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Technical Solutions | D500 TIPS

Auto AF Fine-Tuning

The D500 can fine-tune autofocus automatically. The results can be used with all lenses of the same type.

Use only as required. AF fine-tuning should be performed at the focus distance at which the lens is normally used; fine-tuning performed at short focus distances may be less effective with distant subjects and vice versa.

1 Ready the camera.

Mount the camera on a tripod and aim the camera at a flat, high-contrast subject parallel to the camera focal plane. Note that auto AF fine-tuning works best at maximum aperture and may not function in dark surroundings.

Ready the camera

2 Start live view.

Rotate the live view selector to and press the button.

Start live view

3 Adjust focus settings.

Rotate the focus-mode selector to AF and use the AF-mode button and command dials to select the following:

  • Autofocus mode: AF‑S
  • AF-area mode: (wide) or (normal)
Adjust focus settings

4 Select the center focus point.

Press the center of the multi selector to select the center focus point.

Select the center focus point

5 Focus.

Press the shutter-release button halfway to focus, then zoom in on the view through the lens to confirm that the subject is in focus.

6 Perform auto AF fine-tuning.

Press the AF-mode and movie-record buttons simultaneously and keep them pressed until the dialog shown in Step 7 is displayed (this should take slightly over two seconds).

AF-mode button

AF-mode button

Movie-record button

Movie-record button

7 Save the new value.

Highlight Yes and press to add the AF fine-tuning value for the current lens to the saved values list (CPU lenses only). Note that only one value can be stored for each type of lens.

Save the new value

8 Enable AF fine-tuning.

In the camera setup menu, select AF fine-tune > AF fine-tune (On/Off), then highlight On and press .