jimpitt

I could use a little guidance.
I am having difficulty with focus on my D500. It is inconsistent, with roughly only half of the images acceptable. There are so many settings on the body that have caused this amateur confusion. I have tried several variables of settings with limited success. BTW, the lens is a Nikkor DX 16-80 zoom which is marketed as a special "paired" lens for the D500. I also have a Nikkor FX 28-300 zoom and the problem also exists.
Does anyone else have a similar problem and have any ideas?
Thanks, everyone.
Jim in Wisconsin.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

You indicate a focus issue but you need to be more specific.Can you describe it? We need to know all the settings with regard to aperture/shutter speed/ISO for these shots. You also need to provide us with examples of unacceptable images which should contain that information. When you upload them click on the store original box so we can evaluate your original images.

OZMON Loc: WIGAN UK

check that your lens is not in manual mode, you should find a small switch on the side of the lens, very easy to alter when handling the lens

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I'm guessing its probably not that since he says it only affects half the images. If the lens was inadvertently in manual mode I would expect very few images to be in reasonable focus. Of course, my definition of reasonable focus and his may be very different.

Chief Rob

The answer you seek is probably recorded in the ebook "Secrets of The Nikon Autofocus Systems" by Steve Perry. More info and how to order the book may be found at www.backcountrygallery.com

Warning, this book covers the Nikon autofocus SYSTEMS and does require careful study as Nikon has designed more than a couple of focus systems and distributed among several camera model.

Good Luck! CPO Rob

CO

I have a D500. You could check menu options a1: AF-C Priority Selection and a2: AF-S Priority Selection. Those can be set to either Release or Focus. If set to Focus, the photograph will be taken only when it has achieved focus. If set to Release, the photograph will be taken even if it's not in focus. Try setting those to Focus.

If you're taking a photograph of a stationary object, check to see if it's in single-servo AF.

jimpitt

To CO:
Your advice is very helpful. THANKS. I was confused on the "focus/ release" options and I think I have it straight now.
The D500 is very versatile with more options than I am accustomed. This is my fourth DSLR (D40, D80, D5300) over 11 years and clearly the most complicated. Very appreciative of your assistance.
Jim.

CO

It's a great camera. I found out that the video record button can be reprogrammed to execute Mode. Mode is in the group of four buttons on the top left of the camera but it's more convenient to have it next to the shutter button. You can switch between Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual mode easier. I don't shoot video so I reprogrammed mine. If you do shoot video then you probably won't want to reprogram it.

You probably programmed the Fn button on your other cameras already. If you haven't done that before, the D500 has two. I programmed Group-area AF to the Fn1 button and My Menu to the Fn2 button. I then loaded My Menu with frequently used functions. There are a lot of different functions you can program.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"D500 Auto Focus?"
Jim Pitt here is NPS Global's wisdom on the aforementioned for shooting Sports...
http://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d500_tips/af/
When you get your head around NPS Global's entire D500 dissertation there likely will be no more Auto Focus issues...
Especially when you review this NPS Glogal AF Settings guide
http://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d500_tips/af/custom_settings/

As for Steve Perry's eBook?
Save your money... here is his condensed version(s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N_bzhJAKms&t=204s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEDzAMm1FCc&t=13s

And before you start getting comfortable with your kit I highly recommend mastering Back Button Focus... Seriously!
Here's Steve Perry's take on this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzqQskGoURE

Enjoy... and remember, it takes lengthy dedicated practice (I mean learning what does/doesn't work) for you to become one with that piece of kit.
And yes the D500 is a tad more complex than the D5300 :)
As for the FX AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 (or 6.3 depending on which variant) Nikkor, it's a bit soft wide open but at f/8 it is reasonable...
Actually the AF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6 DX is a much better choice here... I've shot the both and there is a difference when on a DX body.

However high end FX glass works fine on the D500
Below are an examples of the D500 w/ AF-S 200-400mm f/4 IF ED VR
Hope this helps, or is at least food for thought...
I wish you well on your journey Jim...

Nikon D500 w/ AF-S 200-400mm f/4 IF ED VR

(Download)

Nikon D500 w/ AF-S 200-400mm f/4 IF ED VR

(Download)

Nikon D500 w/ AF-S 200-400mm f/4 IF ED VR

(Download)

jackpi Loc: Southwest Ohio

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

A must read.

http://backcountrygallery.com/secrets-nikon-autofocus-system/

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm curious. Why do both teams have "leidos" on their shirts?

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Best answer, Also the book specifically speaks to the many focus systems for specific camera bodies and give you settings to utilize

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"I'm curious. Why do both teams have "leidos" on their shirts?" Money Jerry... Leidos is the official jersey sponsor of its in-house youth soccer league... We are talking all 3,500 SAM recreation soccer league jerseys, 2,500 youth development class t-shirts, coaches jerseys and SAM Soccer camp t-shirts. While jersey sponsorships are not new for professional; travel soccer teams and leagues, sponsorship of youth and recreation soccer is unique locally and rare nationally. Based here in Reston, VA Leidos is a global science and technology solutions leader.

Jerry in my market area Soccer is big, very big! Especially Girls soccer thanks to the overwhelming success of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team... A tween and/or teen young lady is more likely to have Olympic gold medalist, and FIFA Women's World Cup champion Alex Morgan posters up in their room than Miley Cyrus, albeit their male counterparts are likely major fans of Miley's provocative session imagery with Terry Richardson... lol
After the Richardson session I personally have serious issues with Miley as a teen roll model but then again I set the bar high here.

In your market i.e. the Catskill Mountains of New York perhaps it's a lit' different...

Hope this makes sense...

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"Best answer, Also the book specifically speaks to the many focus systems for specific camera bodies and give you settings to utilize" Myer I disagree here... While Steve Perry is a brilliant wildlife photographer he is decidedly not shooting sports commercially... And yes I realize Steve is a valuable contributor on UHH for wildlife aficionados but his guidance for sports photography flies in the face of Nikon Professional Services Global wisdom especially his recommendation for Focus tracking with lock-on. This setting is paramount in sports and Steve actually recommends turning it off... That is simply wrong (in my humble estimation) in as it likely one of the most oft used AF component in shooting sports commercially...

My other problem here is Steve's eBook is way too broad for an initial Nikon D500 user... Jim (the OP) likely needs to focus (pun intended) on guidance limited to his kit... Thus the NPS Global D500 tips... They are not only precisely germane to the OP's needs here, they are offered free and I have reviewed them extensively and find them to be well illustrated and totally on point...

But hey, since you shoot wildlife Myer I totally understand your endorsement of Steve's efforts... however they need to be prefaced with the caveat they are wildlife specific... At least in my humble estimation... Enough said...

I wish you well on your journey Myer...