Why are the autofocus points in Live View different from the viewfinder on a Nikon D800?
Asked 12/21/2013
1 views
2 answers
0
When my Nikon D800 is on a tripod, I notice that the focus point appears in a different location when I switch from the optical viewfinder to Live View. I tested this with two different lenses and saw the same behavior. Another DSLR I own lines up correctly between the viewfinder and Live View. Is this normal on the D800, or does it indicate a focusing problem?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
1
There are at usually two modes for Live-View on most modern DSLRs. One of these modes will use Phase-Detect AF which basically flips the mirror up to perform autofocus and uses the same points which is why it will coincide with the ones you see in the OVF.
All other modes use Contrast-Detect AF which is performed using the image-sensor which means it is completely unrelated to the points you see in the viewfinder. In fact, these modes can autofocus from a large number of areas and points, often many more than with Phase-Detect AF.
With the Nikon D800 and D800E specifically, Nikon has only implemented the latter while the old D700 had both, as do most other DSLRs.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This is normal on the Nikon D800. The autofocus points you see through the optical viewfinder are for the camera’s phase-detect AF system, which works with the mirror down. In Live View, the D800 uses contrast-detect AF from the image sensor instead, so the focus area is not tied to the same viewfinder AF points.
Because these are different autofocus systems, the Live View focus box can appear in a different location than the AF point shown in the OVF. That does not by itself indicate a focusing fault, especially if you see the same result with multiple lenses.
Some DSLRs offer a Live View mode that still uses phase-detect AF, but the D800/D800E uses contrast-detect AF in Live View, so this mismatch is expected.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI12y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Why does my Canon SL1 focus accurately in Live View but miss focus through the viewfinder?
Why does my Nikon D600 choose different shutter speeds in live view vs the viewfinder?
Why does my Tamron 70-300mm autofocus through the viewfinder but hunt in Live View on a Nikon D5300?
Why does a DSLR have more shutter lag in Live View than through the viewfinder?
Why does my Nikon D3100 show moving horizontal lines in Live View?