Problem focusing D70 w/ AF 80-200 f/2.8D?

I am considering the purchase of an AF 80-200 f/2.8D lens to use with my D70 ( if I can

find one). I read on Ken Rockwell's website that some people have experienced inaccurate

focussing at f/2.8 at 200mm with the D70. Does anyone have any experience with this

combination that can offer any opinion on this? Thanks.

I got a D70 and 80-200mm f2.8 and have absolutely no issue with focusing. Quiet a few of those *focusing problems* are people not checking where they AF indicator in highlighted in the viewfinder. Unless you lock it, will wander or focus at the closetest subject.

 

And don't put too much into Rockwell's website. I tried to read up on his experience with D2h and basically all he did was harp about it ONLY having a 1/250 flash sync. I believe he mentioned it like 5 times. I always thought D2h was suppose to be a sports/ photojournalist type camera for heavy duty professional outdoor use but seems he rather have that 1/500 flash sync to perhaps take picture of balloons popping at kids birthday party.

Until I acquired the 70-200 VR that was my bread and butter lens. My images came out

razor sharp with it. That is of course assuming you're talking about this lens:

 

----> http://www.imagepower.de/IMAGES/imgEQUIPMENT/AFS80200.htm

Hi Daryl,

 

What will help with AF on the D70, especially with telephotos, is to set the camera to use the center focus area only. If you try it, I hope works out.

 

Regards

I don't have that one, but I do have a s/h 70-210 on a D70. When I first put it on the

camera and tried it, I found that I was getting puzzling focusing results. A few minutes

checking revealed that, at some time, I had switched the camera's active AF sensor to the

right-hand one and had never noticed. With the 18-70 this didn't make much difference,

especially at wide-angles, but at the long end of the 70-210 it was immediately clear that

something was not as it should have been.

 

A couple of minutes with the manual to learn how to reset AF to what it ought to be, and

no more problems. So I would say: if you have any issues, the first thing to check is

camera not the lens.

Hmm... not to get too far off track but I thought the D2H could sync at up to 1/8000 with the SB-800? Granted, that has limited uses but it's still not 1/250.

That combination is my preferred shooting gear.

 

I almost never take my 80-200 f/2.8D off my D70. It takes outstanding, tack sharp photos with the D70 throughout the entire range. I use 200mm quite a bit for nature and landscape photography, and have never had anything but EXCELLENT results. The only time I ever got un-sharp results at 200mm were when I was trying to handhold it without enough light and didn't have my tripod set up. But that has nothing to do with the lens!

 

You could take away my other lenses but leave me the 80-200 for my D70 and I'd be a happy camper.

I saw Ken's harping about 1/250 sync. on the D2x too. That's why he said he'd stick with

the D70 (hmm?). Which is weird if you consider that min ISO on the D2x is 100, which

means the flash performance at 1/250 in daylight fill is exactly the same as the D70 at ISO

200 and 1/500. Also, someone might what to explain the use of neutral density filters to

Ken as well.

No problems with my D70/80-200mm combo. Be it film or digital camera, autofocus

always has a "mind of its' own"

I doubt you'll have trouble getting a focus lock, but keep in mind that the D70's focus motor is notoriously weak, at least compared to my F90x. I doubt it's any stronger than an N6006's focus motor. This can be a problem for lenses in which the focusing requires spinning a large amount of glass. Also, it's less able to get a lock in low light.

I regularly use my 80-200 2.8 with a D-70. I have experienced a blurry image or two, but it is usually my fault... not holding the camera steady or not using a tripod. I love the images with this lens, and I haven't had any problems at all. I'm attaching an image I shot yesterday during an engagement session. Best of luck.

 

Duane<div></div>

I have the 80-200 F2.8 and use it on the D70.... The autofocus on the D70 is excellent in

my opinion.

 

I just went digital from a F4 and purchased a D70 a few weeks ago to get a feel for it and

really like the D70 ..especially with that lense. I never trusted the F4 to autofocus with

the 80-200 but let the D70 do all the focusing all the time and its amazingly fast and

crisp.

I have both AF and AF-S type of this Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 and I use D70s. I'm having problem with AF type focussing when shooting at 200mm f/2.8 with my D70s and I believe it's true that this this lens has an inaccurate focussing problem with D70/s. I don't have any focussing problem with my AF-S and the result are razor sharp. Currently I only use my AF only when I shoot with my F5.