[muscle750]

Having played now havent exactly been overley impressed with the 17 55 on the D300, basically on a tripod remote release and basically its soft at a number of different settings etc, With my 85 1.8 on it itsd spot on and with other lenses all seems well to a point.
I see its recommended that its required to fine tune the camera to the lense using the menu option, however it also states that this is not recommended. If its not recommended why did they put the thing on there in the first place. On my D200 the lense was fine.
If anyone else has had to fine tune the dam thing, then can they please enlighten me how to do it in plain english which the manual isnt.
Bought a cheap secondhand Sigma 24 70 2.8 for £160 makes the 17 55 on the D300 look like u got cling film over the lense mount!

[Dabhand16]

I think you will have to set up on a tripod and get hold of a test chart that you can fix on a wall.

Use manual settings and manual focus then leave the camera with these settings.

Take a shot at say f5.6 for reference, than a series of shots at +5, +10,+15 and +20 on the fine tuning scale. repeat using -5, -10 etc. Then you can check to see where there is any improvement.

If +10 is the best for sharpness, repeat the process now starting at +10, but with smaller changes - say 2 on the scale on either side.

Check these for sharpness, and if necessary repaet for a third time from the sharpest settings, but now with changes of one unit on the fine tuning scale.

Now the sharpest image has the setting you need. Save this setting and Leave the fine tuning switched on. now anytime you fit this lens the camera will remember the setting and dial in your fine tuning setting automatically.

No idea why they say leave this menu option off.

[Soupdragon]

I'm sorry to say, I tried fine tuning the AF on my D300 and it really seems to be a hit and miss affair.

45 degree focus charts don't really help much either.

I can tell you what you are supposed to do if you like but the results I got were all bar useless.

[muscle750]

Sounds like fun.....................Not! I wonder why they put this feature on the D300 has the D3 got it? Wondering if maybe there are more reasons why this feature was insitgated than we know about. Is it a case of Nikon wont get 100s of cameras fired back at them cos the dam thing dont like the 17 55 so we will put this on so u can do it yourself!! ........there again wat do i know!! Except i aint all that impressed

[JMitchell]

It only really works well on primes, since the moving glass in zooms doesn't often require the same amount of adjustments at different focal lengths...

[VinnyP]

Not that it helps you but mine works fine with the 17-55. I suspect most do as I haven't heard this problem before. Fine tuning is becoming standard on most top end cameras and is on the D3 and top Canon models as well. Fine tuning is not to cure what you are describing it's more like the eyelash instead of the pupil being sharp at F1.4.

It may be that the AFS contact on the D300 is mucky or faulty since the screw drive lenses seem to work OK. It could be the lens contact but since it works on the D200.

[Soupdragon]

Given what you are saying about the differences between it and your other lenses, I would suggest it is a dud.
How long have you had it? can you swap it out for another?

[Soupdragon]

Originally Posted by muscle750

Sounds like fun.....................Not! I wonder why they put this feature on the D300 has the D3 got it? Wondering if maybe there are more reasons why this feature was insitgated than we know about. Is it a case of Nikon wont get 100s of cameras fired back at them cos the dam thing dont like the 17 55 so we will put this on so u can do it yourself!! ........there again wat do i know!! Except i aint all that impressed

I think the top end canons have this feature too.

[muscle750]

Lense is 12 months old new from Grays will have another play later on If still will either send it to Nikon or more likely reurn it to Grays.
What i fail to understand is why was it ok on the D200

[VinnyP]

Originally Posted by muscle750

Lense is 12 months old new from Grays will have another play later on If still will either send it to Nikon or more likely reurn it to Grays.
What i fail to understand is why was it ok on the D200

Have you not still got a body to test it on? There are a few members in your area with Nikon kit so maybe you could try it on another body just to make sure it is the lens. It could still be a dodgy or dirty contact on the body as the other lenses you mention that work OK are all non AFS so would use the screw motor and not the AFS contact.

[Dave]

Andy, we can sort something out to test vs your old D200, plus my 17-55mm lens.