My D300 won't focus

[Axion Sports]

I have tried everything from different lenses to using the fine tune in the menu and regardless of what I do my d300 is back focusing by a a couple of inches. does anyone know whaty may be causing this or where I should send it for repair?

[AdamN]

Does this problem happen when you try other lenses? Is there any dust/debris on the lens contacts?

[Axion Sports]

It does it with all lenses and cleaning does not work. Camera works fine otherwise.

[johnastovall]

Nikon service...

[Axion Sports]

I have tried cleaning and a whole host of other things. It looks fine in the view finder, but not in the final picture. I know it is a stretch, but it is almost as if the image sensor is off by a tiny bit, since the viewfinder image looks fine.

[snydersnapshots]

Originally Posted by Axion Sports

I have tried cleaning and a whole host of other things. It looks fine in the view finder, but not in the final picture. I know it is a stretch, but it is almost as if the image sensor is off by a tiny bit, since the viewfinder image looks fine.

I don't know if you've got the issue solved yet or not, but if you haven't, here's my suggestion:

If it's your D300s, which should still be under warranty (or if it's a D300 out of warranty), I'd send it back to Nikon and have them look at it. There is a Nikon service facility in LA and one in New York. I sent the LA facility a 80-200 lens that had quit manual focusing earlier this year and I was very happy with their service--turn around time was about two weeks. The service and support section of their website has a template you can fill out. It sends the data with the problem to Nikon and you can print out a copy of the service order, a packing slip, and an address label. You box it up, stick the packing slip inside, slap the address label on the outside, and ship it off (with the appropriate insurance, of course). I shipped mine Fedex, although you could use UPS or the Postal service (I do NOT recomment the USPS--I've seen too many packages fall off of belt-loaders going into airplane bellies).

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

[Rson]

Move M/A switch on the body from c to s.....I always bump mine.

Same thing with lens

Reset the shooting menus also.

See if that helps

[TheFantasticG]

You can also post this on NikonCafe.com

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by TheFantasticG

You can also post this on NikonCafe.com

It is not an OOF, over saturated, over sharpened photo so why would he post it there?

[Tom]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

It is not an OOF, over saturated, over sharpened photo so why would he post it there?

Oh, does the Nikon King, Ken Rockwell, post there?

[photonewb]

Originally Posted by Rson

Move M/A switch on the body from c to s.....I always bump mine.

Same thing with lens

Reset the shooting menus also.

See if that helps

that was my first thought, but his description leads you down a different road....I often bump the selector switch when pulling the body out of the bag and it even caused me quite some bit of panic one morning thinking I'd broken my camera body, so it's one of the first things I check now in my "pre-shoot" inspection...lol

that said, his comments lead you to believe there is an issue with the point of focus, not the actual autofocus itself. It sounds like it's focusing, just not where it should be.

I agree with the above comments about sending it in for repairs. I'm sure that when you get it back it'll be cleaned as well and you'll think you've got a brand new body.

[Zigquat]

If you look right next to the view finder, you'll notice that about 2 o'clock, there is a small thumbwheel that has a + and a - text on it. As you look through the view finder, turn that wheel and you will notice that it will adjust the focus. Find the best setting for your eyes personal vision properties and you should be ready to go. I guess they put this in for people who don't want to wear their glasses while shooting. There, that's my two cents! :0)

Have Fun,

Zigquat

[timbertoes]

how "far" numerically in fine tune have you tried ?

[Bob_S]

Sounds silly, but did you turn it to AF-ON Only in the menu options.

[brewercm]

Since the thread was back from Feb/Mar timeframe I'm guessing he's probably figured it out or sent it in by now. Could be wrong though.