AF Fine Tune on the Nikon D3 with 70-200mm f/2.8 lens

I usually focus on the eyes when doing portrait photography, and it is very handy to place the little red auto focus selection box in the viewfinder right on the eye I want in focus. The trouble is that often, when using the 70-200mm lens at f/2.8 the eye is NOT in focus. The actual focus point was about 5-7mm behind the place that little red square was allegedly focusing on. Now I know why… I discovered an informative lens alignment article and product on the Luminious Landscape website. Rather than buying the product advertised, the image to the left is a genuine kiwi innovation (cardboard box and a stainless ruler) which enabled me to recalibrate the lens on the Nikon D3.

On the Nikon D3, go to Setup Menu, down to AF fine tune, and then dial in your adjustements. A little trial and error determined that a -15 adjustment in the menu now has me shooting eyes in focus.

The same trick is available on the Canon 1D MKIII, 1Ds MKIII, 5DII, 50D, or Nikon D3x, D300, D700, or Sony A900, or Pentax K20.

~ by markbrimblecombe on January 19, 2009.