Camera Calibration?

elementgs · Oct 13, 2014

So Nikon has recommended I send my D810 and all of my lenses to them for calibration. Aside from the expense, it's going to force me back to my older camera for 3 weeks while I wait for them to calibrate and return it to me.

What other options do I have?

Is this something they're going to actually physically tweak within the camera and lenses, or is this software based using the AF-Fine Tune option?

Can I do this myself somehow? I've googled online but nothing I have managed to find yet explains how to fix the problem I'm having, or at least I'm not seeing the problem I'm having go away with what I've tried. Kinda concerning.

I have two more weddings this month and I simply can't afford to be down a camera. Any advice is appreciated.

Mach0 · Oct 13, 2014

My guess is that they will check the actual AF on the camera and lens. You might be able to get away with aF fine tune but that's going to depend on what's the actual issue. I'd say try AF fine tune. If it works, do it to get you through the weddings and then send it in. If not, rent another body.

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runnah · Oct 13, 2014

I've heard this is a good alternative...link

Light Guru · Oct 13, 2014

What exactly will they be calibrating?

If all they are going to do is autofocus calibration that can easily be done yourself with something like this.
Focus Pyramid | Autofocus Lens Calibration Tool | AF Micro-adjustment

Mach0 · Oct 13, 2014

runnah said:
I've heard this is a good alternative...link

Lol

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KmH · Oct 13, 2014

You cannot do it yourself to the degree of accuracy Nikon can.

You can use the fine tune feature in the camera that compensates for a lens, but you cannot adjust the AF module in the camera and the lens(s) themselves.

elementgs · Oct 13, 2014

This sucks so bad. I've invested everything into this business and pushed everything into marketing and have so many clients lined up over the next few months. I simply can't afford to be down right now.

Thanks all for the responses.

Mach0 · Oct 13, 2014

elementgs said:
This sucks so bad. I've invested everything into this business and pushed everything into marketing and have so many clients lined up over the next few months. I simply can't afford to be down right now.

Thanks all for the responses.

Get a back up body

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Derrel · Oct 13, 2014

Sounds like you are under-capitalized. Do you have just the one, single camera body? If so, you're severely under-equipped. What is the issue the camera has? I have no idea what the problem is, but if you've come to full-frame from DX, it's possible that there are technique issues that are showing themselves now that your brand-new, been-out-a-month Nikon camera shoots at the very border of modern lens capabilities.

Scatterbrained · Oct 13, 2014

Rent another camera while yours is away. Simple.

elementgs · Oct 14, 2014

I have two backups but none equal this camera in terms of quality and ability.

Derrel, there is a focus issue of about 1-2 pixels off on every single photo, no matter the settings or environment. Every single photo has it.

I set up a static environment with static light and ran the camera through a series of tests and sent them to Nikon who acknowledged the problem.

I would love to find out that I'm just doing something wrong. Honestly. Please tell me I'm doing something wrong. It'll save me a lot of time and hassle.

ruben_c · Oct 17, 2014

I wouldn't spend money sending it to the manufacturer if you can correct it by yourself with the AF-Finetuning?

Check out this thread, I use the same tool:
Spyder Lenscal | Photography Forum

runnah · Oct 17, 2014

Those who say you need two bodies are foolish. What you really need is at least 6 bodies.

TheStig · Oct 17, 2014

Really sucks, but you should probably have at least 3 good bodies.

Derrel · Oct 17, 2014

elementgs said:
Derrel, there is a focus issue of about 1-2 pixels off on every single photo, no matter the settings or environment. Every single photo has it.

I do not know what you mean by a focus issue of 1-2 pixels off; that sounds to me like you mean some kind of a fringing around objects, like maybe a 1- to 2-pixel "outline" around stuff...that sounds like maybe chromatic aberration, or maybe first-curtain shutter shock/vibration, or maybe very minute camera movement, something along those lines. The 36-million pixel resolution is very high-resolving, and the slightest issues can be seen if you look at those files at 100%. Do you perhaps have a BIG file stored on-line someplace, so we can look at it closely? Because I have no idea what you actually mean "1 to 2 pixels off"...that might not be a focusing issue, but something else.