Having Autofocus issues with my D500 and 500 PF

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Ralph

Ralph

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I was out shooting today and I noticed that my lens was chattering. I looked at the focus lock symbol and it appeared that the camera had an issue holding autofocus lock. It keep flipping from right arrow to left and vice versa. Sometime it would calm down and lock and other times it did not. Also, when I got home and was playing with it, it appeared to behave better but I noticed that when it locked onto an object , it had extreme difficulty letting go. I set the focus lock to different values all the way down to 1 but it didn’t seem to make a difference. The only way to get it to re-acquire a new focus was to take my finger off the focus-on button and then press a second time. This is occurring with a D500 and a 500pf. I put a different lens on it and it behaved a little better but not the way I think it should. This combination has been working flawlessly up to this point . The only thing that was done differently was last night I accidentally hit live view. But that’s it. Any one have any thoughts. I haven't removed the lens from the body in months so I don’t think dirt is an issue but you never know. I was. playing with the menus but nothing that had to do with focus. I tried different focusing mode but it didn’t appear to matter. Most obvious with single point focusing though.
 
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aolander said:
What was your focus target?
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It varied. At first I thought it was confused because while attempting to shoot sandpipers there was a great deal of reflection off the mud. But later while attempting to shoot a great blue heron it did it again. While shooting flying snow geese I’m not sure what it was doing. Some are sharp some are not but that could be technique. I was using single point for sandpiper and great blue but group for snow geese. Indidnt notice the focus lock on issue until I got home and focus on an object and then slowly move off of it. When the box was completely off the object it took some time to refocus or just was totally confused.
 
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Ralph, I've had similar issues with my D500 (and D300). In all cases, removing the lens and cleaning the metal mounting plate and contacts took care of it. Even though you have not removed the lens, you will probably find metal oxidation on the cleaning cloth.

Gary
 
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Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll give it a try. I put my zoom on it and then put the 500 on it and it seems like it’s back to normal. you may be on the right track. Maybe removing and reattaching did something similar. Would a lens cloth be sufficient ? I may also try blowing some air on the focus sensor as well.
 
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Ralph, I usually just wipe the lens mount and body mount and contacts with a lint free wipe and some alcohol. Blowing out the box is probably not a bad idea but be careful not to blow dirt from the mount into the camera - clean it first. And yes, reseating the lens probably helped some. When it has happened to me while in the field I've always been successful just pressing the lock button and rotating the lens back and forth a few time, but then I do clean it when back home.

Gary
 
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My first gen 70-200 f2.8 VR had grounding issues that resulted in AF and VR failures. Seems it used the mount for the ground connection. Not sure they still do but I've found regular cleaning for the mounting surfaces on both lenses and cameras seems to keep the gremlins at bay.
 
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GRE said:
Ralph, I've had similar issues with my D500 (and D300). In all cases, removing the lens and cleaning the metal mounting plate and contacts took care of it. Even though you have not removed the lens, you will probably find metal oxidation on the cleaning cloth.

Gary
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Thanks Allen.
 
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Warren D said:
My first gen 70-200 f2.8 VR had grounding issues that resulted in AF and VR failures. Seems it used the mount for the ground connection. Not sure they still do but I've found regular cleaning for the mounting surfaces on both lenses and cameras seems to keep the gremlins at bay.
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Thanks warren
 
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Steve said:
Yup, I'd blow off the AF sensors:

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Thanks Steve. I remembered Viewing this video a while back and was searching for it with no success. Thanks. I hope cleaning the contacts and blowing out the sensor solves the problem. I was very depressed over it even though we have much bigger issues to deal with. I guess this is just a blip on the screen.
 
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GRE said:
Ralph, I usually just wipe the lens mount and body mount and contacts with a lint free wipe and some alcohol. Blowing out the box is probably not a bad idea but be careful not to blow dirt from the mount into the camera - clean it first. And yes, reseating the lens probably helped some. When it has happened to me while in the field I've always been successful just pressing the lock button and rotating the lens back and forth a few time, but then I do clean it when back home.

Gary
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Thanks Gary.
 
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JoeB said:
Ralph, did cleaning the contacts resolve your AF issue?
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Still waiting on the detoxit solution. But after removing the lens and switching it with another and then putting the PF back on it seemed to resolve itself. So I’m thinking that it has something to do with the contacts. But I am also going to blow out the focusing sensor as well. I have been procrastinating doing that until i clean the contacts. I took some very nice photos of a Copper’s hawk the day after the issue and they came out really well. So I hoping that was it.
 
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I had this problem a few days ago. Didn't figure it out until the next day when I was changing lenses. I was carrying my Z7 and D850 in a BR double harness. My D50 wouldn't focus. I took the lens off and put it back on to no effect. Still wouldn't focus. I finally thought to check the len's AF/M switch and I guess it brushed against my coat and moved the switch to M. I moved it to Am and it went back to normal focus. I still had a few times when it wouldn't focus correctly. Next day I looked it over and noticed the focus limit switch was moved off of FULL in oo-8m and the VR switch had moved to OFF from SPORT. So the limit switch not on FULL (where I always us it) I believe was causing some focus problem. In conclusion I've decided that using the double harness primarily allowed the D850+500PF to swing against my coat and move my switches when I was using the Z7 in the opposite side of the harness. I never had that problem with the single BR sling. The weight of the D850 vs the Z7 was a constant headache because of the light side (Z7) wanted to pull that side up because the heavy side (D850) wanted to pull that side down. I've now retired that double harness to my camera closet. Only used it one time and now done with it. So check your switches when you are cleaning your contacts. I have several of my heavy telephoto lenses' A/M & limit switches covered with small stripes of gaffer's tape. Guess I need to do the same with the 500pf.
 
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Rogereh said:
I had this problem a few days ago. Didn't figure it out until the next day when I was changing lenses. I was carrying my Z7 and D850 in a BR double harness. My D50 wouldn't focus. I took the lens off and put it back on to no effect. Still wouldn't focus. I finally thought to check the len's AF/M switch and I guess it brushed against my coat and moved the switch to M. I moved it to Am and it went back to normal focus. I still had a few times when it wouldn't focus correctly. Next day I looked it over and noticed the focus limit switch was moved off of FULL in oo-8m and the VR switch had moved to OFF from SPORT. So the limit switch not on FULL (where I always us it) I believe was causing some focus problem. In conclusion I've decided that using the double harness primarily allowed the D850+500PF to swing against my coat and move my switches when I was using the Z7 in the opposite side of the harness. I never had that problem with the single BR sling. The weight of the D850 vs the Z7 was a constant headache because of the light side (Z7) wanted to pull that side up because the heavy side (D850) wanted to pull that side down. I've now retired that double harness to my camera closet. Only used it one time and now done with it. So check your switches when you are cleaning your contacts. I have several of my heavy telephoto lenses' A/M & limit switches covered with small stripes of gaffer's tape. Guess I need to do the same with the 500pf.
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Roger, Thanks for the insight. I did check my switches hoping it had something to do with that. But they were set correctly. But like I said in earlier post it seems to have resolved itself after the change in lenses. I expect the cleaning solution to arrive tomorrow so I can clean the contacts.
 
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Ralph Bruno said:
Roger, Thanks for the insight. I did check my switches hoping it had something to do with that. But they were set correctly. But like I said in earlier post it seems to have resolved itself after the change in lenses. I expect the cleaning solution to arrive tomorrow so I can clean the contacts.
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All you need is regular isopropyl alcohol, as close to 100% that you can find. I've use Rite Aid 91% for several years with cotton tipped applicators standard cotton swabs with the hard (non-flexible) stems . I don't like to use the soft plastic flexible one on my equipment. I have a small supply of wood stemmed ones that I like to use.
 
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@Ralph Bruno I have fixed problems for friends cleaning the contact points on their camera and lens even new out of the box they can have residues (I use BD alcohol swabs .. what Nikon repair guys use as the best by far at not shedding fiber they are cheap at your local drug store ... with the excess liquid squeezed out and wipe in only one direction to avoid shedding fibers) that fixes 90% of focusing problems and I clean my cameras and lens contacts after every couple of uses and take care to do it in a clean still environment keeping the body opening pointed down to avoid getting dust into the body. As others pointed out the camera lens contacts build up a residue with use so they get dirty without taking the lens on and off when you remove a lens or even just loosen and tighten again you can mechanically remove some of the residue created by the electric charge passing through and between. As @Steve said I also use a rocket blower less frequently and lock up the mirror and carefully blow off my sensor.
 
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