Originally posted by x_goal I’m new to DSLR world and not sure if this is normal thing or some kind of AF problem. My K200D with DA 15-55 II lens attached front focuses on close shots when lens wide open. It’s not just soft, it’s definitely FF. I tried couple of tests and found that at max aperture (all focal lengths) it is 5-10 mm front focused, and focuses correctly when stopped down approximately 1 stop (sometimes 1 1/3). Particular numbers came from test I found here:
Nikon D70 Focus Chart
I used to have DA 15-55 (not mark II) and did not notice any problems. However, with a new Mark II lens, I just got, focus on some of my “macro” shots is off. It’s especially evident when I shoot in Av mode and open lens all the way: many of the pictures not just soft, but focused on the wrong part of the subject. I haven’t noticed this with DA 55-300, but with min focusing distance of 1.4 m a few millimeters don’t make a big difference anyway.
I assume that AF is off, but I can really see it when lens is wide open and the depth of field id the shallowest. Is this a problem that I need to worry about or it’s just a normal practice?
Here is a sample image of what I described:
http://www.aimagehosting.com/images/tr5nc0kypak89tf2wvb.jpg Your case is almost exactly the same happened to my.....Normal!!!!!!!!
My K200d+kit Mk2, when open its F- number at F4.5, F4, F3.5... Picture found soft in portrait shots. Sharpness only acceptable starting from F8 onwards. I took shot at F4.5 on one street in Sham Shui Po at 5-6 pm. The focus almost run away.
After checking (indoor and outdoor), it was front-focusing (8-10%). The amount of F-F depends on the F-number. In fact, I concluded that the focus depnded on the F-number really.
I sent it to repair, afterwards, picture sharpness is OK. But at wide angle end (18mm,24mm,30mm) and at F3.5, F4, F4,5 or even F5.6, when shot objects far away (more than 8-10m) by using AF, the focus ring turned passed through the infinity mark and hit the hard-stop end.
Then I try the DA 18-55 old version in a shop in Hunghum, found no problem. I also bought DA 35 F2.8 macro limted... No such problems.
The problem is partially caused by the Mk2 Lens. But I also think the CCD position of K200d is constructed or placed a little bit too backwards that it left almost no margin for the technician to make fine-tune. (Believed a production QC problem there)
Good luck.
PS: When I was checking, I tried taken picture at 0.35m, 0.8m, 1.5m and 2.2m always also