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D5500 deliberately goes out of focus


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18 replies to this topic

#1
dswan

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It's D5500.  Now and again, when I push the button to kick in the autofocus, it goes crazy, focuses in and out a couple times and generally lands not where I want to focus.  It's way OUT of focus.  

 

I've tried cleaning the lens and the sensor, cleaned any filter that I have on and checked for things like twigs foreground of the field of view.  If it doesn't settle, after a few choice cusses, I turn off the camera, retract the lens to it's "off" position and then restart.

 

Any clues as to why this would happen?

 

>>>An update on this since I posted it in a different thread - I have cleaned everything, lenses, sensor, mount, mirror, etc and it's no better.

 

When it acts up, the manual focus ring does nothing.

 

I'm on the verge of throwing this thing in the lake.

 

Suggestions appreciated.



#2
g4aaw pete

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I suppose the most likely cause is the lens.
Anyone local to you that you could borrow another from?

I'd lend you mine, but I'm in the wrong country.

#3
Merco_61

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As it is an AF-P lens that is acting up, do you have the C 1.01 firmware installed?

 

You say you have cleaned the lens mount, but have you cleaned the contacts on both lens and camera? If so, what cleaner did you use? I always recommend using Deoxit Gold as it doesn’t only clean, but prevents new oxide from forming.



#4
dswan

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I cleaned all of the contacts, although not with the product you describe but with some alcohol and lens tissue.  The firmware is 1.02.



#5
dswan

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Today's effort, cleaned front and back of lens, cleaned mirror and prism surface, cleaned lens mount and contacts, took out and replaced battery, blew out dust and did a sensor clean.  I don't know what's wrong with this thing, but it still goes crazy, starts out briefly in focus but then goes in and out until it lands way OUT of focus.

 

Ironically, one might consider this kind of like a zen exercise, since, if I shoot real, real fast, purely by instinct, it generally is OK.  It's kinda like those movies where the martial arts expert can swing his sword fast enough to deflect the incoming arrows.



#6
g4aaw pete

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I think you'll have to source another lens - just to take that out of the equation.



#7
krag96

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I agree with Pete, try another lens before condemning the camera.  What lens are you using? 



#8
dswan

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It's an AF-P Nikkor 18-55 zoom, also labelled DX VR, a kit lens.  The 70-300 zoom seems OK at this point indoors, but I will have to take it outside tomorrow since it seems to mainly happen in daylight.



#9
dswan

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So, after yesterday's message, I did take the long lens out for some shots.  I've only barely used that one and it's as clean as can be, but it's doing the same thing. It happens when there's bright sun and objects at a variety of distances, as though the autofocus gets confused and passes out.

 

Even when I use the manual focus ring, it "deliberately" then goes out of focus.

 

It never did that before, never had focus problems and I'm using the same hardware for everything.  I had a UV filter on, took that off, no difference.



#10
g4aaw pete

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Do you use Back Button Focus, or is auto-focus achieved on the 1/2 press of shutter button?

If the answer is no, perhaps there could be a work-around using BBF.

 

Debatable if a possibly large repair bill would be warranted on a D5500.



#11
dswan

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I use the half press on the shutter button, the only thing I have ever used.  This morning, I did a factory settings reset and tried the long lens with the same outcome as the short lens.

 

I think you're right that an expensive repair isn't warranted.  Ironically, I've taken to carrying my old all-in-one Nikon superzoom as a backup and after a lot of years, it's still working quite well.



#12
g4aaw pete

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Ok, thanks for your update. Here's my suggestion:

 

All the evidence points to a camera fault.

The cost of repair is likely to be close to the value of the D5500.

 

Using Back Button Focus will mean the camera will spend less time going through its focus routine than using the shutter ½ press method.

 

Peter, Merco_61 searched out this Youtube video that explains BBF and how to set it up nicely.

 

https://youtu.be/FzqQskGoURE

 

Like so many other users, I found BBF awkward to start with, but after trying it out for a short while, decided it to be a better option. I’ve applied it to my two Nikon cameras.

 

Whilst this isn’t a cure, it may be a suitable work-around.



#13
Merco_61

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Might the submirror for the autofocus be dirty?
To check this, go into the sensor cleaning mode and look carefully at the back of the mirror. If there is dust, a professional clean of this part isn’t expensive, unlike more extensive repairs or adjustments to the focusing system.

#14
dswan

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Thanks.  I will have to check that in the AM since this problem mainly happens in bright daylight.  The camera would be great if all I did was shoot indoors at night.



#15
dswan

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Kicking this one up the queue.  I've been using another camera in the meantime, but the D5500 is still working badly, with no obvious cause.  I've cleaned the sensor, cleaned the lens mount, cleaned everything I can reach inside, removed any filters and the thing looks like it's ready to be in an operating room.  

 

It's really mysterious since it was fine one day and bad the next.  Nothing happened, it wasn't dropped, just sat in my camera bag, whatever firmware version and lens partners it has are the same as it was when it was working a couple days before.

 

The latest wrinkle to the story, this morning, is that, out in bright light, not only does it go "deliberately" out of focus, but the flash pops up and flashes.

 

I can't help but wonder, if I get another camera body, will that help anything since I don't know what's causing the problem....could be both lenses for all I know.  If I do chuck the thing in the river, at this point my desire for a clean start makes me want something completely different, NOT another Nikon.



#16
Merco_61

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Have you tried using liveview? If it works in LV, you have eliminated the lenses as a factor. 



#17
dswan

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Have you tried using liveview? If it works in LV, you have eliminated the lenses as a factor.

Yeah, I just did try Live View and it doesn't seem to do it.  I've made a bunch of shots of the same thing (some nearby trees and a bright blue sky with white clouds) and any settings I have tried triggered the error in normal use (not Live View).  I had not thought of Live View, however, just tried it and it seemed to be OK, not doing the focus craziness.

 

When it happens, it goes in and out several times and then lands in a spot where everything is out of focus.  If I shoot real fast, it does not happen.  Sometimes it freezes and then I have to restart the camera.



#18
Merco_61

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To me, this sounds like a problem with either the submirror or the AF module. Sending it in, explaining the problems and what triggers the behaviour shouldn’t be too expensive. The D5500 is a nice little camera when it works.



#19
dswan

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To me, this sounds like a problem with either the submirror or the AF module. Sending it in, explaining the problems and what triggers the behaviour shouldn’t be too expensive. The D5500 is a nice little camera when it works.

Thanks.  That confirms what I thought, at least that it's in the body and not the lenses.

 

I actually have an authorized Nikon dealer down the road from me, so I will probably check in with them.  Even if the body isn't cost effective to fix, as you said, it's been a real useful workhorse camera for me, just the right price point and I don't relish spending a huge amount of money for a completely new system or anything like that.