Problem with getting sharp focus with Nikkor 85mm/f1.4G lens (Page 4): Well, it should have been sharp. So maybe it is something with the lens. But since you have this problem I...

JPL

Golden Rule wrote:

I even focused on the nose of the dog sleeping and the nose did not come out sharp. I have printed out Bob Atkins focus chart and will set up my tripod and test the camera today. I do love solving a mystery but this is making me pull my hair out.

Well, it should have been sharp. So maybe it is something with the lens.
But since you have this problem I decided to do a quick test on my D600 to check the size of the focus point. I only checked the center point and it is about 9 times larger than what is inside the focus point frame. It has been a very common problem with digital cameras that focus points are much larger than indicated in the viewfinder, leading to a problems in focusing when people do not know how to work around this. This is know for some Pentax and Canon cameras and I know from my experience that this is also a problem with some Nikon cameras.

I am not saying the D750 focus points are 9 times larger than indicated in the viewfinder as they are on my D600 but pretty sure the viewfinder is not telling you the truth about the size of the focus points and that can be causing this problem.

One more thing to mention is that contrast in the thing you are focusing on is very much affecting the focus system.

JPL

Here is some info from older discussion about D750 focus points with the same lens as you are using.

Neil, I never use re-compose method. Somehow never get to use of it. :) In the meanwhile I dig a bit on the interent and discovered that D750'd firmware was updated from 1.02 to 1.10 in which they repaired missaligned focus points. Now everything is OK. I also did some AF fine tuning and images are finally sharp. Needed +14 for my 85 1.4, but it focuses now. :)

And here is a link to the discussion. Maybe this can solve your problem. http://neilvn.com/forum/discussion/2015/nikon-d750-focus-point-missing-target

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Golden Rule wrote:

Shot has no post processing. Shot a Nikon D750, shutter 1/320 at 2.0, ISO 100. I just got this lens and it is consistently giving me soft eyes although I am autofocusing on the eyes. The ground beneath is sharp and this is happening with every shot I take. Does anyone have a clue as to the problem? I have never had this problem with my 24-70mm/f2.8 or 70-200mm Nikkor lenses so I don't want to blame user error....yet!

You did not mention at what aperture you took these shots, if you shot wide open, that could be the culprit. At f1.4, the DOF is extremely thin, so it is of utmost importance to be precise when focusing, if you want the eyes to be in focus (at 1.4 you'll only get part of the eye in focus)! Focus in manual with magnification!

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Very nice photos, but you are right, they are a little soft for such a lens that has an exceptional reputation for sharpness. I think fine tuning it to the camera is worth a try.

Golden Rule Loc: Washington State

This is the kind of look I want and maybe even shallower DOF but as you can see the eye is not quite as sharp as I expected! Is this because the highlights are a bit hot?
Shot is 1/3200 f2.0 and ISO100.

(Download)

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Golden Rule wrote:

This is the kind of look I want and maybe even shallower DOF but as you can see the eye is not quite as sharp as I expected! Is this because the highlights are a bit hot?
Shot is 1/3200 f2.0 and ISO100.

This one actually seems quite sharp(on the face and eyes, where I assumed you focused)! I would crop the picture more though, just my opinion.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Golden Rule wrote:

Shot has no post processing. Shot a Nikon D750, shutter 1/320 at 2.0, ISO 100. I just got this lens and it is consistently giving me soft eyes although I am autofocusing on the eyes. The ground beneath is sharp and this is happening with every shot I take. Does anyone have a clue as to the problem? I have never had this problem with my 24-70mm/f2.8 or 70-200mm Nikkor lenses so I don't want to blame user error....yet!

Looks like your focus point is at the bottom of the frame "below" the the dog's paw in the grass. The grass is sharp in one narrow plane due to the shallow DoF dog over all is soft. You likely need to move your (Spot) focus back to the center of the frame and in your case I might guess set it to use multiple focus points. That camera should have a lot of them available. That should be a good lens. Does it work correctly with Manual Focus? AF may need some tweeking. Yes, AF issues can be lens specific.

Golden Rule Loc: Washington State

lamiaceae wrote:

Looks like your focus point is at the bottom of th... (show quote)

Bingo! I am looking at that sharp grass and scratching my head. I had the "spot" focus in center with 9 focus points set. Would focusing then recomposing ( I don't think I did that) from 10 feet away throw it off that much? If so, how does one use the very shallow depth of field and compose a shot so the subject is not always in the center?

ballsafire Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

rpavich wrote:

How far away from the dogs face are you when you s... (show quote)

"Don't drive yourself mad with pixel peeping. It sure appears that there isn't anything wrong except shooting wide open at a moving subject hand-held and then pixel peeping it to death." I think rpavich hit the nail on the head!!

Ob1 Loc: Utah

I think you are right about the grass being sharp but if you follow that same focal plane up you hit the muzzle. It looks pretty good to me. Dogs have very long eyelashes that catch AF sensors. To brighten up the eye hit it with a little flash. The picture looks good. Crop some off of the right and your there. Remember this is free advice. You get what you pay for. Have a great day.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Golden Rule wrote:

Shot has no post processing. Shot a Nikon D750, shutter 1/320 at 2.0, ISO 100. I just got this lens and it is consistently giving me soft eyes although I am autofocusing on the eyes. The ground beneath is sharp and this is happening with every shot I take. Does anyone have a clue as to the problem? I have never had this problem with my 24-70mm/f2.8 or 70-200mm Nikkor lenses so I don't want to blame user error....yet!

Before you fiddle with the lens calibration make sure you are using single point spot metering. Most focusing issues are cause by not understanding the different focusing modes.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

joer wrote:

Before you fiddle with the lens calibration make sure you are using single point spot metering. Most focusing issues are cause by not understanding the different focusing modes.

the OP mentions that he was using 9 focus points in which case the camera will often (if not always) chose the nearest point. Switching to single point could solve this.

autofocus Loc: North Central Connecticut

Golden Rule wrote:

Bingo! I am looking at that sharp grass and scratching my head. I had the "spot" focus in center with 9 focus points set. Would focusing then recomposing ( I don't think I did that) from 10 feet away throw it off that much? If so, how does one use the very shallow depth of field and compose a shot so the subject is not always in the center?

The grass and the eye are both sharp because they are both on the same plane. Theoretically, that whole plane should be sharp across the whole frame, discounting the possible edge softness of the lens. I always select only one focus point, and place that one on the eye of the subject. When doing portrait work with shallow DOF I will never use the center point / recompose method because any slight movement by the subject or by you will impact the clarity

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

You are making me jealous with your full frame and excellent glass.

I'm going to throw my C-Crop D7100 in the can :o)

Golden Rule wrote:

This is the kind of look I want and maybe even shallower DOF but as you can see the eye is not quite as sharp as I expected! Is this because the highlights are a bit hot?
Shot is 1/3200 f2.0 and ISO100.

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

Especially when the DoF is so shallow.

Compose, move the focal point, auto focus.....take the shot is what I have been told.

On the D700-750

85MM f/2 at 10' has a front to back in focus of approx 3" at 15' it increases to 6-7" front to back.

The Simple Depth of Field Calculator is a great tool for on the fly checks IMHO.

autofocus wrote:

The grass and the eye are both sharp because they are both on the same plane. Theoretically, that whole plane should be sharp across the whole frame, discounting the possible edge softness of the lens. I always select only one focus point, and place that one on the eye of the subject. When doing portrait work with shallow DOF I will never use the center point / recompose method because any slight movement by the subject or by you will impact the clarity