Do you have a Nikon camera that features Auto AF Fine Tune? If so, then this video is just what you need to get the most from it!
When Auto AF Fine Tune first came it, it was pretty exciting – In fact, I think we all had visions of never going through a tedious lens calibration process ever again. However, the reality is, it didn’t seem to work all that well and many people – myself included – were disappointed.
As it turns out, there IS a way to get good results from the system, it just takes a little more effort than we were lead to believe – and that’s what this tutorial reveals. In the video below, I’ll cover what AF Fine Tuning is, how to do a proper setup (including a handy focus target I made for the purpose that you can download), how to avoid pitfalls, and an Auto AF Fine tuning technique that works as well as using a commercial product.
If you’ve had problems with Auto AF Fine tune before, you’ll discover the method in the video will work far better and give you much better results. Currently, this only applies to the Nikon D850, D7500, D500, and D5, but I’m sure as other cameras are added they will also include this feature (i.e. like the upcoming D850).
AF Target download (zipped PDF file) – Click here
Getting an error message? Here are the most likely culprits:
1. Make sure your Live View AF point is perfectly centered (it should show a small red dot in the middle of the AF area if it is). Also, use the “Normal” or “Wide” AF area in Live View.
PS…
If you enjoyed this article, I think you’ll REALLY like my e-books, Secrets To Stunning Wildlife Photography and Secrets To The Nikon Autofocus System. They’re filled with hundreds of pages of information just like this. Check it out – click here (hey, it’s free to look 🙂 )
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37 Comments on "Get The Most From Nikon’s Auto AF Fine Tune System"
I’ve tried to do this a couple of months ago, and again today. I follow your instructions and when I press the movie record and focus mode buttons I get this message: “Auto AF Fine Tune Is Not Available At Current Focus Settings.” I’ve checked and double checked. Any insights?
Guys, please make sure your cameras can do the autofocus fine tuning … as for those whose cameras should work, I *think* one item might be that you have to press and hold the video record and AF mode buttons for three seconds. It’s not just a push and it happens kind of thing. Hopefully this helps someone… I’m using a D850, and this is how it works for me.
As others, using the Nikon 810, Focus mode and Video together do nothing.
HI Steve – am customer of yours. Bought two of your digital books which I appreciate a lot.
I have same problem as others. When following setup you describe meticulously and get to the step of simultaneously pushing the Focus Mode Buttons and the Video Record Button…nothing happens. There must be another step or something I am missing? Help!
Steve or anyone that can help. A professional photographer suggested I follow your instructions in this video to marry up my Nikon D750 with a Tamron 150 – 600 as it’s slightly out of focus. Problem is when pressing the Focus Mode Button and Movie Record Button at the same time (nothing happens). Your video says a dialog box comes up asking if you want to proceed. Thank you for any help. Randy
He clearly states that this “Auto” feature works only with D5, D500, or D850.
Hi Steve, I followed all your instructions, this is something I have done before so I was familiar with the procedure. When pressing the focus-movie button I got no messages, just an M or the upper left hand side of the viewfinder that would turn yellow. I wold however with back button focus get excellent focus, would not have to touch focus ring. So I am off in a few hours to Alaska. we will see how well my focus is working.
[EDIT] Figured out answer to my post.
Hi Steve, would u mind tel me what range of value should I use for my D810 with Nikkor 24f1.4
Thanks
Hey, I think you may have missed the main point in Steve’s video that every camera body and lens combination is unique and simply entering someone else’s values isn’t the solution. You have to test your lens on your body for your own measurements. Good luck!
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Thank you for this! I printed out your calibration target and calibrated my new 80-400 with both my D5 and my D500, with and without my 1.4 Tele. It made all the difference in the world.
what was your result after setting -1? any improvement from 24mm to 70mm?
Hello Steve, I have AF Fine tune under Set Up menu on my Nikon D300, so would imagine it would be found on the D300s as well. However, not on my Nikon D80. Anyone know if it is available on the 7xxx series? I was always fond of the D7000 when it came out, but now we are up to the D7500. My preference has always been with the DX sensor as I get the central (thus better) are of many older lenses.
Regards from Australia
Steve, just found out that issue was caused by face recognition was engaged – switching it according to your description (Wide mode), solved the issue.
Now D850 Auto AF Micro Adjustment can be engaged.
Thank’s again Steve.
I have a Nikon D7200 and I would like to know if it is possible – and how – to fine tune the AF system of the body and the lenses. Thanks!
Many thanks for your video on AF fine tuning. Like the way you convey your passion for the craft and do appreciate your sense of humor.
Just one question regarding averaging the values when using the builtin AF fine tune feature: why averaging and not taking the median value?
Thom Hogan seems to recommend the ‘median’ approach; quote “As I’ve noted in my work on AF Fine Tune, don’t average the results, select the median.”
What’s your take in this?
All the best from Switzerland.
Philippe
[…] The AF Target can be found at this blog post for this video:https://backcountrygallery.com/get-nikons-auto-af-fine-tune-system/ […]
Hi Steve
I tried to do the fine tuning of my D500 with a 50 mm Nikkor and I got info from my camera that with current focus settings authomatic fine tuning is impossible. I followed all the steps as you described, apperture wide open, single focus point, wide and then normal focus area but every time I got the same message. Any suggestions what went wrong?
Great information in all respects . Would appreciate it very much if you speak just a little slower for we people down South . Due to the heat and humidity everything down South moves at a slower pace . Keep up the good work
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Steve, I purchased both of your books earlier and my computer Blew up and I purchased a new computer. I’ll need to re download the books. What do I do to re-download? Thanks so much for your help. By the way your instructions videos are the best. Thanks James Harrison
here is my email address [email protected] . thanks again
Get yourself a cloud drive such as Dropbox, Google Drive, One Drive, … and copy all your important files onto that drive.
Doesn’t matter if your PC blows up, get stolen, … your files are securely stored.
I really like your reviews and tips. I bought both of your eBooks and love them both. There’s many years worth of knowledge in those books. You give very balanced reviews and I loved the one on the D7500. I bought one about 3 weeks ago and love it so far. Upgraded from D90 that was showing it’s age. I’ve also converted to back button focus and it’s much better way to focus for me!
Thanks for your time and effort it’s much appreciated by a lot of us.
Very nice, as always. I wonder why Nikon hasn’t added a visible short timer to the AF fine tune function like “1 … 2 … 3”. Also Excel/OpenOffice will be your friend for numbers, but I like your hands on version of ‘robust statistics’ very much.
I have a Nikon 70-200mm lens. If I Auto Fine tune the 200mm range is it possible that it will degrade the 70mm end? Or should I just Auto Fine tune both ends to see if I can find a compromise? Thanks for your videos, I always learn something.
How timely! I saw the first hummingbird of the season today. Took a series of about 12 captures using D500 and 300mm f4 lens. I was very disappointed with the focus on these, and I was on a TV-33 tripod with BH-55 ballhead at the time. So tomorrow, I will attempt this procedure and see if that does not help…and also hope for another opportunity with the wee bird.
Thanks
How cool! I just put out a humming bird feeder two weeks ago and (eventually) I’m going to go out and photographer them. At first it was just a single bird here and there, but now I get upwards to three at a time! Love ’em!
Thanks Ken 🙂
Thanks for the book purchase 🙂 I don’t know of any for Canon, although I might write one way down the road (I have some Canon gear now as well, but am not nearly comfortable / experienced enough to write about the AF system). Sorry I can’t be of more help on that one.