Lens Focusing off?

[Nikanon]

It appears my Nikon D200 has manual focusing issues. When I focus with what autofocus lenses I have (only the 80-200 f2.8 AF-D), the focus is always spot on. When i manual focus with this, or other lenses such as my 50mm f1.4 Nikkor K to AI conversion or my 28mm F2.8 Ai, the focus always seems to be just closer than wherever i focused, forcing me to focus a bit farther than where i can visually see the image in focus to get it where I want it. Now, vision is not a factor, my focusing eye has better than perfect (20/12.5) vision. I normally shoot film, but have never noticed an issue before with the exact same lenses. What could be wrong? The focusing screen seems to be firmly locked in place and has never even been touched, as far as i can tell.

 

[Nikanon]

I just did a test to confirm. I used a ruler lined up perfectly with the film plane on my D200 and an F3 using both my 50mm and my 80-200 and lined up the focus on the lens markings. When i lined up the focus marked on the lens with the digital, 3, 2.5 and 2 feet, and photographed, the images were all PERFECTLY on at f1.4, but when visually focusing they were all slightly off. On the F3, my vision, and lens markings agreed, unlike with the digital. I dont have time to make actual photographs with the F3, but the problem is already clear. The digital is visually misaligned in some way. What can I do about this? Is it a common problem?

 

[R Shaffer]

Well, not sure if this is a help or not as I don't have the problem with my D200. I can manual focus with old AI glass or digital lenses. There is a relationship between the precise location of the focusing screen and the actual focus on the sensor. When I had a Katzeye ( aftermarket focusing screen ) it came with a very very thin metal shim that was placed under the focusing screen to get the precisely required alignment.

Are you the original owner of the camera? I guess this could have slipped through the Nikon QA, but it seems odd that this problem has recently appeared.

You could try and adjust yourself. Send it off to Nikon for service. Or maybe buy a Katzeye Screen. They are quite nice if you like manual focusing. It was a rather simple matter to remove and replace and the focus screen.

Lastly, there is a focus confirmation light that comes on in the viewfinder. Is that not working properly either?

 

[Nikanon]

The confirmation light does not work with my AI lenses, only AF capable lenses. I am not the original owner, but I have the box and everything. Im not sure how one adjusts a focusing screen, I thought they just sat in a metal harness above the mirror with no adjustment capability in the camera.

 

[R Shaffer]

The confirmation light should work. I just rechecked that with a 55mm micro AIS. Although it does need a fair bit of light or else the AF assist light comes on and that seems to make the confirmation light flash. That's not to say the focus confirmation light is perfect, but it would be odd if it were not working.

The focus screen, as manufactured, should have a shim on both sides. It could be the previous owner removed the screen for cleaning or using a different screen and never got it back together correctly. You can take a look at the katzeye guide for the D200. Item #6 refers to the shims ( although it does not show them ).

Focusing Screen Installation Guides - KatzEye Optics

If your a DIY guy, then jump in and see what you find. If your more cautious, then I would think any nikon repair man could fix this pretty easily.

The curious thing is that I would think that the camera would back focus if the shims were missing. Don't know.

 

[resummerfield]

I had this problem with a D700, and installing a KatzEye screen didn't change anything. Ratchel at KatzEye suggested that I could easily adjust the mirror placement with the small screw visible on the right side of the mirror chamber (when looking into the front of the camera). I think it took a 1.5mm allen wrench. After approximately 30 degrees of turn, the manual focus perfectly matched the autofocus, and the captured image perfectly matched the viewfinder (the centering was identical).

I realize the original post asked about a D200, but I suspect the solution is similar. There are several stories on the net about this problem, and many have step-by-step photos of the solution (like this link).

 

[RalphLambrecht]

It appears my Nikon D200 has manual focusing issues. When I focus with what autofocus lenses I have (only the 80-200 f2.8 AF-D), the focus is always spot on. When i manual focus with this, or other lenses such as my 50mm f1.4 Nikkor K to AI conversion or my 28mm F2.8 Ai, the focus always seems to be just closer than wherever i focused, forcing me to focus a bit farther than where i can visually see the image in focus to get it where I want it. Now, vision is not a factor, my focusing eye has better than perfect (20/12.5) vision. I normally shoot film, but have never noticed an issue before with the exact same lenses. What could be wrong? The focusing screen seems to be firmly locked in place and has never even been touched, as far as i can tell.

stick to af!,you cannot beat it with manual focusing anyway. the nikon AF on the cameras I triedD70,D200,D700 andD800 are extremely precise and accurate ;no chance to beat that manuallyI bought into digital Nikons because I thiught I can use my old Nikkorsbut ended up buying all new AFNikkors because, I like the precission of it.