How To AF Fine Tune Microadjust in the Field | Nailing Your Autofocus

Today I do a quick tutorial on how to fine-tune the autofocus of your camera/lens in the field.
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[@orviskid]

What focal length do you use for a zoom lense, does it matter? You forgot to mention how far away from the target to be

[@brentboughton7681]

Congratulations on being the grand prize winner of the 2018 Audubon Awards. Excellent photo of that great gray owl.

[@SteveMattheis]

Thanks!

[@angeleescobar]

Of all the videos on YT, this is the most informative video on how to fine tune your lens. Thank you.

[@dennishancock]

This is a great and useful explanation of auto fine focus. And a question based on what I think we're doing here which is a calibration of the phase detect module, not the contrast algorithm. Therefore worrying about the ISO value is not necessary because the image is not used in the focus recalibration. Is this correct, or am I mistaken? Thank you.

[@Carloscarmo]

Steve, a very important question: what is the distance between you and the target (your car) when you adjust the focus in the 200-500 ? Thanks a lot!

[@va2xgm]

At what distance I have to be from the taget with 300mm Prime lens ?

[@Hellgap50]

steve you touched on my biggest insecurity and that's IS MY LENS CALIBRATED . Thanks ill do just what you've showed us ive used the sigma dock but like you say the lens can get bumped out of focus and to check it regular . ty

[@SteveMattheis]

Haha, that’s your biggest insecurity? You must have a great life. Keep it up!

[@23codez]

Just buy a mirrorless and you won't have to go through all this bullshit.

[@pcdmediaoutdoors9882]

Steve - congratulations on winning the Audubon Grand Prize! Beautiful great grey owl image. Something maybe obvious or not so obvious is when adding a teleconverter the AF Fine Tune should be also be checked and adjusted with the TC on lens. The camera will save a separate AF Fine Tune setting for the lens both with and without the TC. At least a D500 will.

[@SteveMattheis]

True.

[@trypersistence]

You published this on my birthday. Why weren't you celebrating with me? 😂😂😂👍🏼👊🏼

[@SteveMattheis]

Nothing like an AF fine tune party...

[@rodrigomalutta]

Perfect time for this video. I really want to fine tune the AF on my sigma 100-400mm. Thanks for the video.

[@patricksmith2553]

I personally do not AF Fine tune ever, and I have images regularly published in the L.A. Times or magazines like S.I. and here is why! Firstly I own all professional "hand-made" in Japan Nikon lenses and two D4s bodies, D500. However even the best lenses can need adjustment and I do know that, but Nikon will not let you Fine-tune AF for different focal lengths, like on zooms. Also it does not let you fine tune AF for different distances. I will quickly add that almost all of my images are in focus, almost all of the time and probably because I have been doing this for 22 years! Especially when using the new 70-200mm FL or my 400mm 2.8 FL lenses and the newer pro bodies that I mentioned, you really shouldn't miss focus and a -5 or +5 adjustment is not going to matter! When Nikon addresses these issues, then I will be the first to buy a test target and recommend people do this technique! Until then, it's kinda a waste of time for me at least, but if it helps you than great!

[@koolkutz7]

Good tips Steve, very helpful. Is there a limit to how many lenses can be AF Fine tuned on Nikon DSLR's-I have about 6 lenses in my kit!

[@tedshillitto6062]

I believe it's 20..

[@johnmontana18]

How many feet away were you for the 500mm?

[@rontopp]

What about distance from focus target?

[@randygoodsell1533]

Lens align distance tool calculator. Michaeltapesdesign.com/lens align.html

[@macmcmillen6282]

Hey Steve, this was really great. Hope to see more videos like this. Would be curious to see how you fine tune the AF on a Sigma with the Sigma USB Dock. I know you have the Sigma 100-400, so I'm guessing you're familiar with the Dock. Thanks for these great videos!

[@SteveMattheis]

Yep. Frankly, it’s a pain to do it but I’ll put it on my list of videos to make so others can give it a try because it does make a big difference.

[@macmcmillen6282]

Thanks!

[@manosskg]

Yes we really need this!! Any chance we will see it this year??

[@Jimmy_Cavallo]

💥I really appreciate your efforts. I was drawn here by the title “fine tune microadjustment in the field” but I’m wondering who happens to have a focusing target with them out in the woods. From what I’m seeing this is what someone would be doing back home having such equipment since no one wants to carry this target around all day “in the field”. 🤟🏼

[@cii1072]

Nice video. I've fine-tuned all my lenses. I've done them manually with a chart similar to yours and I've also used Reikan Focal. The zoom lenses are tricky as you mentioned. Question for you. If for example, your 200-500 is a -6 at 200mm and -10 at 500mm, do you set you AF Fine tune to somewhere in the middle, say a -8 to average it at both ends? Also, what would be an acceptable difference in both focal lengths that you would or wouldn't find that you would tolerate? In other words, how much of a gap difference could you live with? I hope you understand my question. Thanks.

[@SteveMattheis]

I don’t think there is a ‘right’ answer but I would set the -10 because you have a lot more depth of field at 200mm so you probably wouldn’t notice it at 200mm

[@cii1072]

Thanks. That makes sense.

[@kimpedersen]

Thanks alot! - had to take some portrait pictures of my GF with my new Sigma 135mm f/1.8 and even tho i picked the "closest eye" - it was the one furthest away that was sharp on almost all pictures. Time to micro-adjust :)

[@RogerZoul]

Canon lets you enter a AFMA value at both the near and far ends of the range for a zoom lens. My problem with Fine tuning AF is how do you make sure the target and lens are perfectly aligned so that you are truly perpendicular? I think it is hard to do even at home in the backyard, so doing it in the field is likely off the scale. This is the one thing I hate about DSLRs. Just a slight angle will throw off the fine tuning, if it matters. I think for many telephoto lenses it won’t matter that much because at f/4 to f/8, there is plenty of DOF for most subjects.

[@SteveMattheis]

Making ‘sure’ is quite difficult. Getting it ‘good enough’ is pretty simple once you’ve done it a few times and are being diligent.

[@pcdmediaoutdoors9882]

A method I've used in backyard. Select location that has a flat vertical surface like a door or side of building to initially position focus target. Use bubble level on the camera body to ensure it's level. Then lay down a straight line 90 deg (use carpenters or dry wall square, etc.) from the focus target with something thats fairly long and straight to position camera side-side. Then move the focus target around on the door/wall into exact position in the camera viewfinder. Doing this is a bit more trouble but should help ensure the lens is close to perpendicular to the target.

[@miljo2146]

Have you tested some wide angle lenses on the D850? My 14-24 needs significant autofocus fine tune even at closed apertures where depth of field is quite big. I've already had it checked by Nikon a couple of months ago because that problem was even more significant back then.

[@soak000]

LIked your nice, clean video. How far away did you set the target box from your lens at 500mm? Thanks.

[@Hellgap50]

Steve I just got off the phone with Gentec , canon, and sigma tech support I’m pissed here’s why .i have the dock for sigma sport ,art,contemporarty lenses well guess they flat out all told me they are junk if you own and use more than one body ,the dock is specific one body to that single lens once calibrated it will not create sharp images I’m like you I own 3 canon body’s and a lot of sigma lenses now I’m mad they told me is a asshole remark most people only have one body well not me now I was even more pissed .i then contacted a local repair shop t hat calibrates and reican focal is the only software being used for more than one body .yes micro adjust gets you close but not perfect . I was so mad after talking to sigma I asked why have screwed so many people into believing the dock works when in fact it doesn’t when a second body is introduced

[@brandt_bennett]

How often do you do this?

[@SteveMattheis]

I try to do it a couple times per year as the seasons change, or when I notice that my focus isn’t tack sharp.

[@outdoorsykindaguy]

It appears on your demo the 0 on the screen you show is the point in most focus...not 3 or 4. I wonder why?

[@Jackleong29]

Very useful and informative video for me who is a Nikon user. Thank you.

[@aussie8114]

Problem is if you try it again tomorrow you will get a different reading 😂 It’s very frustrating. Especially with zooms. Have you noticed a better consistency in the AF fine tune and focus accuracy consistency with the D850 compared to the D810. I have 2 D810 bodies. It’s a little frustrating at times, I know the D850 is a better AF system but I don’t have one to do a real world comparison. The D810 is perfectly fine normally but I don’t always trust it in a critical focus situation. I just try to shoot extra to try and nail the focus if it’s something like an eye.

[@SteveMattheis]

I found the 810 AF to be very inconsistent too. The D850 is sooooo good.

[@isaacmazique1530]

Very insightful. I have noticed that when shooting a flying Common Grackle flying through a tree from about 200 feet away, with the Nikon D500 and 200-500mm 5.6 lens at f8 and 500mm, that the bird was in sharp focus, but limbs of the tree in front of and behind the bird were soft. I was using single point focus hand held while sitting 1/1600 second and auto ISO. I have not had to calibrate the Nikon D500 yet.

[@ungavaproductions]

Thanks to share. Very good job and very useful

[@K_R_W]

I find these staged target, micro adjustment tools somewhat confounding in that how often are you able to be perfectly parallel to you subject in real shooting conditions. I have had great success micro adjusting with a simple 3 dimensional target of reasonable size and focus wide open at a high shutter speed that I would normally use and that shots a various micro adjustments then view them in Lightroom and find the best focus with equal DOF.

[@adamw2911]

I think there's a number of methods which are valid. Ultimately if you want guaranteed perfection it needs to be calibrated in a lab. However I've found the 'test card' and 'real world' techniques can get you more than close enough to consider the lenses fit for purpose. I think another good tip is not to get massively hung up if the lens is different values at different focal lengths. In 'real world shooting' you probably won't notice .

[@Liam2E0LDQ]

Excellent video, just got the exact same ones delivered and you explained the best way to use them, Cheers for the video

[@tomdullage1531]

Useful tips, Steve, something I've been meaning to do for a while, no excuses now! Thanks.

[@WhittyPics]

Closer to the camera is also a more shallow DOF? Out to infinity will have the most DOF

[@SteveMattheis]

Correct

[@tomdullage1531]

Any chance of an Android version of your app, Steve? I don't have an IOS device!

[@SteveMattheis]

Sorry, I haven’t made it for Android.

[@davidbryant4792]

Thanks Steve, I’m gonna try this. Love your videos.

[@tobeetwo]

Steve, thanks for this tutorial, is there a proper distance to target for each lens?

[@SteveMattheis]

Some people say 40x the focal length. In my experience, it doesn't seem to matter very much but I generally try 2x the minimum focus distance.

[@Bowriverguy]

Is a distance of 15-20 feet sufficient to fine-focus a 500 mm focal length?

[@SteveMattheis]

Probably. If that’s where your subject usually are, do it. Otherwise, I’d suggest a bit farther, maybe 30-40 feet.

[@thebobster2024]

Best video on this topic I've seen... Thanks How far away from the target do you need to be when testing a 600mm lens, or doesn't if matter?

[@SteveMattheis]

It isn’t super important in practice. I wouldn’t do it at minimum focus distance, but you need to be close enough to the target to be able to discern the minor differences in adjustment.

[@Daverazzi]

Great info I have been meaning to do this, I’m gonna take this as a sign that it’s time to do it since my favorite KZbin photog. Made a how to video!! Thanks keep up the great work!

[@loosecannontv614]

Great tips Steve n thanks for sharing 1love

[@schweglerd]

Awesome, a few weeks ago I accidentally bought the smaller target which is essentially useless for testing infinity focus at 600mm....... I just bought this one from your link. Wish me luck

[@SteveMattheis]

Good luck! Testing focus at infinity is nearly impossible anyways because depth of field is still way too big, I’d suggest trying at 25 yards or so.

[@schweglerd]

Steve Mattheis yea, I'll give it a shot but you're right.

[@tobiasyoder]

I know gear questions are super boring, but I was wondering if you feel like the 200-500 is too heavy to handhold for a long period of time or not, with the VR in mind. I have been wanted to switch from my little canon 400 f5.6 but the weight of the Nikon worries me a bit as i almost never use a tripod.

[@SteveMattheis]

I hand hold it all the time but I suppose it depends on your strength. Also note that Nikon is coming out with a very light 500mm 5.6 PF soon which will be very lightweight.

[@tobiasyoder]

Hmm was not aware that was coming out! thanks for letting me know. I hear great things about the 300 pf so that 500 may be great.

[@keithmacdonald4805]

Great tips Steve, thanks very much. I would really like to see you do a video on your post work flow. You do an excellent job of post on you images I think you could really help us amateurs. Thanks again.

[@SteveMattheis]

Will do.

[@buc71x24]

Informative, thank you!

[@SultanenNex]

Thanks for this video! 😃

[@ChrisSmith-wz4cc]

Steve your the Awesomest... Great explanation on the fine tuning of lenses... Keep the tricks to better photographs coming for us amateurs... Thanks Steve

[@SteveMattheis]

Is 'awesomest' a word?

[@ChrisSmith-wz4cc]

I'm working on it becoming part of Webster's book...

[@pete-r51]

Great info.

[@yujinlandscapephotography.7787]

Great tips,👌 Steve.

[@PhotographybyTimWMoore]

Steve, at what distance should the test card be placed from the camera? I take it that the length of the lens affects this distance.

[@markmozley5604]

Do you need to do each lens?

[@SteveMattheis]

Yes. If it isn’t focusing properly.

[@markmozley5604]

I live in Georgia but have had a place in Driggs Idaho for over 20 years. We should hook up for coffee maybe next time I am out there.

[@SteveMattheis]

Sure, let me know.

[@redauwg911]

Great video. Smart to mention how temperature can effect autofocus calibration.

[@patricksmith2553]

I am not down voting you, but the comment in the video about this btw. Just because there is heat or heat waves does not mean that you need to adjust your AF fine tune and I think he is wrong. Obviously you should avoid shooting in these conditions if possible, but if you do need to your lens is going to suffer and so will image quality no matter what you do. Also Nikon does not let you adjust for different focal lengths on a zoom or different distances on either a prime or zoom so I just don't believe in AF fine-tune at this point in time. I do realize there are benefits for many people who work at around the same distances, etc. However I shoot Sports and Breaking news, so photojournalist work and this feature does me no good lol!

[@rolandrick]

9:39, D850 and phase detect AF? Pls call me a liar if it has one 😆🖖

[@SteveMattheis]

Hmmm I’m not sure what you’re saying here but yes, the D850 uses phase detect for AF except when in live view.

[@rolandrick]

Steve Mattheis , good to hear this. I have mjne since October 2017 and didn’t aware this yet 🙈. Thought it’s only possible on ML

[@johnsholian4318]

Thanks Steve! I’ve been a little hesitant to mess with the fine tune but you showed that it’s a piece of cake.

[@andreika6681]

just in case - don't do it live more, you may be trying to calibrate cdaf and you may find that strangely all of your lenses are just fine :-P this method works faster than using reikan, i used reikan but i have older version, d500 is not supported. and d500's automatic af tuning didn't work, at the end it'd refuse to write the values. so, i tried this kind of ruler - after 2-3 tries it's ok. personally i don't focus on central pattern (i've got exactly the same pattern on aliexpress for like $2 shipping included), i just focus on some integer on the scale, checking in focus point nailed it with thar red square showed in play and next zoomin in to see the misses. almost all of my lenses needed a significant adjustemnt (+ or -10, a couple of sigma art even 15-20 range)

[@kevinmurray781]

Great informative video Steve thank for the advice.

[@mr.bennman2726]

Does the distance not have to remain consistent. Making tripod a must?

[@SteveMattheis]

No tripod needed if you can make a sharp image while handholding.