Nikon D750 telephoto lens: I just purchased a 28-300 FX lens. The photos are disappointing, very mushy. Any suggestions? I see now in some forums the super telephotos may not be good...

mclsr Loc: Ohio

I just purchased a 28-300 FX lens. The photos are disappointing, very mushy. Any suggestions? I see now in some forums the super telephotos may not be good with large sensor cameras. What is your experience and do you have a recommendation for a better lens?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I have that lens and use in on both a D700 and D800e. I couldn't be happier with the results. It's the lens I use 95% of the time.
--Bob

mclsr wrote:

I just purchased a 28-300 FX lens. The photos are disappointing, very mushy. Any suggestions? I see now in some forums the super telephotos may not be good with large sensor cameras. What is your experience and do you have a recommendation for a better lens?

Jim Bob

mclsr wrote:

I just purchased a 28-300 FX lens. The photos are disappointing, very mushy. Any suggestions? I see now in some forums the super telephotos may not be good with large sensor cameras. What is your experience and do you have a recommendation for a better lens?

See Thom Hogan's recommended lenses for guidance.

cmc65

If you are inexperienced with hand holding a telephoto you may be seeing some movement on your part at the longer end of the zoom. It gets better with practice. Try locking it down on a tripod to start and see if it improves. You could also post an example here and get some opinions on what may be going on.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

mclsr wrote:

I just purchased a 28-300 FX lens. The photos are disappointing, very mushy. Any suggestions? I see now in some forums the super telephotos may not be good with large sensor cameras. What is your experience and do you have a recommendation for a better lens?

Any lens with such a zoom range will be a compromise. Its not that bad with the right settings and a little PP. For better image quality choose a zoom lens with a smaller FL range or use a prime.

Most of this lens' short comings can be minimized in post processing with any number of good editing programs. Sorry...SOOC types are out of luck.

mclsr Loc: Ohio

I think you might be right about the zoom range.

picsman Loc: Scotland

Maybe your shutter speed is too low, try upping it to at least 1/300. Also try a monopod, tripod or more stable platform when taking pics. If handholding keep your elbows in against your body, lean against a tree, wall, structure etc.

ragatazz Loc: Michigan

I have that lens too, and it is my carry lens on vacations. I love that lens. Great photos.

Alpix Loc: Cambridgeshire, UK

Sounds like there is something else wrong here to me. I have a d750 and the 28-300mm FX and get sharp results.
It has it's limitations, but can also be very capable. I also use a 70-200 f2.8 which is great, but obviously has less range, and is heavier.
I have never had a problem with mushy pictures. Could you elaborate or post an example?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

mclsr wrote:

I just purchased a 28-300 FX lens. The photos are disappointing, very mushy. Any suggestions? I see now in some forums the super telephotos may not be good with large sensor cameras. What is your experience and do you have a recommendation for a better lens?

Do a controlled test with the camera on a tripod and a good, sharp subject. Take several shots at different focal lengths, after getting the focus as sharp as you can. If the results are poor, you can return/exchange the lens or do a fine focus adjustment for that lens/camera combination.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

mclsr wrote:

I just purchased a 28-300 FX lens. The photos are disappointing, very mushy. Any suggestions? I see now in some forums the super telephotos may not be good with large sensor cameras. What is your experience and do you have a recommendation for a better lens?

The go to long lens for Nikon is the 200-500 - but you must be prepared for the size, weight and cost.

cthahn

How do you expect to get an answer when you do say how you took the picture. Lens settings, shutter speed. subject. You obviously are starting photography with a long zoom lens and do not know how to use it. Get a prime lens and learn the basics of photography instead of playing zoom.

OviedoPhotos

mclsr wrote:

I just purchased a 28-300 FX lens. The photos are disappointing, very mushy. Any suggestions? I see now in some forums the super telephotos may not be good with large sensor cameras. What is your experience and do you have a recommendation for a better lens?

Is this the Nikon 28/300 lens? If so it is a little soft at 300mm but at about 290mm its awesome.

AZNikon Loc: Mesa, AZ

rmalarz wrote:

I have that lens and use in on both a D700 and D800e. I couldn't be happier with the results. It's the lens I use 95% of the time.
--Bob

Ditto! Bob Bennett

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

mclsr wrote:

I just purchased a 28-300 FX lens. The photos are disappointing, very mushy. Any suggestions? I see now in some forums the super telephotos may not be good with large sensor cameras. What is your experience and do you have a recommendation for a better lens?

Can you post a sample image? Two things can contribute to poor image quality. Shake will add motion blur to your images, and back or front focusing issues will leave your images not properly focused. If you are using it on a tripod and have turned off VR and you are still getting soft images, the tripod might be inadequate.

On the other hand, on three different occasions I borrowed that lens, hoping that I could use it on a D800 and get decent image quality. I borrowed one from two different friends, and from NPS, and found out that their QC is pretty consistent - all three copies left me wanting better image quality, so I didn't end up buying one. It is sorta ok at the wider settings, but pretty awful at focal lengths greater than 150mm. So I continue to use my 24-70 and 80-200, and if I need longer, I have a very sweet Sigma 100-300 F4 that is quite good at 300.