Call for help with my Nikon D7000 focusing

[goodguy]

I have been complaning about my camera focusing for sometime now and I posted some pictures hoping for some ideas and feedbacks.
I tried it all

1.Tripod
2.Self timer
3.Tried different ISO, different Shutter Speeds
4.Different distance
5.Different lenses
6.Tried Fine Tuning all the way from +20 to -20 one step at a time with no real differences

I even tried manual focus but even that looked the same.
To make it even more confusing I snaped 2 pictures one after the other, exact same parameters, both on tripod and with 2sec timer and sudently one was in focus (the only good picture I got in days) and the second again is not in focus.

I am ready to throw in the towel I just dont know what to do anymore, the higher the apature the better the focus but in 1.8 its just not up to my standard or any of you guys standard.

Is there anything else I can do ?
My camera is only few months old and I expected much more from it!!!

 

[SCraig]

I am ready to throw in the towel I just dont know what to do anymore, the higher the apature the better the focus but in 1.8 its just not up to my standard or any of you guys standard.

That is the way it works. No lens is at its sharpest wide open, not to mention the fact that depth of field is razor thin. You have to stop them down a couple of stops to get good sharpness. Same thing happens at the far end. Stopped down all the way you'll lose sharpness. It's a fact of optical life.

 

[goodguy]

I am ready to throw in the towel I just dont know what to do anymore, the higher the apature the better the focus but in 1.8 its just not up to my standard or any of you guys standard.

That is the way it works. No lens is at its sharpest wide open, not to mention the fact that depth of field is razor thin. You have to stop them down a couple of stops to get good sharpness. Same thing happens at the far end. Stopped down all the way you'll lose sharpness. It's a fact of optical life.

On F4 it was still not sharp, better then F1.8 but really not as good as it could or should.

 

[KmH]

Oh! How much experience doing photography do you have?

Which 1.8 lens(s)? Does the lens have VR? VR usually needs to be turned off, particularly when using a tripod.

Do you have a UV/Clear filter on the lens(s)?

In all honesty, most, but by no means all focus sharpness issues are user error.

 

[cgipson1]

what focus mode are you using? AF-S preferred for tripod! Have you tried manual focusing? If so, what happens then?

Are you using single point (spot)? Preferred! (by me, at least)

what are your other settings? Post some images with Exif. Also list your lenses.

Take off any filters you have on the lenses...

 

[SCraig]

Each lens has a "Sweet Spot" where it is the sharpest. It usually takes some testing to find the sharpest point. On most of my lenses it is around f/5.6 to f/8, but I don't have any f/1.8 lenses either. The link I provided in your other post showing how to actually measure the sharpness of a lens is the best way to go about that.

Before you bother sending it and your body back for alignment I'd recommend doing some testing. Find a camera shop or friend with a Nikon body and have them try your lens on their body and their lens on your body. See if the lack of sharpness follows the lens from body to body or it the lack of sharpness stays with your body.

 

[Awiserbud]

Each lens has a "Sweet Spot" where it is the sharpest. It usually takes some testing to find the sharpest point. On most of my lenses it is around f/5.6 to f/8, but I don't have any f/1.8 lenses either. The link I provided in your other post showing how to actually measure the sharpness of a lens is the best way to go about that.

Before you bother sending it and your body back for alignment I'd recommend doing some testing. Find a camera shop or friend with a Nikon body and have them try your lens on their body and their lens on your body. See if the lack of sharpness follows the lens from body to body or it the lack of sharpness stays with your body.

I had a similar problem with a new Sigma lens, The focus was way off and the D7000 i was using it on was pretty new at the time, I was convinced it was a problem with the body since this particular lens didn't have a built in focus motor, Turned out it was the lens at fault and nothing i did would correct it.
The best suggestion as you mentioned would be to try different lenses.
I don't know why i thought not having its own built in focus motor might affect the reliability, The D7000's focus motor is actually extremely reliable and with the right lens also pretty fast.

 

[goodguy]

Oh! How much experience doing photography do you have?

Which 1.8 lens(s)? Does the lens have VR? VR usually needs to be turned off, particularly when using a tripod.

Do you have a UV/Clear filter on the lens(s)?

In all honesty, most, but by no means all focus sharpness issues are user error.

How much experience ?

Not a lot.
Yes I know in many to most cases it is the operators mistakes and not the camera or lenses.
I dont have filters.
I used my 50mm 1.8G and my zom lens. With my zoom I tried it with the VRon and off, made no difference.
I have done quite the research on this and I think I covered most areas in regards to trying my camera and lenses focusing.
As I said I even tried manual focusing but it made no difference.

 

[goodguy]

what focus mode are you using? AF-S preferred for tripod! Have you tried manual focusing? If so, what happens then?

Are you using single point (spot)? Preferred! (by me, at least)

what are your other settings? Post some images with Exif. Also list your lenses.

Take off any filters you have on the lenses...

Of course I used AF-S and used the centre point for my focusing.
As I said I tried manual focus and it made no difference.
I will post few pictures this evening after work.
And again I have no filters.

 

[goodguy]

Each lens has a "Sweet Spot" where it is the sharpest. It usually takes some testing to find the sharpest point. On most of my lenses it is around f/5.6 to f/8, but I don't have any f/1.8 lenses either. The link I provided in your other post showing how to actually measure the sharpness of a lens is the best way to go about that.

Before you bother sending it and your body back for alignment I'd recommend doing some testing. Find a camera shop or friend with a Nikon body and have them try your lens on their body and their lens on your body. See if the lack of sharpness follows the lens from body to body or it the lack of sharpness stays with your body.

Actualy you gave me a great idea.
I have a good friend that has been a photography fan for many years and even shot few weddings so he knows his stuff.
He does like mostly film photography but he has a D90 and D70 so I will ask him to try my camera and see what he thinks and also I will try his cameras.
It will give me a fantastic point of reference.

 

[cgw]

Historically, most D7000 AF issues boiled down to screw-ups with AF point assignment and/or mis-setting the focus confirmation/shutter release toggle. You might also try the photo.net archives.

 

[jenko]

Another idea ... Do you keep your battery at 50% + charge? My experience with Nikon cameras is that the focus starts to give when the battery gets below a certain point. This is the case on both my Nikons, DX and FX.

 

[shefjr]

It's all about the light. Room lighting may seem like it's enough for your camera but, it really isn't enough. Light is a huge part of the issue at least when I looked at one of your other threads. http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/general-gallery/319298-need-help-these-pictures.html#post2884397

As Scott said previously, no lens is at it's sharpest wide opened. Which means, you need to bump up your ISO and or slow your shutter speed. All three things here, aperture, ISO, and shutter speed will affect the quality of the image.

 

[cgipson1]

Oh! How much experience doing photography do you have?

Which 1.8 lens(s)? Does the lens have VR? VR usually needs to be turned off, particularly when using a tripod.

Do you have a UV/Clear filter on the lens(s)?

In all honesty, most, but by no means all focus sharpness issues are user error.

How much experience ?

Not a lot.
Yes I know in many to most cases it is the operators mistakes and not the camera or lenses.
I dont have filters.
I used my 50mm 1.8G and my zom lens. With my zoom I tried it with the VRon and off, made no difference.
I have done quite the research on this and I think I covered most areas in regards to trying my camera and lenses focusing.
As I said I even tried manual focusing but it made no difference.

You still have not told us WHAT lenses you have... as in BRAND, FL, etc...? Is the Zoom lens a Sigma? Is that the one you are having the worst problem with?

When you ask questions like this, give ALL of the information you can... how you are shooting, Exif, amount of ambient light, flash or no, brands and focal lengths, everything and etc.... lol!

Edit: Ok.. I went back and checked some of your other threads... you have a Nikon 50 1.8G and the Nikion 18-105 kit lens, correct?

 

[cgipson1]

what focus mode are you using? AF-S preferred for tripod! Have you tried manual focusing? If so, what happens then?

Are you using single point (spot)? Preferred! (by me, at least)

what are your other settings? Post some images with Exif. Also list your lenses.

Take off any filters you have on the lenses...

Of course I used AF-S and used the centre point for my focusing.
.

Using the Center Point ... and using Single Point (SPOT focus) are two totally different things. If you are using any of the AF area modes, the center focus point may not be what the camera selected as the Focus Point. Put the AF area mode into Single Point... and try again (this way, YOU select the Focus Point, not the camera).

You might want to read this.. a good explanation of the differences... http://www.pixelfinesse.com/_docs/D7000_AF_Explained.pdf