D300 AF Fine Tuning Results - MOTORSPORTS IMAGES ADDED

[TwentySixDays]

I have received several comments over the moths about soft images.
I put this down to me because I do get some sharp images as well.
My Nikor 18-105 is “sharper” than the Sigma 150-500 – not really a like for like comparison though.

I decided to “play” with the AF Fine Tuning settings.
These are the results...

I am going to run with the -12 setting for a while and see if that generally improves the images.

I will pop some Bird and Motorsport images up over the next week or so.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

Stuart

 

[casts_by_fly]

lighting differences aside I would go with -12 too. Looks like a major improvement to me!

Thanks
Rick

 

[TwentySixDays]

lighting differences aside I would go with -12 too. Looks like a major improvement to me!

Thanks
Rick

Thanks for commenting Rick.

These are some "Field" trials using the -12 setting...
All Hand-Held OS=1

1a) Black Header Gull (Sigma 150-500@500 F8 1/500s AutoISO200)

1b) Head Shot – 100% Crop - No Sharpening

1c) Head Shot – 100% Crop - Sharpened

2a) Carrion Crow - Cropped to Portrait (Sigma 150-500@500 F8 1/500s AutoISO800)

2b) Carrion Crow – 100% Crop – No Sharpening

Any C&C or suggestions welcome

Stuart

 

[spiritsfree]

Lovely sharpness...well done !!

Geoff

 

[casts_by_fly]

looks sharp enough to me!

 

[TinaC]

Tolerable, i suppose

 

[AlfyB]

That's quite interesting. I only came across this feature in my camera earlier this week so not tried it myself yet but planning to try at the weekend.

Having just played with the settings, do you have any tips for getting the best setup?

 

[TwentySixDays]

Lovely sharpness...well done !!

Geoff

Thanks Geoff

looks sharp enough to me!

Thanks Rick

Tolerable, i suppose

Just - Thanks Tina

That's quite interesting. I only came across this feature in my camera earlier this week so not tried it myself yet but planning to try at the weekend.

Having just played with the settings, do you have any tips for getting the best setup?

Hi Ian, my set up and method (Plus some bits I learnt/should have done):
The camara
On a tripod about 4 meters (12feet) from the subject. Single Servo AF. Release cable (or timer), Single shot. Low ISO.

The lens
Zoom set to where you normally use the lens. Wide aperture (low F No, shallow Depth of Field), AF = ON, VR or OS = OFF
(I Did a test on the zoom Wide, Mid, Tele, didn't seem to make much difference)

The subject - something flat with fine detail with some contrast that AF can detect.
There is a section in the D300 manual giving AF limitations "Getting Good Results With Autofocus"
(I think there is a lens test card on the forum)

A couple of things you can’t see in the test shots
A tape measure at 90 degree along side of the leaf so that I could see if the focal point was in front or behind the subject.
A little “in shot” card with the setting on it, +10, -5, etc. on it so that I could be sure which frame I was looking at when I reviewed them on the screen.
You can see the effect on the camera but the changes are quite small as you get closer.

Method:
1. Set the subject up in the same plane as the lens so that all, or most, of it is in focus.
2. Take some test shots to check the AF is reliable
Take a shot, defocus the lens, take another shot, etc.
Ensuring that the AF registers each time.
3. The D300 range is +/-20.
Rather than going through all 40 setting take them in blocks of 5 0, +5, +10, ... -5, -10...
4. Down load the shots and pick the best.
5. Then take the single increment shots around that setting -5, -6...-14, -15.
6. Down load and find the best setting.
7. Set the camera, AF Fine Tuning = ON, your chosen setting.
8. On the D300 the settings are held for each lens and you will need to repeat the process for each lens you need to setup. (Lucky I only have one)

Stuart

 

[AlfyB]

Great, thanks Stuart. I've got a D7000 so will hopefully be a similar setup.

 

[TwentySixDays]

Great, thanks Stuart. I've got a D7000 so will hopefully be a similar setup.

Your welcome - hopefully a few more test pictures on Monday.

 

[TwentySixDays]

Motorsports pictures taken and processed using my camera and lens by D3adm0nk3y - long story.

3a) Legends Resized to 800px

3b) Legends 100% crop

4a) Saloon Resized to 800px

4b) Saloon 100% crop

C&C Welcome

 

[desantnik]

Nice shot of Rob Birley's Cosser there.

Looks like you've massively improved your lens there.

 

[TwentySixDays]

Nice shot of Rob Birley's Cosser there.

Looks like you've massively improved your lens there.

Thanks desantnik, I thought it was me but adjusting the settings has really made a difference.
I still don't understand the process unless I am adjusting the internals of the lens itself as I thought AF worked on the relative contrasts or something in the image.
You live and learn

 

[Slaphead]

Thanks desantnik, I thought it was me but adjusting the settings has really made a difference.
I still don't understand the process unless I am adjusting the internals of the lens itself as I thought AF worked on the relative contrasts or something in the image.
You live and learn

By altering the focus adjustment you haven't actually altered anything on the lens or in the camera. All you've done is tell the camera that when it thinks it's in focus it should go a little further, or not quite as far. You can find a brief explanation of the Phase Detect autofocus system here.

This focus adjustment will only have an effect when you are using the phase detect system i.e looking through the viewfinder. It won't affect anything if you are using contrast detect system which is used in live view (OK a D300 can use phase detect in live view but it's a clattery affair)

 

[TwentySixDays]

By altering the focus adjustment you haven't actually altered anything on the lens or in the camera...

to TP - Thanks very much for the information.

Still learning about my D300 after two year - bit different from my full manual Pratica film camera