you will return function. Otherwise there may be some other problem. It seems hard to explain why the DOF function would not work when the other programable functions do. Could it be in the lens contacts on the camera?

In any case, I am sorry about your new camera. I do know how we look forward to these and disappointments can be tough.

Posted 11 months ago #
andyp

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USER ERROR@! I took the d800 back and to my great embarassment and relief I was shown that I was on the 2nd page of options for assigning the DOF preview button, I simply didn't see the option to power the aperture because it was on a prior page of options (when I bought this camera for whatever reason the dof preview button had been set to virtual horizon rather than to the default dof preview). Anyway, what a relief!

Posted 11 months ago #
donaldejose

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Received my D800 from Adorama yesterday after a long wait. Last night I found out the AF assist light does not light up. The menu said it was on. I tried switching it off and back on in the menu and still no AF light in a dark room, so camera cannot focus. Guess it has to go back to Adorama. Never head of anyone else having this issue.

Just found the problem. AF illumination does not work in AF-C mode, only in AF-S mode.

Posted 11 months ago #
andyp

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So my d800 dof preview issue was not an issue. I bought I a duracell 32gb card at the store during my d800 evaluation being assured it works well with the d800, turns out after leaving the d800 gave me an error when trying to read or format the card, back to the store and the card seemed fine on other cameras of various brands (no d800 besides mine to test it on besides untouchable new ones), anyway, bought a sandisk cf card and it worked fine in the store and has not had any problems. After leaving and getting home the sandisk sd card that I have been using with no problems now has two corrupted nef/raw files at the very end of the card, I read the thread about that. When I tried using the card (taking additional photos) I got an error, I turned off the d800 and turned it back on and was able to add additional files that were readable. The two corrupted files cannot be manipulated or read at all by lr4 the current version of view nx2 or windows, but the files before and after are fine. A friend suggested that I do an in camera copy of the corrupted files. I tried to use the copy images menu selection under the play menu, I can select the source, the files, but when I am selecting the files I don't see a way to get out of that menu level (back to where I would select the destination). I want to like this camera and would feel like a poor soul on the steps of the kingdom of heaven if I realized only then that I should have jumped ship (that's the nicest way to say how I feel right now!).

Posted 11 months ago #
spraynpray

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So what do Nikon say about this?

Posted 11 months ago #
msmoto

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Glad the DOF button was not malfunctioning.... about the cards....it is my understanding that unless one formats the card in the camera prior to putting any images on the card, big problems occur. The other possible way to clean the card is to connect to your computer and use a disc utility to reformat it with the computer. But, then once in the camera it must be formatted again in the camera.

And, there is a thread about all this http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=5447&page=2 so now you can add this, ha, ha, ha

Posted 11 months ago #
andyp

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The duracell card would not format in the camera from the menu or from the body controls. I had filled up the SD card many times doing in camera formats so not sure why those two files are corrupted (it makes me nervous because I am still within the 2 week return window and it bothers me to see any problems at all). I guess it bugs me that there are two photos sitting on this card that are corrupted, I was in a fish market and got two shots before being told not to take pictures, so I guess I sort of want them! On the other hand I need that card to shoot, I want to format the card to get rid of the files but hate to just dicard them,

I finally figured out how to do the image copy, again, user error, I had forgot about the OK button, OK I'm an idiot!

Posted 11 months ago #
andyp

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I was now just able to copy the 2 corrupted nef files from my SD card to the CF card and was able to transfer them to my computer. It took 3 attempts (sometimes one or all of the images would not copy, at one point the SD card became unreadable by the camera, I just ejected it and powered down and up and it could be read). Anyway, glad to have been able to recover the original raw files using just the camera but I have to say it was a bit hairaising. I will be doing a lot of shooting with all of my cards before my return window closes to be sure there is not some issue with the body

As a side note I had thought about reinstalling the firmware, it is current as it is. I loaded the most recent firmware onto an sd card (not the same one with the issues above) and when I inserted into the d800 and selected the firmware update it wouldn't allow me to do anything (I can't remember if the option to proceed was blacked out but it was something like that). I presume it was because the firmware matched but on the other hand I thought it at some point might be necessary or useful to over ride the currently installed firmware. A friend suggested not to mess around with it and I agree but I guess I was wondering if anyone had tried to update the firmware with the same version and was able to do that?

Posted 11 months ago #
msmoto

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From rplst8

"I wanted to start a thread specifically about the D800 left side AF issues. I have a D800 I purchased about a month ago. I've taken about 1400 exposures on it, most with longer lenses (greater than 50mm).

I've discovered that my D800 suffers from the left side AF error - and I can reproduce it very easily with my 20mm and 50mm Nikon primes as well as with my 28-70mm Tokina zoom. My serial number is 3007XXX where XXX is in the low to mid range.

I contacted Nikon this morning about it and they are requiring that I upload example photos of the problem. It's fine by me, but interesting that they are requiring it.

What are other peoples experiences?"

>>>>>>>>

The answer is found in this "white paper" from another thread.

http://www.falklumo.com/lumolabs/articles/D800Focus/OuterSensors.html

Posted 11 months ago #
msmoto

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iamvoldemort said:
I've had my D800 for a little over a month. I have shot approx 2600 shots with it so far.

I am a little skeptic on some of the issues I have been having with it.

I have updated the recent firmware but still getting CF card errors. I am using a 32gb Sandisk Extreme.

I am having a lot of focus issues. It will sit and try and focus over and over but doesn't until I let it rest for a few seconds and re try. Sometimes when it is focused it won't let me click down the shutter button. Also focusing in low light situations is almost impossible.

Lastly I use my camera in auto white balance. I have been getting two complete different colors from shots that are taken right in a row. One will have a cool tone and the shot taken .5 seconds later will have a super warm tone. (not moving the camera only the subject in the shot has moved slightly)

I have searched around the forum and haven't seen people talking about any AWB issues or the focus (only the left side) that I have been experiencing. I shot with the D700 for the last two years doing wedding photos and currently using a 24-70, 35 1.4g and 85 1.4 and experience zero issues. Every lens on the D800 gives me the focus issues. I need reliability while I am out there and losing faith in this camera.

Do I return, wait for new firmware, or is this a send to nikon and get fixed kind of issue?

Posted 11 months ago #
rplst8

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Sorry for creating another thread. I read through this one prior to my post and it seemed to mostly deal with lockup issues and oil spots.

I was also looking, more specifically, what peoples experiences have been with support/service from Nikon when trying to get their camera calibrated/fixed for this issue.

Posted 11 months ago #
orangebox

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well i am another 1k+ actuation in + two sensor cleans later and guess what i have a load of these oil spots again, their starting to drive me nuts ive never cleaned a sensor as much lol

Posted 11 months ago #
msmoto

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@orangebox....exactly what does this spot look like in the overall frame?... I this enhanced in PP or does the high contrast come naturally? My D4 had some spots, but I am ignoring them as I do not see them unless it is a smooth sky, or other plain surface or tonal area. Now with nearly 6000 clicks, I will check to see if any more have shown up.

I wonder if somehow, possibly the solution from the swab could be creating more spots? A small micro drop getting into the mechanics, then after several actuations, it splatters out.

Sorry about this. Hope it clears up. Is this a D4 or D800?

Posted 11 months ago #
orangebox

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Hi msphoto, its a D800, it can be see in the photo with the naked eye just depends what appears behind it as it is opaque in color but it is the same color as in this crop.

The first occasion nikon cleaned it confirmed it was oil from mirror mech inside they said it will dissipate over time but may re-occur, second time rather than pay to ship off to NPS, i just cleaned it myself, but few k actuation's there back lol its not the end of the world just a pain in the arse!

I will say they dont show @ f5.6 or below only become visible by eye @ f8 onwards then there plain as day like the crop above.

Posted 11 months ago #
orangebox

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actually here's is a crop from the corner of an image this is how it looks on a normal image you can clearly see the oil spot like i said depends whats behind darker the colour the more it stands out.

Posted 11 months ago #
msmoto

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@orangebox.. yes clearly a PAIN....

I will check my D4 and see what is going on with it... shot of blue sky at f/16 should do it.

Be back later...

Posted 11 months ago #
orangebox

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yup lol, ok doke, should do hopefully you will find nothing but blue sky'

Posted 11 months ago #
msmoto

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Sorry, I have two obvious ones

This one

at 2000px on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/7456789178/sizes/o/in/photostream/

The image above is the lower right quarter of the sensor image, thus about 25% of the entire image. By my best calculations, this spot is about 0.33 mm in diameter. There is another near the top of the sensor. However, if I process the image through about 4 steps of contrast increase, darken to very dark blue, I have about 13 spots all similar. These do not show up in ordinary photos, however, and I have not seen any of these in my photos as I usually do not have plain surfaces or colors. So, while they are there, I am not planning on doing anything about them as I am waiting for the NIKON recall.

Posted 11 months ago #
orangebox

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i have similar spots as well about 40 in all if i do the same darken by couple stops and add contrast although like yourself they dont show up in images, i think these ones are just dust speckles going off their size. they look diff to the oil ones like in my photo but they could be minute oil particles aswell i guess.

i know when i spoke to my NPS rep he wasn't worried about it, he was just its new and over oiling during manufacturing process however if i have to keep cleaning it regularly i might have to take further action as sensor swaps are not cheap if your having to use them every week or two @ £20+ for 4 swaps soon start mounting up.

Posted 11 months ago #