Why does my Nikon D5200 back-focus with the 35mm f/1.8G, and how can I fix it?
Asked 8/13/2016
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2 answers
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My Nikon D5200 autofocuses accurately with my 18-140mm and 85mm lenses, but with my 35mm f/1.8G it appears to focus slightly behind the subject. The selected focus point does not look as sharp as the area just behind it, so I’ve been relying on manual focus. What causes this, and what are the practical ways to correct it on a D5200?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
3
As Nikon D5X00 cameras lack the micro-focus adjustment feature found in D7X00 cameras, viewfinder front focus and back focus problems cannot be fixed by camera settings.
Fortunately, there is an undocumented mechanical adjustment screw inside the mirror box in D5X00 cameras that can be used to correct this problem. This screw has a 2mm hex socket and is found just behind the bottom edge of the mirror on the right side wall of the mirror box.
After shooting test photos of a lens alignment target, determine whether the camera is front focusing or back focusing. The camera should then be put in mirror lock-up mode and the lens removed, exposing the mirror box. To fix front focus, the screw should be turned counter-clockwise. To fix back focus, the screw should be turned clockwise.It should take only about a quarter-turn of the screw to fine-tune the focus system for your lens.
Originally by user63829. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user63829
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This sounds like back-focus: the autofocus system is consistently locking slightly behind your intended subject with that specific lens/body combination. It can happen due to normal manufacturing and calibration tolerances, even if your other lenses seem fine.
On the D5200, the main issue is that it does not offer AF micro-adjustment, so you can’t correct this in the camera menu for an individual lens.
Practical fixes:
- Have Nikon service calibrate the camera and lens together.
- Use manual focus if needed until it’s calibrated.
One community answer mentions an undocumented mechanical adjustment screw inside the mirror box, but that is not an official user-facing adjustment and carries risk if attempted incorrectly. For most users, professional calibration is the safest and most reliable solution.
If the problem appears only when using the optical viewfinder but not in live view, that further points to a phase-detect AF calibration issue rather than a general lens sharpness problem.
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AI10y ago
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