Nikon D3s Focusing Problem

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Grayo

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Hi All,

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but here goes. I have noticed on a few occasions my Nikon D3s seems to have a problem focusing under low light conditions. Today I was shooting a childrens Christmas nativity concert in the school hall, at first all was going well then it started having focusing problems, it would not lock onto the subject but the shutter would release anyway, it seems to hunt even though the focus mode selector switch was set to (S) single.

I was using my Nikon 70 - 200mm f2.8 V1, I have also noticed the same thing as above using the same lens shooting rugby under flood lights strugling to focus on the subject. When this happened with the rugby I changed bodies and put the lens onto my D300s and there was no problem at all focus locked on to subject and shutter fired subject in focus.

So I don't know if the D3s is having the problem or the 70 -200 f2.8 V1 is having the problem. Has anybody come across this and if so what did you do about it.

Thanks

Graham
 
Yes this is what's happening, I'm getting quite a few shots that are out of focus because it's hunting. Luckily it's still under warranty so looks like Nikon will be receiving a parcel soon.
 
I think I have found the problem :$ As I said above the D3s was working fine for a while then I started having problems. Well I think I may have found the problem, during the shoot this morning I started shooting landscape shots then decided to get a few portrait shots, I obviously turned the vertical shutter release button on and forgot all about it, going back to landscape mode I now realise the palm of my hand was pressing against the vertical release button. I'll remember next time.

I'll get my coat :exit:
 
Grayo said:
I think I have found the problem :$ As I said above the D3s was working fine for a while then I started having problems. Well I think I may have found the problem, during the shoot this morning I started shooting landscape shots then decided to get a few portrait shots, I obviously turned the vertical shutter release button on and forgot all about it, going back to landscape mode I now realise the palm of my hand was pressing against the vertical release button. I'll remember next time.

I'll get my coat :exit:
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I have have done that with my cam and the grip. Just glad its sorted.
 
Grayo said:
I think I have found the problem :$ As I said above the D3s was working fine for a while then I started having problems. Well I think I may have found the problem, during the shoot this morning I started shooting landscape shots then decided to get a few portrait shots, I obviously turned the vertical shutter release button on and forgot all about it, going back to landscape mode I now realise the palm of my hand was pressing against the vertical release button. I'll remember next time.

I'll get my coat :exit:
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:lol: non-technical malfunction - so many buttons, so little time.
 
gramps said:
:lol: non-technical malfunction - so many buttons, so little time.
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True so very true. I think I'd better borrow your nice new 300mm f2.8 just to make sure LOL. One of these is on the shopping list, I used to use one when I was in work, really love it.
 
Grayo said:
I think I have found the problem :$ As I said above the D3s was working fine for a while then I started having problems. Well I think I may have found the problem, during the shoot this morning I started shooting landscape shots then decided to get a few portrait shots, I obviously turned the vertical shutter release button on and forgot all about it, going back to landscape mode I now realise the palm of my hand was pressing against the vertical release button. I'll remember next time.

I'll get my coat :exit:
Click to expand...

Been there, done that and got the tee shirt. :lol:
 
Sorry Graham, seeing as you were from South Wales thought you took your nickname from the film Twin Town set in Swansea, funniest film ever, if a little crude, no body takes the micky out of the Welsh better than we do ourselves lol
 
Thought I'd solved the focusing problem but using the D3S again yesterday the same thing as first post was happening, I was even more aware of the virtical shutter release button and made sure it was turned off when landscape shooting. I'm sure it's not a lens problem as when the 70-200mm f2.8 is on my D300S there is no focusing problems at all. Time to give Nikon a call I think...Doh :shrug:
 
Grayo said:
Thought I'd solved the focusing problem but using the D3S again yesterday the same thing as first post was happening, I was even more aware of the virtical shutter release button and made sure it was turned off when landscape shooting. I'm sure it's not a lens problem as when the 70-200mm f2.8 is on my D300S there is no focusing problems at all. Time to give Nikon a call I think...Doh :shrug:
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thats a bummer, well lets just hope it gets sorted.
 
I know that you say that the 70-200mm vr1 works ok on the D300s, but that may just be luck. I had this happen a few times and it turned out to be the focus motor on its way out. Sent it to Nikon and all was fine after a new motor was fitted.

Kev.
 
Hi Kev,

Thanks for the reply. I have changed from the D3S to the D300S on numerous occasions now, this only happens with the D3S, at the moment I'm rulling out the lens, if it happens on the D300S with the same lens then a re-think is in order.

Cheers

Graham
 
Ok Graham. Mine did exactly the same on my D300 though. Don't know why, but it just did it! :shrug:

Kev.
 
You got the latest firmware?

There were lots of undocumented focus issues with the D3 and they were progressively fixed with firmware upgrades that allegedly did different things...

My D3S worked out of the box way better than my D3 but it's a late model. I'd start by checking firmware.

Also check if the aperture blades are snappy. I know it sounds weird but that can do odd things - just flick the little lever on the mount with the lens off the camera.
 
Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for your reply. The D3S has the latest firmware installed, I purchased it new in February this year, it has only around 5000 actuations. Been on the phone to Nikon this afternoon and talking to one of their guys it sounds like it's a hardware problem, so have arrainged to send it back for them to check it out and repair. :shrug:
 
Are you sure you're not lightly touching the lens release button with your left hand? I've heard that on the D3 (and presumably D3s) this can cause very similar symptoms even if lightly brushed, problems focusing and shutter firing when not in focus etc.
 
jpw said:
Are you sure you're not lightly touching the lens release button with your left hand? I've heard that on the D3 (and presumably D3s) this can cause very similar symptoms even if lightly brushed, problems focusing and shutter firing when not in focus etc.
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I've not heard that one before and I'm not aware of touching the release button but thanks anyway, I'm using the camera again tomorrow so will be aware of where my left hand is but I'm pretty sure I'm not touching it.
 
You've had it 9 months and it's done 5k clicks? That will be it then - it's pining from underuse :)

Sounds like it might be broken :( Get it in to Richmond.
 
JonathanRyan said:
You've had it 9 months and it's done 5k clicks? That will be it then - it's pining from underuse :)

Sounds like it might be broken :( Get it in to Richmond.
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That's the joy of retirement Lol. When I was working I would shoot 5k a week :lol: It's off to Nikon later today :thumbsdown:
 
jpw said:
Are you sure you're not lightly touching the lens release button with your left hand? I've heard that on the D3 (and presumably D3s) this can cause very similar symptoms even if lightly brushed, problems focusing and shutter firing when not in focus etc.
Click to expand...

+1
 
Just an up-date on my D3S.

Posted the D3S back to Nikon last Thursday, had an email this afternoon telling me it's been repaired and has been shipped back to me. Now that's what you call good service, let's just hope it's fixed. Well done Nikon service/repair
 
Up-date on my D3S

The D3S arrived back today all fixed. The report that came with it say's:

Repair/Adjust auto focus mechanism/circuit. Check and adjust AF accuracy. Check, test and clean equipment.

Will be using it boxing day so will see if it's fixed or not. Got to say though very fast turn around from Nikon.
 
towershot said:
It's a pro's camera Graham, so I think they try to get them back to user ASAP
Good news :thumbs:
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scottthehat said:
only if you are a member of the npu,
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When I spoke to them on the phone they said it would be a ten day turn around so I was expecting it back some time after Christmas. It was posted using their delivery label (Parcel Force 48) they didn't receive it until Monday, and I got it back today. Not bad.

I am a member of NPU.
 
Update on the D3S.

Used the D3S today to shoot a boxing day rugby match, first use since getting it back from Nikon last week. At first all seemed good until it would not focus for a couple of seconds when the shutter release button was pressed half way down then I heard a noise like a cog or something inside rattling then it focused, this happened a few time during the shoot but now it has also started to throw up the dredded "Errrr" message. Turn the camera off and back on again and all seems fine until it happens again.......Seems like another phone call to Nikon is on the cards.....Doh :shrug:

Ps Forgot to mention I set the camera to manual mode but for some strange reason it decided to go into aperture mode all by itself, again this happened a couple of times during the shoot as well.
 
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Hi Grayo, I thought I had an AF problem. Turned out the vertical release button was set to on and the palm of my hand was pressing against it. IMO the spring in that button is a little too light. It seemed to get worse the heaver the lens I was using.
 
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