Nikon's Auto AF Fine Tune - How To Get The Most From It

Рет қаралды 418,933

Күн бұрын

Do you have a Nikon camera that features Auto AF Fine Tune? If so, then this video is just what you need to get the most from it!
The thing is, the way most people use Auto AF Fine Tune is actually wrong and can lead to poor results - or at least results that are less than optimum. In this video, I'll cover what AF Fine Tuning is, how to do a proper setup for using it (including a handy focus target I created you can use), how to avoid pitfalls, and a tuning technique that works as well as using a commercial product.
If you've had problems with Auto AF Fine tune before, you'll discover the method in the video will work far better and give you much better results. Currently, this only applies to the Nikon D7500, D500, and D5, but I'm sure as other cameras are added they will also include this feature (i.e. like the upcoming D850).
The AF Target can be found at this blog post for this video:
backcountrygallery.com/get-ni...

Пікірлер: 506

@backcountrygallery 3 жыл бұрын

Have nature and wildlife photography questions? Check out the BCG Forums! Ask and answer gear and technique questions questions, post photos and more. Check it out and sign up today! bcgforums.com/index.php Bonus - I also post exclusive tips, tricks, and techniques to the forum you can't get anywhere else! Check it out!

@parusland 2 жыл бұрын

Would be nice if you'd also answer on your facebook....

@houseal 4 жыл бұрын

Here's a much easier way to figure a reasonable target distance if you're used to working in feet rather than meters, using 30x the focal length as a general guide. For a 50mm lens, that's 50mm x 30 = 1500mm which converts to 4.9 feet-call it 5 feet for our purposes. So just take the focal length of the lens, move the decimal point one to the left, and label it feet. For a 24mm lens, 2.4 ft. 105mm lens, 10.5 ft. Plenty close enough to get into the sweet spot of that 25x-50x range.

@RobertDuttonFineArt 6 жыл бұрын

Hi Steve, brilliant production again and just what I needed to have - an actual 'how to' action video for this topic you cover in your most excellent, well written ebook. Thanks so much for creating this. Makes a MASSIVE difference.

@the_ah_photo 6 жыл бұрын

All your videos provide critical information for taking better pictures and have served me well always. Thank you! Definitely getting your book.

@lesgagnon8740 6 жыл бұрын

Another great video, I now totally understand how the auto fine system works. I look forward to your future videos. Well done Steve!

@arpinkus 6 жыл бұрын

Great Nikon AF fine tuning vid. I originally bought the book for my D500. Then, when I picked-up a D850, Steve had already updated his book to cover that body, too. Highly recommend!

@wahabdilawar 6 жыл бұрын

Every new upload from you convinces me to get a D500.

@Freddy2Noel 6 жыл бұрын

Steve, I am glad I have bought both your eBooks as they are extremely informative, and fun to read with so many funny quotes keeping the reader interested. All your videos are awesome. Thank you for sharing so much with all Nikon users.

@backcountrygallery 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks!!

@adampakenham1629 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Steve and hello from the U.K , I'm just about to take delivery of my D500 and 200/500. I think I'm going to be asking you many question and reading many of your guides. I've already purchased the Secrets to stunning wildlife and it's fantastic.

@jacdale 2 ай бұрын

I have just checked the calibration on two Tamron lens and one Nikon lens. The video and the downloaded instructions were fabulous. I have a couple of more Nikon lenses to check. Thanks for the great instructions.

@christosphillips3568 6 жыл бұрын

Steve thanks for the upload, always a gentleman and keeping your promise, Although the content is satisfactory, I would highly recommend anyone to download the E-book. I have it and let me tell you its the MOST comprehensive guide on autofocus for Nikon anyone could ever wish for. Really valuable reference always at hand for ANY query anyone might have , amateur and pros alike. Simply the best. Again thank you Steven....you sir are precious and a breath of fresh air in a world full of KZfaq trash. Well done.

@backcountrygallery 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for the kind words :)

@PPMOCRG 6 жыл бұрын

Christos Phillippou I agree, I bought it yesterday and already have learned a lot about some really useful functions.

@richardcoward7234 5 жыл бұрын

I agree. I tried to do a bit of DIY tuning but didn’t read or view this video properly and so all of my ‘test shots’ are completely wrong. Note to self (and others), R-T-Flipping-M and W-T-Flipping-Video properly next time and you’ll save yourself a lot of wasted time!

@sb1493 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent video. Answered all my fine tune answers especially the ones I had for my zoom lenses. Will spend a couple hours doing this.

@davidf6326 6 жыл бұрын

HI Steve Once again an excellent, clearly explained tutorial. Cheers

@ExpectoPatronum538 6 жыл бұрын

Love this guy! Thanks for all your expertise and effort making these videos! Thanks!!!

@jimt9479 6 жыл бұрын

Great video again! Thanks Steve, looking forward to the next one

@SouthTexasVet 2 жыл бұрын

Wow! This could not have been more helpful. Got my first big boy lense arriving tomorrow (used Nikon 200-500) and I was nervous about this step. Just did a full run through after watching this video with my kit lenses and everything worked perfect with points coming within 3 points for all 12. Got my paper all laid out for tomorrow and going to tape off the distances on the floor to make lining up each length easier. Thanks again great stuff! Bought your Nikon AF Ebook I’m sure it won’t be my last from you. Best channel to learn photography on KZfaq

@backcountrygallery 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!

@BradMaestas 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this wealth of information Steve. I've just returned to the DSLR world after continuing to be primarily a digital RF and MF/RF/SLR film shooter for many years. My last DSLR was the Canon 20D if that's any indication, so how things have changed...mostly for the better. I'm mainly shooting wildlife, landscapes, and portraits with my D850 and this is exactly what I was needing to help me further hone my Nikon system. I now have all your e-books. Great stuff. Many thanks!

@backcountrygallery 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks!!

@mistuhgee 2 жыл бұрын

I just did this on my D7200 for a Nikkor 80-200mm f2 8 af D that I got last week. I've been a bit underwhelmed. Test shots so far look sharper than anything I've ever shot! Can't wait to take it out tomorrow!! Also, going to fine tune my other lenses. So....Thanks!!

@richardcohen8769 6 жыл бұрын

As always, explained so regular folks like me can understand. Big thumbs up.

@Truck-it150 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome - best description ever. Well done Steve.

@vorticity4 6 жыл бұрын

Steve. Very nice tutorial and a ton better than one of your competitors who set his camera on a wood block outdoors, focused on a telephone pole, and took the resultant value after one shot. In your next update, recommend you talk about how the D500 saves the values for up to 20 different lenses and, if AF Fine Tune is ON, the camera will make the Fine Tune correction automatically when you change lenses.

@pelafotofotografia 6 жыл бұрын

Steve Perry, I thank you for your lesson - help that is of great value. A big hug from Brazil.

@jamieh2239 5 жыл бұрын

If you get an error message..come out of Live View. Move the focus point away from the centre and then back to the middle. Go back into Live View and the error has gone! Worked well after reading that tip on DP review.

@ashj1979 6 жыл бұрын

Great video :) Always enjoy your videos!

@winniduesseldorf Жыл бұрын

Absolutely perfect - THANK YOU for this great explanation, dear Steve !

@nightmareaccomplice5816 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Steve! Your videos are the best and I send ppl to your videos constantly.

@backcountrygallery 3 жыл бұрын

Wow, thank you!

@dfrsc7342 4 жыл бұрын

Thank You for a clear tutorial! did wonders and kept me from buying another lens.

@simoncamper6440 3 жыл бұрын

Possibly the best tutorials. Brilliant. Thank you.

@dereklauzon 6 жыл бұрын

Great video as always Steve!!!

@duckhanhpham4753 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Mr Steve Perry to learn to calculating AF fine tune for getting correct each lens I own for the sharpest focus. Before saw AF Fine tune but I am no clue on it at all.

@lwanfry 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent information perfectly explained and mastered. Thank you

@Databyter 4 жыл бұрын

I have seen advice before indicating to use only the images taken for calibration, and to NOT use the Live View to achieve focus. I guess these are all just different methods. But I am glad that I know THIS one now, which seems fairly easy and straightforward, and also what Nikon had intended. I would probably use both methods just out of curiosity, the other method involves finding focus on the optical viewfinder, so it makes sense that Nikon has allowed for the use of live view to accomplish the same thing, since many of the new Cameras are mirrorless, and would still need to be calibrated like any other. So this makes perfect sense to me now. Thanks. I have watched about 5 of these videos so far, and each of the 5 offer a different method, so bottom line I am learning a lot. Databyter

@AtharvaVaidya 6 жыл бұрын

Auto auto focus fine tune? Amazing video. New subscriber but I've stalked your channel. It's amazing

@ConorCoen 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this , I recently purchased the Tamron 24-70 G2 and I found focus soft and not all good , thankfully I remembered you had a video on this....I did it, a like patience and bang my Tamron is tac sharp 🙂

@willionaire360 4 жыл бұрын

what was your settings please. my portraits arent sharp when i zoom in

@geoffreystone4849 3 жыл бұрын

A very professional presentation, thank you. You’ve convinced me to buy the book now.

@backcountrygallery 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

@CraigskinnerphotographyUk 6 жыл бұрын

Awesome guide - just got my D500 2 days ago and the focus seems to be ever so slightly off with my trusty 50mm. Will have to run through this setup and see if it helps 👍🏻

@ReinkeDK 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the nice clarification on how to do the fine tuning :-) maybe i should finally read your e-book :)

@JULIENVANCAMP 6 жыл бұрын

Nice informative video,great job !!!

@robertbohnaker9898 6 жыл бұрын

thanks so much for answering my question re the lens/camera fine tune. It's just amazing how much I'm clueless about. It's actually a little scary. Thanks again. 😎👍

@3rdeyeclics669 6 жыл бұрын

Helpful Video, Thanks Steve

@murraytrimmer228 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Steve. Simply brilliant.

@frankcruz8068 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome video, you are a great teacher. I appreciate your help!

@MrChrisjharris 6 жыл бұрын

Spot on, Steve. Thanks as always.

@santiagovanegas3812 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent tutorial (and book!)

@TheExtraTerrestrial 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! This is a huge help! One thing someone else mentioned on a forum is, when doing this, DON'T refocus between runs. Just focus for the first AF-fine tune, and then don't focus again when repeating the calibration. Is this correct? That's the way I did it, and it seems to have worked.

@JgHobley 5 жыл бұрын

Great tutorial! Thanks

@ronleach5512 6 жыл бұрын

I bought the ebook and it has been an incredibly valuable tool. Thank you. I have a D500 and a D800E and I now have them set up properly. I really appreciate you taking the time to make these videos. You have been a great help and mentor.

@Stop-All-War Жыл бұрын

'Set-up properly'.. what are, if any differences.. before & after ??

@ljohnson0725 3 жыл бұрын

Steve thank you this helped me with my D850, however I just got the Z7II but I notice my 24-70mm 2.8 is soft at times. I do you Fine tune Z7II thank you, love your videos. I have learned so much from you. Be safe

@vinodmanikandan 2 жыл бұрын

How can do af fine tune in z7 camera

@beverleygovender841 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much. You explain this incredibly well😊👊

@AngeloMiguelEng 6 жыл бұрын

Very good video. Thanks!

@lorageproductions 2 жыл бұрын

Steve this is great! Thank you

@wendygerrish4964 4 жыл бұрын

Great how-to video..I will follow this soon ~ zoom kit lens is off and I'm having to focus manually which either way, doesnt work very well for capturing birds.

@HumanistJohn 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! You're a great teacher!

@ganphotography2368 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks a bunch, used this on my Nikon D500 with a 17-35 f/2.8

@nandi123 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent. Thanks Steve!

@richcower 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you Steve, you're a genius!

@ianbrown704 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you - great advise, as always

@gavinberkey 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this great instructional video. I followed the procedures closely to fine tune focus on my refurbished Nikon D500 with 50mm AF-S f/1.4G lens. While the focus looks really good when I zoom in on the playback image, when I compose and focus the viewfinder goes blurry. I have dialed back the diopter as far as it goes in the direction that is most helpful but it just isn't enough. Any thoughts on what else to try?

@LotetaCartel 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for sharing 🙏🏼

@ezuddinamra9072 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video. I am always suffering with my nikon 50mm 1.4G Lems. Its gives bad focus from time to time. Gunna try your AF Tuning Method . Thanks Again.

@paulhastings288 3 жыл бұрын

Just got a D500 and am reading your ebook right now, it's fantastic. Just answers so many little questions that pop into my head. Nice and clear, easy to read and understand. I'm now wondering if my Tamron 150-600 needs fine tuning or if it's my skills that need honing. Just not getting that pin sharp focus especially when the subject is far off. I'll do some tests.

@backcountrygallery 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! The last chapter of the book talks about subjects that are far away and the potential sharpness problems so you may want to skip ahead to that one. It covers a few other possibilities as well. Also, it's totally possible that it needs some tuning - Tamron has a TAP console that allows AFFT adjustments at different focal lengths and focus ranges.

@paulhastings288 3 жыл бұрын

@@backcountrygallery Thanks Steve, I'm skipping ahead right now.

@NikCan66 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent video

@mallred4347 6 жыл бұрын

Hi Steve - Great video. Makes me want to sell off all my Sony gear and pre-order a D850 & Nikon primes. Thanks again for the great video!

@backcountrygallery 6 жыл бұрын

That's the sprit :)

@shang-hsienyang1284 6 жыл бұрын

One of the reason I bought the Sigma 150-600 Sports over the Nikon 200-500 is because I can't put different calibration values at different focus length. At the time of my purchase, Tamron lenses also lacked the support, but they've added it now.

@juleskarney4009 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Steve. I shoot high school sports for Maxpreps, a division of CBS. I wanted to fine tune all my lenses. I shoot with a 500 also.

@allabouthim03 4 жыл бұрын

I have a D500 and the Sigma 70-200mm Sport. I already knew the lens was back focusing really bad, it needed somewhere between neg 15-20 to get sharp. Great Video but I fight for about an hour to get it to work. THIS IS WHAT I FOUND. I kept getting a message about "Focal Lenght" when I pressed the 2 buttons. I was using Steve's formal as to how far away I needed to be from the focusing print out. So I set up at about 25ft, nothing I did work. So I decided after total failure to bring everything closer together, so I set up at about 12ft and everything started working perfectly. After much testing at 70 and 200mm. I then moved back to 18ft and everything worked fine. So if you continue to get a message about "FOCUSING" please move closer to your target.

@rcvprod6374 6 жыл бұрын

great video ! congrats

@orvilleburgess282 6 жыл бұрын

great job Steve.

@othmanahmad1000 6 жыл бұрын

Hi Steve, thanks for the awesome videos you make !! I was wondering if i am using a USB dock or a Tap In console on a lens used on Nikon. And i end up putting the values in. If i use that same lens on a Sony mirrorless will that fine tuning still matter ? or it will only matter if i use DSLR ?

@skaslusky 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks- Great video and book - I'm going to try it with my 500mm lens however what does 500mmx25 convert to as to feet to target?

@valdiss588 6 жыл бұрын

Great video. What about cameras like D750 without an auto AF calibration ? how to properly set it manually ?

@a2roland 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome!... Thank You!

@stefansmuts8882 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Steve!

@negativeimage2445 4 жыл бұрын

Very good, thank you

@hamzatatta952 6 жыл бұрын

hi steve how do you know when do calibrate your lens or should i say that do you it as soon as you buy a new or 2nd hand lens and how much sharper have your images become do you before after pics?

@photographerswithoutborder7302 6 жыл бұрын

so that's amazing, thanks a lot

@rfssport 4 жыл бұрын

The key for success with my new d850 was to center up the AF area point in the viewfinder and then in live view by pressing the multi select button in both cases. - no more error coded.

@jennifers9389 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you and a new sub! :)

@mitchanderson2569 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Steve, thank you for this brake down! I just upgraded from the d3400 to the d850 and I just finished fine tuning one of my lenses. Now just one question, do I leave the af fine tune on or off once I have completed the process? Oh and BTW it averaged out to -5.3.

@bradlackey8052 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@fsahouri 6 жыл бұрын

i just finished reading your book it helped me a lot, its great book not only for beginners, i understand that the center point is the most accurate for focusing but i noticed my lens corner point is always need -7 and the near corner -5 ( if its 0 on the center ) is this normal or is it too much

@uknewbie64 4 ай бұрын

Great video. If I'm using my D7500 which has a 1.5 crop sensor and I have a 35mm lens, am I using 35mm as the focal length or am I using 52.5mm?

@mvpro2k8 6 жыл бұрын

You can flip the screen and use touch instead of OK button that pushes the camera forward. Touch screen requires very minimal physical contact.

@backcountrygallery 6 жыл бұрын

Good point for the D850 - but the D5/D500 don't support touch for menu items like that.

@mvpro2k8 6 жыл бұрын

I guess I got spoiled to quickly by d850. Did not know d5/d500 lack this menu touch feature.

@markdstump 6 жыл бұрын

I did use the touchscreen, I think its a great suggestion, but the flipping it out part I consider unnecessary.* *I do baby my gear and I had previously decided to leave my screen the way it is except for those times when I think the contemplated shot is "sponge-worthy."

@ronschmitz1521 5 жыл бұрын

This solved my problem when I tried it on my D850. Thanks so much for the tip.

@ashoktuladhar9551 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for your useful videos on af fine tuning. I tuned my Tokina 11-20 f2.8 0n my Nikon D7100 and with a -3 i got sharp focus for close subjects may be up to 5ft away. However with the same setting for subjects further away the focus slipped more and more backwards. Then I tried to calibrate with the far subjects and got problem with the near ones again. I'm totally confused and not using my lens for time being. Please help me out.

@seamastergmt 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you sir,

@photonutu2 3 жыл бұрын

This was a very helpful video! But, I'm having an issue on a couple of my lenses. I had no issues with my Nikkor 105. With my 24-70 and Tokina 11-16, I get a successful reading a couple of times, then I start getting "Auto AF Fine Tune Failed". I re-checked all settings, and have the camera as stable as possible. Any suggestions?

@dannyjeffers 5 жыл бұрын

This man is amazing

@aaronsuek 3 жыл бұрын

Does the correction value stored in the camera need to be manually reset back to 0 for each of the 12 tests, or does it automatically do this when you do each run?

@bradstokkeland2139 7 ай бұрын

Thanks !!😊

@nikonsettingsfotosha3318 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this great video. I followed the procedures to fine tune focus on my Nikon D750 with 24mm AF-S f/1.4G Sigma lens. While the focus looks really good , As per your video i have pressed Record + AF button but no message is coming ...Any reason, I have following resting my settings...

@hendrairawan3573 6 жыл бұрын

Hi Steve, Nice tutorial indeed. Thanks 🙏 Could I done it with my D7200 ? As I know..My D7200 have "AF Fine Tune" menu feature in it 😇🙏 And what is behind you ? Is it design tab..? 😱

@ArthurMG00 6 жыл бұрын

Awesome!

@MDMiller60 3 жыл бұрын

If there is a setting already in there, does the new test overwrite it or add to the list? I am doing my wife's D500 for the 2nd time, for the same lens, after some years. Thanks.

@neglectedloves 6 жыл бұрын

had an interesting chat with a technician at Nikon Germany concerning the AF targets. There is a reason why Nikon suggests to use a purely black and white target: It has to do with certain wavelength (especially red) of the light. A purely black and white chart enables a less confused AF under all light circumstances. I did the test on all my lenses and the results do vary in comparison using your "camouflage" target. This is purely scientific and probably irrelevant for most photographers, but nonetheless interesting. Tested on a D850

@parusland 2 жыл бұрын

Considerably vary???

@neglectedloves 2 жыл бұрын

@@parusland ???

@parusland 2 жыл бұрын

@@neglectedloves Yes, what confuses you?

@neglectedloves 2 жыл бұрын

@@parusland what do you mean by considerably vary?

@parusland 2 жыл бұрын

@@neglectedloves In your comment you said or at least I took it like that, that you've made AF Fine Tune with Steev's and Nikon's targets and results vary. So, I wonder if the values obtained with these two targets are sharply different? I beg your pardon, if I understand you wronly. I am not native English speaker. Thanks!

@Metal4everYAY 6 жыл бұрын

Can I use this auto af fine tune to actually put the calibration values for a sigma 500 f4 at different distances with the usb dock? So I am suggesting that say I need the value at 3,5 meters then I find it out with the auto af fine tune and then I input the result with the dock (of course in the end the body will have a fine tune value of 0 as the lens will have all the necessary info already). Thanks for the video in any case 🙂!

@helthuismartin 6 жыл бұрын

You need to use the min focus distens from the lens to exclude out depth of field.

@Martinbeef 27 күн бұрын

It also includes the D780, I'm pleased to say.

@tench1970 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Steve, I have a D7200 and wanted to check to see if my camera is focusing correctly. At the begging of this video it mentions that this video is not for a D7200. I have tried to find your video on the alternative way of doing this on my camera. Can you post a link to this please, I am unable to find it. Cheers Steve

@mitchelboeck704 6 жыл бұрын

Steve, I'm all the way to -20 on my D600 and 50mm 1.8g and it's still back focusing. The D600 focuses correctly with other lenses. Thanks!

@backcountrygallery 6 жыл бұрын

The lens may need to go into Nikon - there's not much more you can do.

@hccvad591 6 жыл бұрын

Hi Steve - thank you for your video on this topic - very helpful. Do I change my camera distance for each focal length from target image? For example, at 70mm x 30 = 6'-11", but at 200mm x 30 = 19'-8". Sorry, I'm not clear where I should set up my camera for zoom lens.

@18vallancel 6 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure what the best technique is when using a zoom lens. However, I can think of two options: 1) Fine tune at the focal length which you're most likely to use in the field 2) Fine tune at the longest focal length, since this is where the depth-of-field is the shallowest

@hccvad591 6 жыл бұрын

Louis - thanks for the suggestions. I will try both and see if the values are close or far apart.