Help! I can't focus

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markien

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Mark
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Hi,I've got a focus problem.I'm getting a bit of an old git and I'm becoming a bit short sighted.I've been using a secondhand Nikon D70 for the past year and have been very pleased with it.I enjoy macro photography and have purchased a Sigma macro lens but I am struggling to focus it manually through the viewfinder.Would like some help deciding if i would be better off with a D90 or a secondhand D300.
All help appreciated.
Thanks.
 
can you not focus automatically? or adjust the diopter on the eyepiece?
i sometimes have the same problem but what i did was set camera to auto focus and when it had focused altered the diopter to my eye

am not up on nikon so am not sure how it all works.
 
Hi,I find that the autofocus hunts at macro working distances.I have set the diopter adjuster on the camera but I still struggle to get focus through the viewfinder.
 
Hi. Maybe talk to your optician about the amount of correction you need. There are correction eyepieces available and reasonably priced however I dont know if they include those for the D70.
Regards
 
a more modern body would have live view which is invaluable for this kinda thing as you can zoom in on the screen
 
I need glasses for reading and found that the adjustment for the view finder was not enough on my D300. I looked at the prescription for my glasses and found a correction value of 1.25. Then looked at Nikon camera accessories and found the correct diopter for the view finder. Now the adjustment on the camera/view finder is back to about where it would be for a normal sighted person.

Something like this http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy...correction-for-f65-f80-d70-d100-d200/p1009199
Or try Grays of Westminster, superb service.

Mick.
 
Hi Markien, I agree with Wrecker, use autofocus. Are you using a single autofocus spot plus a camera support such a tripod?
Depth of field is miniscule at macro distances so this is essential.

The D70 is getting a bit long in the tooth now and has a horrid sluggish little LCD. D90 is a great deal at the moment and several of my clients have grabbed them for around £550 for the body. If you have the 18-70mm which was bundled with the D70 that is a great lens.

The d300 is more rugged but as a semi pro camera you would need to be v. careful with a used buy, I'd stick with the D90.

John
 
Thanks for the link Mick.Had a quick look and this may be the cheapest option to solve the problem:)
 
Most folks use manual focus for macro anyway, but not by twiddling the lens. Set the focus roughly with the focusing ring, then rock your body back and forth very gently until the sharp point is where you want it.

Camera shake is another common problem with macro, due to the magnification. Ring-flash is the best answer there.

As mentioned above, it could just be that you've run out of diopter adjustment on the eyepiece so a correction lens could do the trick. And live view is also worth looking at as David says. I almost always use live view when the camera's on a tripod.
 
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