My D700 AF fine tuning method, step by step...

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Stany Buyle
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My D700 AF fine tuning method, step by step...

Post by Stany Buyle »

Goto Setup menu> AF Fine tune
set "AF Fine tune" to "on"

Goto "saved value"

...and start to try, on tripod, to a fixed subject or an AF ajust printed chart as you find one copy here in the article written by Tim Jackson including some very handsome recommandations for checking focus, but... @ that time there was no in-camera AF fine tuning like D300/D700/D3/D3s/D3X have today...
With this copy you can set your camera to 45° to the paper.

Another option is to buy the lens align system.

When i see severe back-front focusing, I first start extreme: 1 shot with -20, one with +20.
!!! DO NOT FORGET TO CLICK "OK" after each setting you try !!!
When it's clear back or frontfocusing I start shooting again in a closer margin, f.i.:
One shot @ -20, one @ -15, one @ -10, one @ -5, one @ 0.
Check in what margin your results are the best...

Next step: after you know it's f.i. between -15 and -10 :
Take one shot @ -10, one shot @-11 ,one shot @ -12 ,one shot @-13 ,one shot @ -14 ,one shot -15 ...
Check sharpness and save.

Your D700 will recognize the lens you mount and automatically apply the AF ajustment until you would change it.
Under "Saved values" you can see the ajustments.
If your body shows the same back-front focusing with every lens you can set your standard to f.i. -1 or +1...

Important notice for your testshots:
Let your camera re-focus before every test picture.
Set your lens wide open.

For checking/comparing the test images:
1.Rename your testshots as follows:
01-28-75-af-20 ("01" as the number of your testshot, "28-75" as the lens you test for AF accuracy and "-20" as the in camera ajustment)
02-28-75-af-19
03-28-75-af-18
etc...

2.Copy the images to a file on your HD (with Nikon Transfer you can shorten renaming and moving to HD)

3.After that compare the pictures in ViewNX while setting the view to 100%

Underneath a picture of my AF-chart setup.
The printed part on the left side of my AF chart setup I found here: http://focustestchart.com/focus21.pdf
on this website: http://www.focustestchart.com
The focus chart I found @ http://www.inconceivableproductions.com/page6/downloads.html

Image

Hope this helps...
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kindest regards,

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I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
http://www.fotografie.cafe
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Stany Buyle
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Another AF focus chart and explanation

Post by Stany Buyle »

kindest regards,

Stany
I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
http://www.fotografie.cafe
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