D850 and the Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 lens: I am not having great results with this combo. My other lenses work great. The said glass gives me more soft than sharp shots at 400mm. Anyone...

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

I am not having great results with this combo. My other lenses work great. The said glass gives me more soft than sharp shots at 400mm.

Anyone else noticed this issue with the same combination?

Robeng Loc: California

Feiertag wrote:

I am not having great results with this combo. My other lenses work great. The said glass gives me more soft than sharp shots at 400mm.

Anyone else noticed this issue with the same combination?

No, a few weeks back I used the above combo and very happy with my results. I was Photographing Sand Hill Cranes.

DMGill Loc: Colorado

Feiertag wrote:

I am not having great results with this combo. My other lenses work great. The said glass gives me more soft than sharp shots at 400mm.

Anyone else noticed this issue with the same combination?

I photographed an event a week ago where some of my photos were with the D850 and 200-400mm f/4. Checking through the RAW images and viewing at a 1:1 crop, they are sharp, including those at 400mm. Generally, I was using a tripod, F/4.0, 1/160, @ ISO 3200. (You have to love digital and exif data. I'd never have remembered the precise exposure data.)

I haven't needed to, but have you tried fine tuning the focus?

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

Could be a number of things. The 200-400 isn't known for it's sharpness at longer distances either (say 30 meters +). Still, I'd look at AF Fine Tuning. The D850 has the auto AF Fine Tune option, you can see how to use it here:
https://backcountrygallery.com/get-nikons-auto-af-fine-tune-system/

Cheese

Steve Perry wrote:

Could be a number of things. The 200-400 isn't known for it's sharpness at longer distances either (say 30 meters +). Still, I'd look at AF Fine Tuning. The D850 has the auto AF Fine Tune option, you can see how to use it here:
https://backcountrygallery.com/get-nikons-auto-af-fine-tune-system/

Good suggestion. If AF fine tuning does not work, try re-calibrating your lens.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Robeng wrote:

No, a few weeks back I used the above combo and very happy with my results. I was Photographing Sand Hill Cranes.

Thank you for your comment.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

DMGill wrote:

I photographed an event a week ago where some of my photos were with the D850 and 200-400mm f/4. Checking through the RAW images and viewing at a 1:1 crop, they are sharp, including those at 400mm. Generally, I was using a tripod, F/4.0, 1/160, @ ISO 3200. (You have to love digital and exif data. I'd never have remembered the precise exposure data.)

I haven't needed to, but have you tried fine tuning the focus?

Thank you for your comment. I will be looking into fine tuning the focus, which I haven't performed before. Cheers.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Steve Perry wrote:

Could be a number of things. The 200-400 isn't known for it's sharpness at longer distances either (say 30 meters +). Still, I'd look at AF Fine Tuning. The D850 has the auto AF Fine Tune option, you can see how to use it here:
https://backcountrygallery.com/get-nikons-auto-af-fine-tune-system/

Thank you for the information, Steve. As a matter of fact, I was going to check your link for the proper way of doing the AF Tuning. You saved me the time. I do have your eBook and have enjoyed it from start to finish. Good job.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Steve Perry wrote:

Could be a number of things. The 200-400 isn't known for it's sharpness at longer distances either (say 30 meters +). Still, I'd look at AF Fine Tuning. The D850 has the auto AF Fine Tune option, you can see how to use it here:
https://backcountrygallery.com/get-nikons-auto-af-fine-tune-system/

I looked at your informative video. A couple quick questions to ask you if you don't mind? What aperture setting would you suggest for the f/4 200-400mm and what distance (feet) should the target sheet be for 400mm setting. Cheers.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

Feiertag wrote:

I looked at your informative video. A couple quick questions to ask you if you don't mind? What aperture setting would you suggest for the f/4 200-400mm and what distance (feet) should the target sheet be for 400mm setting. Cheers.

Do the test with the lens wide open and between 32 and 64 feet away - although I'd probably go towards the further option with a tele.

Hope it helps :)

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Feiertag wrote:

I am not having great results with this combo. My other lenses work great. The said glass gives me more soft than sharp shots at 400mm.

Anyone else noticed this issue with the same combination?

On my D500, D810 I had no problems at 400 with that lens. BUT, that lens is notorious for lack of long reach. What do I mean? I mean that lens is sharpest close in, lets say up to 70-100 yards. Go beyond that and you enter the Twilight Zone.
PS. I sold that lens because of the results I am getting from the 200-500 f5.6 which, IMHO, is just as shape close in and carries the day at 500 mm. PLUS, the 200-500 is much lighter to carry around.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Steve Perry wrote:

Do the test with the lens wide open and between 32 and 64 feet away - although I'd probably go towards the further option with a tele.

Hope it helps :)

Thanks Steve, I couldn't have asked for more.

harold

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

billnikon wrote:

On my D500, D810 I had no problems at 400 with that lens. BUT, that lens is notorious for lack of long reach. What do I mean? I mean that lens is sharpest close in, lets say up to 70-100 yards. Go beyond that and you enter the Twilight Zone.
PS. I sold that lens because of the results I am getting from the 200-500 f5.6 which, IMHO, is just as shape close in and carries the day at 500 mm. PLUS, the 200-500 is much lighter to carry around.

My girlfriend has recently bought the 200-500 f/5.6. Hopefully she will let me take it out for a spin. I may drop my 200-400mm and get the same, if there are better or equal results.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Feiertag wrote:

My girlfriend has recently bought the 200-500 f/5.6. Hopefully she will let me take it out for a spin. I may drop my 200-400mm and get the same, if there are better or equal results.

It has become my go to wildlife lens because it is so easy to carry around with my D500 attached. And the simulated 750 mm reach does not hurt.

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

Have you tried manual focus with focus peaking? If that's sharp, work on adjusting the autofocus.