Lens fine tuning In Camera is it worth it ?

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O

O

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Wondering how good and reliable or stable in camera fine tuningis.
Is this something you need to repeat often. I have Nikon check my lenses and they say they are perfect...Thankyou.
I was told by others you can tune a lens to be shaprer at 500 but at the expence of say 200mm, I have been told that its best to leave it at an average so the lens is optimal in the full range, Fact or Fiction ? Any Ideas.

OZ Down Under
 
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In short, I think it's worth it particularly when DOF will not compensate. My D850 requires a little + fine tune but my D500 and newly acquired D5 seem to be spot on. In my case it seemed more of a body difference than a lens difference.
 
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I always thought that fine tuning a zoom lens is not worth it. What focal length do you fine tune? If you do (say) widest, mid and long and set an average, probably no focal length will have the correct fine tuning and the elements a won't necessarily return to precisely the same positions as when the wide, mid and long were measured.
 
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dabhand16 said:
I always thought that fine tuning a zoom lens is not worth it. What focal length do you fine tune? If you do (say) widest, mid and long and set an average, probably no focal length will have the correct fine tuning and the elements a won't necessarily return to precisely the same positions as when the wide, mid and long were measured.
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Yes I am hearing Its a little unreliable , as you say you need to either choose one end of the other or average it out, I guess the best you could hope for is that the end result is as good as the factory specs if not slightly better on average.
With my 300 2.8 vr II I had it adjusted so that its super sharp and spot on at F4 to F2.8 but at the slight expense of F16 and beyond I don't know how its done.
I shoot that lens 90% of the time at F2.8 10% at F4 or its defeating the purpose of having it.
It seems to do as expected exceptionally well.

OZ down under
 
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Don't forget that although the lens may be "perfect" it may not be when married up to a camera. There is a tolerance level built cameras and lenses to allow for different climates.
So fine tuning a lens to a camera may well be advisable to get the best out of both. As for zoom lenses this is more a see what is best for the mm length you use the most.
 
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realspeed said:
Don't forget that although the lens may be "perfect" it may not be when married up to a camera. There is a tolerance level built cameras and lenses to allow for different climates.
So fine tuning a lens to a camera may well be advisable to get the best out of both. As for zoom lenses this is more a see what is best for the mm length you use the most.
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Sounds Spot On thankyou
 
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Do you want to know for sure if your lens is giving you the best performance it can on a given camera body. If yes, then you will test them together yourself. Testing is not easy as it takes knowledge, time, and patience, but what I learned in the process has made me a better photographer. Gaining the knowledge to do testing right is not hard and everything you need is out on the web, but it takes a little research and time. Tuning is comparatively easy to testing.
 
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Thankyou, well put, I have been wondering if its all worth while and maybe I should spend more time in learning how to do it myself.
To date I have had the luxury of Nikon Service doing it for me, I give them a bunch of glass and several bodies and leave it with them for two or three weeks, all good, they tell me that there isn't much to adjust that things are pretty bang on.
I now run 2 D850s plus power grip, (Sold the D4s d5) haven't missed them at all, and now with the new generation looming I am glad I pulled out the maximum equity in time, I rent a D5 or D6 if its ever needed.
The 2.8 prime lenses never seem to change they are always bang on with the camera and without.
The 2.8 zooms are very similer, the F5.6 200-500 seems good and has needed the odd tweak, I think that's because its a longer cheaper zoom. It costs me around $65 AUD a lens...….....
At the moment the 1 D850 is going in to determine if the increased noise of the mirror slap is an issue or not, it sounds more drummy ……….

OZ down under
 
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Etching House said:
To date I have had the luxury of Nikon Service doing it for me, I give them a bunch of glass and several bodies and leave it with them for two or three weeks, all good, they tell me that there isn't much to adjust that things are pretty bang on.

OZ down under
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You left something out in this post. It should read:

I give them a bunch of glass and several bodies and a large amount of money and leave it with them for two or three weeks, all good, they tell me that there isn't much to adjust that things are pretty bang on.
 
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dabhand16 said:
You left something out in this post. It should read:

I give them a bunch of glass and several bodies and a large amount of money and leave it with them for two or three weeks, all good, they tell me that there isn't much to adjust that things are pretty bang on.
Click to expand...
dabhand16 said:
You left something out in this post. It should read:

I give them a bunch of glass and several bodies and a large amount of money and leave it with them for two or three weeks, all good, they tell me that there isn't much to adjust that things are pretty bang on.
Click to expand...
Yes, well put LOL, hence I might look at learning to do it myself. Money is not the issue time is.......
 
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Strodav said:
Do you want to know for sure if your lens is giving you the best performance it can on a given camera body. If yes, then you will test them together yourself. Testing is not easy as it takes knowledge, time, and patience, but what I learned in the process has made me a better photographer. Gaining the knowledge to do testing right is not hard and everything you need is out on the web, but it takes a little research and time. Tuning is comparatively easy to testing.
Click to expand...

Really appreciate the response thankyou.
 
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