HELP! -- D500 + Tamron 24-70mm -- Focus Problem

HeldInTheMoment · May 10, 2018

Ok all, I am getting really mad at my camera lol...maybe it's me, but I don't think so.

Attached are two (2) photos below, one is the actual photo from the camera exported in Lr (unedited) and the other is a photo from my phone of the back of the camera showing the focus spot.

I was at 1/1600 sec ss, ISO 100, f/2.8 at 24mm with AF-S...it missed focus and very soft, but shows it spot on in camera! This has happened to me too many times where I NEED to identify the problem and fix it, so any advice is welcome!

HeldInTheMoment · May 10, 2018

Also, before people start mentioning the f/2.8 and shallow DOF...I have other shots from the series that are locked perfect. It's just random like this when it misses, and misses BAD!

tirediron · May 10, 2018

Granted, I'm only looking at this on a less than ideal laptop, but it doesn't appear badly out of focus to me.

HeldInTheMoment · May 10, 2018

tirediron said:
Granted, I'm only looking at this on a less than ideal laptop, but it doesn't appear badly out of focus to me.

Yeah, but in Lr and zooming it it is quite out of focus...look at the fence behind them, tack-sharp, but she is VERY soft in comparison.

HeldInTheMoment · May 10, 2018

I don't have the focus point proof for this photo, but here is another example (much more obvious) on how badly it missed. The focus is on the background for sure while the focus point was on the face of the lady to the left.

D500 | Tamron 24-70mm | 1/160 SS | f/4.0 | ISO 250

HeldInTheMoment · May 10, 2018

Here's another example, focus was of course on the girls behind the table, but the photo has focus in the background.

D500 | Tamron 24-70mm | 1/250 SS | f/4.0 | ISO 1800

tirediron · May 10, 2018

How often is it "missing"?

HeldInTheMoment · May 10, 2018

tirediron said:
How often is it "missing"?

Randomly really; but often enough where it is a major concern as I do events, weddings, portraits, etc. I've tried various combinations of things to isolate the issue; have other people use the camera, VR ON/OFF, higher SS, AP-S/AP-C....still get it from time to time. I just don't understand why it misses so poorly when the point is spot on.

HeldInTheMoment · May 10, 2018

Factoring in the quality of the gear and my experience, there is no reason a posed setup shot like these should ever miss focus.

DarkShadow · May 10, 2018

Perhaps you are back focusing a bit and need lens calibration.

tirediron · May 10, 2018

Is the problem occurring with other lenses or only that one?

Tinderbox (UK) · May 11, 2018

Owner with a D500 had problems in the link below, things to check.

Possible Auto Focus Problems with D500

goooner · May 11, 2018

I've had back/front focussing problems with my Tammy 70-200, and 150-600 G2. Actually sent in my 70-200 to have it fixed. Both are fine now, but calibrating the 150-600 was a PITA.

Is it the 1st version of the 24-70, or the new G2 version? In your 1st shot in this thread, was the IS/VR on, or not. I switch it off when my ss exceeds 1000. The older version of the 24-70 may need a firmware update for the D500, you will have to send it in though, as it is not compatible with the dock.