Focus issues on Nikkor 35mm

[Seventen]

Hello,

I am using the Nikkor 35mm on a Nikon d5100. It has been a great lens and had much use. The problem is its focus seems really off. It dont matter if its inside outside, people building, bright dull same problems it has a like 20% success rate its also not the shutter speed to low and being camera shake and its been tried from f1.8 to f8 and still hard to hit focus. I am sure it used to focus fine when I first got it but has been used mainly in Manual mode until recently when taking peoples pictures. The focus if I am at the person face or body ends up focusing about 2 meters away. this happens if the sun is behind or in front. but if I put in Live View zoom in and focus on face it hits fine.

Any ideas what the issue might be?

Thank you.

 

[jaomul]

Massive backfocus may need sending off for calibration. Are you in single af mode

 

[Seventen]

Massive backfocus may need sending off for calibration. Are you in single af mode

I am and actually in I tried it in the Auto area focus recently and it held a better success rate.

 

[jaomul]

Odd. Are you using centre focus point all the time? If you use a different focus point is it better? Are you focussing and recomposing without 're pressing shutter? I'm sure you've tried everything so don't get offended if I'm asking stupid questions

 

[Seventen]

Odd. Are you using centre focus point all the time? If you use a different focus point is it better? Are you focussing and recomposing without 're pressing shutter? I'm sure you've tried everything so don't get offended if I'm asking stupid questions

None taken, I have never been able to get the hang of focus and recomposing so dont do that. I use all different focus points depending if in landscape or portrait mode further back or closer up. I can resort to manual focus as I feel a 120euro lens may not be worth sending for repair. But still I am hoping its user error and something I have done wrong

 

[jaomul]

If it seems to focus ok in auto point selection but not when you select a point that is odd. I suggest that you do a full reset on your camera, instruction manual will guide you on that. Sometimes a reset can sort these things. When you are shooting make sure your af is af-s and not af-c or af-a.

 

[Seventen]

I wouldnt say it does much better, about 40% seems ok and I was just putting it down to luck. af-s is the most used one and rarely would use af-c for birds. But nothing hurts doing a reset will give that a try and see the outcome. Thank you.

 

[Seventen]

Gave a reset a try and no change

 

[480sparky42 41]

Post a link to an unedited image so we can not only see an OOF shot, but the focus points as well.

 

[AKUK]

It may well be worth doing a focus test. Get a 30cm ruler and place that on a table. If it's clear, place a sheet of white paper underneath it to increase the contrast of the black markings of the ruler. Make sure it is well lit to facilitate focusing. Now place the camera on a tripod and angle it at approximately 45° degrees and aim for the 15cm mark. Ensure you aren't within minimum focus distance. Using the timer on the camera and the center AF point, take a picture of the line corresponding to the 15cm mark. Try not to put pressure on the camera as you do this, as you can shift focus if the tripod/head has any flex to it. If you have a shutter release cable or remote, even better. Then review the image. If you have a focus issue, then either 14cm or 16cm will be more in focus than your intended target.

 

[KmH]

What shooting mode do you usually use? A, S, M, P, one of the scene modes?

 

[Seventen]

Dropbox - TPF.jpg

Here is an image I checked the focus point and this one was just below her chin on her hair. I know not a perfect example and will try and make a controlled test tonight but in this image I cant see any point that is in focus. ISO 100 Shutter speed 1/500 and F/2.8.

With this lens I normally use the modes A and M. This shot was taken in A.

 

[MRnats]

Has it always been off? Did you drop it? How do your other lenses behave?

 

[Dave442]

I was hoping the photo had the focus point data included, but it does not. Difficult photo to check as there is not much besides white between the subject and the background. It looks like the small stick on the right is in more focus than the subject. Have you tried another lens? Are you on AF-S and set to single focus point? If you are not comfortable doing focus and recompose then just use the center focus point and put that right on what you want in focus.
Clean the contacts on the lens.

 

[Seventen]

It's never been a problem in the past. I have not dropped it and they are packed protected stored away. They are always when in the bag packed in tight with padding.

Other lenses are acting normal. Maybe sometimes they feel like auto focus don't hit so just manual focus. The 70-300 at 300mm has issues with birds. But not large objects.

Sorry I checked the focus point with a plug in for light room 5 but couldn't find how to make it stay when exported.