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D500 What am I doing wrong?
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Aug 22, 2019 17:13:20   #
Geegee Loc: Peterborough, Ont.
 
I am trying to use the built-in automatic auto-focus tool to fine tune my lenses. I have followed Steve Perry's instructions. I have:

Turned AF fine-tune ON in the menu;
Turned the VR off on the lens;
Set the camera mode to Aperture priority and adjusted the aperture to its maximum opening;
Set the camera on AF-S, centered single point focus and normal AF area;
Placed a focus chart vertically on the wall and taped all four corners;
Evenly illuminated the chart with two flood lights.
Mounted the camera on a sturdy tripod, level and at the same height as the focus chart and at the described optimal distance from the chart;
Centered the single point focus point on the center of the chart;
Ensured that the chart was in focus using live view;
Meticulously checked and adjusted all of the above;
Simultaneously pressed the center button of the AF/M switch (with the switch on AF) and the video record button until a notice comes up on the LCD.

The first three checks gave me an adjustment value and after that I always get a notice which says "Auto AF fine-tune is not available with the current focus settings"

I tried changing the lens and changing the chart to no avail!

What am I doing wrong?

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Aug 22, 2019 18:41:16   #
martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida
 
In the Camera set up Menu scroll down to Auto Fine Tune, click on that then select ON.
I'm assuming your using all CPU Nikon lens

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Aug 22, 2019 22:12:21   #
PaulR01 Loc: West Texas
 
I do all of that when micro focusing except the F stop. If I am using a fast lens like F 2.8. I want the narrowest depth of field I can get. If you are using like F10 it brings more in to focus. When doing my 70-200 I find the minimal distance I can be at 200mm at the widest F stop. I also tether to my laptop using lightroom to check the focus on my chart.

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Aug 23, 2019 04:36:04   #
Pistnbroke Loc: UK
 
I had this with a D850 and just doing a two button reset put it right.
I would be doing the lens wide open on an object about 30m away,

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Aug 23, 2019 06:40:53   #
CO
 
I did that just recently with my D500 and Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. I think at the focal length I had it set on, the aperture was around f/5. I also had the camera in AF-S, single point focus, and normal AF area. It worked great. What lens do you have? Maybe it won't work with third party lenses.

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Aug 23, 2019 07:03:34   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
Geegee wrote:
I am trying to use the built-in automatic auto-focus tool to fine tune my lenses. I have followed Steve Perry's instructions. I have:

Turned AF fine-tune ON in the menu;
Turned the VR off on the lens;
Set the camera mode to Aperture priority and adjusted the aperture to its maximum opening;
Set the camera on AF-S, centered single point focus and normal AF area;
Placed a focus chart vertically on the wall and taped all four corners;
Evenly illuminated the chart with two flood lights.
Mounted the camera on a sturdy tripod, level and at the same height as the focus chart and at the described optimal distance from the chart;
Centered the single point focus point on the center of the chart;
Ensured that the chart was in focus using live view;
Meticulously checked and adjusted all of the above;
Simultaneously pressed the center button of the AF/M switch (with the switch on AF) and the video record button until a notice comes up on the LCD.

The first three checks gave me an adjustment value and after that I always get a notice which says "Auto AF fine-tune is not available with the current focus settings"

I tried changing the lens and changing the chart to no avail!

What am I doing wrong?
I am trying to use the built-in automatic auto-foc... (show quote)


I have owned many Nikon AF lenses that have NEVER needed fine tuning. Was the lens really that bad to begin with? What results were you getting that YOU did not like?

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Aug 23, 2019 08:35:27   #
Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC
 
I place a yard stick at 45deg on a chair in good light, with camera on good tripod level with 18in, about 20ft from chair.

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Aug 23, 2019 08:51:02   #
Pistnbroke Loc: UK
 
yes it works fine with third party lens ..I just done the 15 measurements for the 100-400 tamron no problem .. In 40 years I have NEVER had a Nikon lens that did not need some fine tune adjust ...28-300 +15 24-85 +4 18-140 + 4 etc etc and what is right on one Nikon body is right on another. Tune them up on the D850 and use them on a D7200 no problem

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Aug 23, 2019 10:47:40   #
Geegee Loc: Peterborough, Ont.
 
martinfisherphoto wrote:
In the Camera set up Menu scroll down to Auto Fine Tune, click on that then select ON.
I'm assuming your using all CPU Nikon lens


In my list it is the first thing I did. Yes I am using CPU lenses.

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Aug 23, 2019 10:49:15   #
Geegee Loc: Peterborough, Ont.
 
PaulR01 wrote:
I do all of that when micro focusing except the F stop. If I am using a fast lens like F 2.8. I want the narrowest depth of field I can get. If you are using like F10 it brings more in to focus. When doing my 70-200 I find the minimal distance I can be at 200mm at the widest F stop. I also tether to my laptop using lightroom to check the focus on my chart.


In the third thing that I did on my list I stated that I opened the lens wide open.

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Aug 23, 2019 10:51:11   #
Geegee Loc: Peterborough, Ont.
 
CO wrote:
I did that just recently with my D500 and Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. I think at the focal length I had it set on, the aperture was around f/5. I also had the camera in AF-S, single point focus, and normal AF area. It worked great. What lens do you have? Maybe it won't work with third party lenses.


Yes, I said I set AF-S and normal area and I only tried Nikon lenses.

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Aug 23, 2019 10:55:55   #
Geegee Loc: Peterborough, Ont.
 
Pistnbroke wrote:
I had this with a D850 and just doing a two button reset put it right.
I would be doing the lens wide open on an object about 30m away,


The two button reset will wipe out all the settings in the menu that I have customized but if that is what it takes I guess I'll have to do it. I said that I set the aperture at its maximum opening.

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Aug 23, 2019 10:59:37   #
Pistnbroke Loc: UK
 
I found that the two button reset did minimal changes ( to my supprise) I have not had to do it again despite setting many lenses with the auto system

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Aug 23, 2019 11:13:31   #
farwest Loc: Utah
 
Geegee wrote:
The two button reset will wipe out all the settings in the menu that I have customized but if that is what it takes I guess I'll have to do it. I said that I set the aperture at its maximum opening.


before doing a reset save your settings to a card in camera so you can put your settings back in. I've had the same problem before and it works sometimes and other times it does not. Go figure.

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Aug 23, 2019 14:27:58   #
martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida
 
Geegee wrote:
In my list it is the first thing I did. Yes I am using CPU lenses.


I'm stumped.. You mentioned at the bottom of the post that the first 3 checks were OK then you got an error message. No sure what you mean by First 3 Checks?? You can only assign One fine tune adjustment per lens. Am I missing something. I found this on the net, Steve's own YouTube video on the auto fine tune. Maybe this will help..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cHhrWF-pqM

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