D300s for Close-Up/Macro

I purchased a D300s recently (used to be a D200 user previously and still have that body).

I have terrific problems focussing manually as I mostly do macros and close-ups. With the D200, I was always able to see my point of critical focus (even the smallest of dew drops) very clearly.

With D300s everything is fuzzy. Its not the diopter because the photos come out sharp when I think the focus is acquired and I have tested it with my friends body (who also bought it recently) and its the same feeling.

Is it the focussing screen which does that - optimized for auto focus than manual focus ? Any ideas how to over come this ?

The diopter adjustment has nothing to do with lens focus and the final sharpness of the image. It only adjusts the appearance of the image for the variations in folks' vision. It is possible that the adjustments don't go far enough in some direction for your prescription, but I doubt if this is the case since the D200 works. Work with the adjustment wheel some more, and if that doesn't work, contact Nikon about your prescription to be sure. I use a D300 and do mostly manual focus.

Thanks, Robert . I'll try adjusting the diopter and see if that helps under controlled conditions.

Be sure to follow the instructions in the manual about adjusting the diopter, i.e. adjust the diopter until the viewfinder display, focus points, and AF area brackets are in focus, not the subject you're trying to focus on.

Alan, Got it - but I seriously doubt its the diopter. Its more the brightness of the screen optimized for Auto Focus. An alternate screen might help but I am not certain it would be great for the work I do.

If it were to be the Diopter, I should see precise focus somewhere. I never do.

If it were to be the Diopter, I should see precise focus somewhere. I never do.

No.

The diopter adjusts the focus of the screen and not of the image on the screen.

1. turn on the grid on the screen (first thing I did on my D70, D200, and D300 bodies).

2. point the camera at something uniform (a white wall, the ceiling, the sky, etc.)

3. look at the grid and adjust the little wheel just outside the top right corner of the eyepiece until the lines are crisp - you've adjusted the optics between the viewfinder and your eye.

4. now manually focus on a real subject and see what it looks like on the screen.

You should never have to change the dioptor setting again unless you bump it off setting or if your vision changes.

Thanks, Richard .

I tried, Richard and the point of maximum sharpness for the viewfinder display is indeed at normal settings. No adjustment was needed. Now that should not create the problem I have, or will it ?

For macro (close-up) shots I allways use the screen in enlarged mode and focusing manually. Mirror lock-up, stable tripod and remote release is a must.

I just compared my D200 and D300 with my old 105/2.8 AF Micro Nikkor in manual focus mode. The subject looked exactly the same in both viewfinders - equally bright; equally sharp.

If your D300 doesn't look as good as your D200 then it might require a trip to Nikon for repair.

Thanks, Richard. I'll try again this weekend and determine whether I need to send it to Nikon for verification.

Sorry i'm late to respond, I had a D200, which i gave to my daughter. who likes to photograph birds, last week she spent a week at my country residence, and used my D300. she found the images sharper with the 70-200 and a 1/7 tele converter. then the D200...Have you tried framing the picture in the monitor [live view]... My big problem is macular degeneration of my left eye, my rt eye is not great either, being 78 years old, perhaps, i should not complain. . another problem.. I dont have a snug connection to the camera with my sigma 150 macro. i sent the camera to nikon for other repairs, and they said, it's sigmas problem. they are right, because, my nikon 50mm. my 17-55mm my 70-200 2/8 all fit snug.. and the images are all sharper with my nikon lens. i have to get my sigma repaired!