Nikon D4 Focus Problems?

gman

gman

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Have just heard today from a reliable source that there may be some focus problems with the D4 and a number of sports photographers (premier league level) have been sending them back. At the moment that's all I know but I'm wondering if anyone else has found any problems? Came as quite a surprise to me what with the new AF system being in it but I'm guessing these guys push the AF to the absolute limits.
 
A few press photographers have said roughly the same thing!
 
Typical rumour mongering from 2 Canon shooters :bonk:

I also heard the Canon 1DX isnt available because the first few which shipped worked and the end users sent them back for the OOF recalibration, Canon have recalled all working models for an OOF firmware update and stated in a press conference "we dont want to disappoint our customers, we have built up a loyal client base based on providing crap gear which doesnt focus accuratly so we dont want to dissappoint buyers of our latest products"
 
Gary Coyle said:
Typical rumour mongering from 2 Canon shooters :bonk:

I also heard the Canon 1DX isnt available because the first few which shipped worked and the end users sent them back for the OOF recalibration, Canon have recalled all working models for an OOF firmware update and stated in a press conference "we dont want to disappoint our customers, we have built up a loyal client base based on providing crap gear which doesnt focus accuratly so we dont want to dissappoint buyers of our latest products"
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:lol::lol: typical yorkshire man, tell it straight.
 
gman said:
Have just heard today from a reliable source that there may be some focus problems with the D4 and a number of sports photographers (premier league level) have been sending them back. At the moment that's all I know but I'm wondering if anyone else has found any problems? Came as quite a surprise to me what with the new AF system being in it but I'm guessing these guys push the AF to the absolute limits.
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Isn't that par for the course with the vast majority of newly released DSLRs these days. Various new Nikon and Canon models over the last 3 or 4 years have had supposed issues when first released, only to be resolved with a quick trip to the service centre, or a firmware update.
 
Gary Coyle said:
Typical rumour mongering from 2 Canon shooters :bonk:
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Not in the slightest mate. If I was interested in spreading poo, I would have posted a thread a couple of weeks ago when the problems started emerging.

The simple fact is, that none of the four big releases in recent months are without their problems; both Canon and Nikon. There's no partisanship on my part at all here! :)
 
Just winding you up mate, must admit i know 4 guys who have them and theyre more than happy, one is a swimming shooter which is a very difficult job for any AF system to lock onto and track with all the splashy stuff flying about, he says its giving him a 100% hit rate
 
There was talk about far extreme left focussing point on the D800 and some say, the D4 being unreliable.
I have only had mine for 1 day, but I checked the far left focus point yesterday and it was perfect.
The actual focussing is extremely fast. Quicker than my D3s was, I believe. But I felt seriously rough yesterday and I do today, so I haven't really had chance to do a lot with it yet.


Kev.
 
3.5k frames in and mine is absolutely fine for AF - sports, portraits, commercial work.

I'm just waiting on the lock-up issue fix - but I'm using the temporary work-around for that and no issues since.
 
meonshore said:
3.5k frames in and mine is absolutely fine for AF - sports, portraits, commercial work.

I'm just waiting on the lock-up issue fix - but I'm using the temporary work-around for that and no issues since.
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Enlighten me Mike?
I'm just about to go back back to bed and feel sorry for myself. Feeling no better.

Kev.
 
kevshore said:
Enlighten me Mike?
I'm just about to go back back to bed and feel sorry for myself. Feeling no better.

Kev.
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Lens independent, card independent sometimes the D4 locks up and won't shutter release even if it seems to be happily focussing. When you go to switch it off it also won't do so. Only fix is to remove the battery and re-insert. You'll lose the frame you shot.

http://nikonrumors.com/2012/05/03/n...4d800-lockup-issue-offers-temporary-fix.aspx/

and the PDN article.

http://www.pdnonline.com/gear/Nikon-Investigating--5632.shtml

temp fix is to turn off show highlights and RGB histogram

Not everyone gets the issue. The temp fix works for me. It is a ball-ache but not a deal breaker. In all other regards the camera is exceptional, and I'm sure this will get resolved relatively quickly via firmware.
 
Thanks for that Mike. Not had it happen so far. But I haven't got highlights switched on either.

Kev.
 
No focus issues with either camera here so far, or lock ups - and I've got highlights on. Fingers crossed I don't get hit with it. As an aside, my old D7000 locked up recently with a crappy memory card in. Never done it before!
 
The reports have been seen that the left side focus points have been having problems on some D4's and some D800's lately. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nikon-D4-and-D800-Cameras-Have-Problems-Fix-Coming-267777.shtml Between that, the lock up problems and the liable battery problems it's not looking too good for them. And I thought I had problems with my 5D3 light leak that will never affect me.
About time these manufacturers started thinking more about the customers and getting the products right. Some of these faults are potential career breakers for some photographers in this day of litigation, imagine a huge wedding with 2 brand new d4's with faults thinking nothing can stop me now, apart from a huge law suit for no pics.
 
Weren't the left side focus issues limited to some Asian distributions?
 
Not going to lose any sleep over it. Just like the overhyped 70-200mm vrII pixie dust when it came out.
That one went global! Nikon had to issue an explaination.
If it worries a D4 owner, I'm sure he/she can find their ways around the menu and switch off highlights and histogram.
No major issue not using them. But light leak into a camera, that's serious!! :D:D;)
 
Just done a quick look up on the canon problem. I'm impressed that they found a solution so quickly.

5D3 solution


:thumbs: :D
 
Gary Coyle said:
Typical rumour mongering from 2 Canon shooters :bonk:
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The information isn't from me, it from someone who shoots exclusively Nikon and obviously the others who had problems use Nikon. I made the decision to switch to Nikon a while ago so this isn't the sort of news I want to hear either to be honest.

The problem they were experiencing were the shots not being sharp. I don't think we are talking about images being out of focus but just that they were ever so slightly out. Perhaps not a big issue for many but for them it's probably quite critical that the focus is 100% accurate and I can't see why they would make something like this up as I'm sure they wanted the D4 to be the ultimate tool.

Perhaps they've all just been unlucky.
 
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