Nikon D70s autofocus problems

ddindy

ddindy

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Staff member
The autofocus on my Nikon D70s has suddenly developed problems. I recently took some photos, and it appears to be focusing behind the subject. (In other words, the subject is fuzzy and the near background is sharp.)

I ran some tests with two different lenses, and it's definitely a problem with the body.

Has anyone else had a similar problem? Since this model has no focus adjustment that I know of, is it time to ship it to the nearest repair shop?
 
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As a veteran of a misfocusing body, I would agree that it is time to have it sent in for service.
 
Just make sure your focus point is where you thought it was. I have at times moved it unawares on my D70. ::)

Which focusing mode do you use? Dynamic can be tricky.
 
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Two things I'd try before sending it in for service:

1. Different fully charged battery (or the same batt, fully charged.).
2. Clean the lens contact points.
 
Thanks to everyone for the tips.

Here is a sample picture. You can see how the background is sharp but the subject is blurred.

 
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Are you sure you weren't just distracted by the subject and didn't aim properly? ;)

That looks like serious backfocus...usually when it goes off, it's by millimeters, not feet. Were you in center or spot focus there, or multi? It doesn't seem like even multifocus should have missed that, but weirder things have happened.
 
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"zackiedawg" said:
That looks like serious backfocus...usually when it goes off, it's by millimeters, not feet.
Click to expand...

Don't make me pull out my Edsel pics! They can be off from mm to meters....I have seen this too many times before.
 
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I *knocks on wood* have never had backfocus that serious on any of my cameras so far. For me, my Canon SLR had a backfocus issue, but it was the kind I had to shoot a chart to see for sure, and was off my about an inch. It didn't affect most shots except closeups or wide-open aperture shots, where the focus was more sensitive to rely on.

Whenever I hear someone mention back (or fore) focus issues, I'm always picturing a focus chart or a line of batteries, and focus off by a few mm or inches max. If this is a backfocus issue above, I'd be knocking on the door at Nikon headquarters demanding a fix! Nasty.
 
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"zackiedawg" said:
Are you sure you weren't just distracted by the subject and didn't aim properly?
Click to expand...
That's why I was in full automatic mode - let the camera do all of the work while I took in the eye candy. :o

A big thanks to my fellow Hoosier, mPower. I cleaned the contacts on the camera and it seems to be working a lot better. I'll probably stick to manual focus for this week's trip to Oregon, just to be safe.

Thanks to all.
 
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Here's an update for those keeping score: After shooting a couple of hundred pics on the NW Oregon coast last week, the autofocus appears to be working normally once again.

This is the view from my sister's new house in Lincoln City, overlooking Siletz Bay and the Pacific:



Click the photo to go to its Flickr page.

I used what I had on hand to clean the contacts: some professional-quality VCR head cleaner and a chamois stick. I was surprised at how much black stuff was on the chamois after cleaning.
 
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