Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

I have the new version 80-400 4.5-5.6 vrG ed. I have used both single and group focusing.

newcamman

Using back button Focus along with single-point help solve as much as possible my focus problems that I had with my D3100 using the 55 to 200 lens. Also you can adjust your meter to see which one works best. Believe me it is a little bit of a trick to focus these Nikon cameras but once in focus they do amazing work. Don't give up

newcamman

I shoot almost everything in shutter priority maintaining control over my ISO. Also I use back button focusing for practically everything and often I go to single point Focus. True I have a 3100 but I experienced some of the same problems early on. Also play with your meter to see which setting works best.

newcamman

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

First thing I would do is clean the contacts on both the camera and lens. I've seen that more than once be the culprit on lack of communication between the two. A little rubbing alcohol on a q-tip is what many people use.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Yes I have cleaned both contacts with cleaner, they were a bit dirty but not to bad. That helped some, but not entirely. Do you think the lens is just not that good in cloudy conditions?

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Let us know.

PS: just as an FYI, because I use a mirrorless camera, as you know, we see the final result in the viewfinder and it is very evident as the camera moves.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

Your lens needs to admit enough light for the sensor to send back information to the focusing motor in the lens. Obviously the max aperture (or the aperture you are using) of that tele lens is not big enough to admit enough light on a cloudy day. You need a faster lens - one with a larger max aperture.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Your right, I have no problem when the sun is out. I think I will use my 70-200 2.8 on cloudy days.

franksfun Loc: Bucks County PA

I am a Canon shooter. With my 5d mkii with the 2.8 70/200 L is i will use shutter priority. I will also use center point focusing. Even with image stabilization, one of the biggest things i have found, use a monopod shooting athletics/sports/racing/etc. when outdoors. A monopod is a relatively inexpensive addition that really helps. Many times you will find you are tracking the action and you may not realize it. It could be that motion the is the problem.

Bobnewnan

I too live in Las Vegas. Wasn't the rain nice! I shoot a d500 and primarily birds in flight, flowers, animals. The clouds make no difference, it's the amount of light getting to the sensors. On the focus points, you see on the screen 4 corners of the field, there are 9 focus points active. I leave my 16-300 on the camera all the time and shoot single point focus.(150-600 worked fine in Africa) I'm not getting the book out but my memory says the buffer will hold 200 images, get off the shutter for a second and then another 200, etc. I've never had shots turn out black unless I had the shutter speed too fast or ISO too low and not enough light could get to the sensors. Use the histogram for a quick check. If you have problem with camera shake, if you have Photoshop, use shake reduction filter and you will be amazed. Just have enough RAM or it takes awhile. I bought a laptop with 16mb just for that reason. I live up in the northwest, come back with a private message if you want to meet and we can compare notes on the 500. I'm male and retired.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Jules, I don't see a dark photo posted to review exif data, but out of all the answers offered, CatMarley is the only one remotely close. Have you ever used that lens under the lights at a night game? If so, cloudy days aren't the problem.

Make sure you have metering mode set properly and a workable shutter speed. 1/2000 is nice, but you could get away with 1/1000 or even 1/500.

Group AF vs. single point focusing has little to do with the problem. The camera needs a certain amount of light and contrast to focus reliably. As you hit dark jerseys on your metering point, the camera wants to go to higher in ISO, or lower in aperture or lower in shutter speed. I suspect because you have a 5.6 lens, as you pan across darker areas, the camera isn't getting enough light or contrast to focus. A dark jersey compared to a white jersey is probably locking the sensor. Try matrix metering on a cloudy day to have the camera average the light.

But know that if you set 1/2000 manual SS and aperture locked at 5.6, that auto ISO is gonna want to climb if the sensor reads dark conditions. If you set the auto ISO cap too low, the camera can only give you back underexposed photos or lock up and wait for enough light. It all boils down to exposure triangle.

I would try again but let the SS down to 1/500 and auto ISO free to go to 10000. See what happens. If you still can't get focus and proper exposure, get a faster lens.

KirmsPhotography

I have a D500 and shoot with many different lenses. For sports and bird photography I've found that changing the AF-C priority selection to "Release and Focus" yeilds a higher percentage of keepers. It may take a fraction longer for the camera to lock (you probably won't notice) but you should get much better results.

You can find the setting in the menu under Custom Settings > Autofocus > a1.