D300 New, but how to AF??

[leonardobarreto.com]

Just got my D300 but can't make it to work. I have the focus lever in S. but the camera does not AF...

I read the small manual book, and probably there is something not set up ...

the good thing is that I got the special warranty ... : )

the should do a warranty for "human error"

 

[Joel Schochet]

Leonardo,
What lens are you using? If there is an "M/A" switch, make sure it's on A. If that's not the problem, tell us more about the situation, for instance, when you say it doesn't "AF" do you mean it's hunting but not coming into focus. If so, the subject might be the problem.
Joel

 

[leonardobarreto.com]

I have one lens that has the option of AF/M on the lens, this is the Nikon DX 18-55 Nikkor AF S G ED and I also mounted my old 85mm Nikkor 1:1.8, a AF lens that works with the "screwdriver", so yes, I set the DX lens to AF, and the camera to S

There is no problem with hunting since the "electronic rangefinder" works well, I can tell since the green dot is on when the camera finds the focus.

The problem is that the lens is not "engaged" for some reason. The other strange thing is that the f.stops (with the 85 f1.8 and the DX) is "stuck" in F.4. And, yes, I have set the aperture ring all the way to f16

I will go tomorrow to Adorama to talk to the sales guy, he will probably sort it out.

 

[Joel Schochet]

I hope it works out. A long time ago I bought an F100 and it had the same problem. I hope yours can be taken care of.

 

[leonardobarreto.com]

well, it is one day old and I got the extended international warranty. The good thing is that it is only about 10 blocks from my house to Adorama...

strange, no?

 

[Alan Cole]

Leonardo,
I am thinking that the "stuck" problem might relate the fact that you are in Aperture priority exposure mode (see the Big manual pg 109). Can you change the f4 setting with the front Sub-command dial?
I still don't quite follow why you think the camera is not auto focussing - you say that green dot does come on (indicating that something is indeed in focus).
The operation of the d300 does require plenty of time and Manual reading if you are new to sophisticated SLRs!
Hope the dealer can clear up your problem if the above hints don't.

Alan Cole

 

[leonardobarreto.com]

Yeees !

I went to Adorama an they gave me a new D300 on the spot, the sales person was Efraim, super nice guy, I have done trade ins before with him.

The new D300 is a fantastic camera, I had no time to test it since I had to work -with my Phase One/Mamiya system--, but the 85 1:1.8 and D300 together are incredible. I put it at 1600ASA and I can shoot my black dog in the shadow of my room, amazing, I'm so happy with this camera.

I am upgrading from a Fujifilm S2, so, probably most of you have progressively have followed the modernadvancements, but this, compared to the S2 is a different ballgame.

I am going to be stationed in Bolivia, south America since my wife will be the head of the UN in that country and I want to do general commercial photography, so I think I will be able to choose the system that can work better, probably for studio work the Mamiya will be perfect with 22MP but much more slow and no high ISO, and for the rest the super fast 12MP D300, including traveling in Bolivia and documenting my 6year old son...

So, the moral of the story is that if you can, get the camera at a brick and mortar store so that you can have the easy back up of just walking in and getting a product change. But on the other side, it is really rare for something like this to happen, no?

Ok, so I will be back here in this part of the OpenPhotographyForum....