Pistnbroke Loc: UK

Genocolo.

I looked but we don't know the focus point so cannot judge the focus adjust.
They are only shot with a 12mp camera and we don't know how the sharpness was set.
The camera has a low pass filter ( D5000)

RRS Loc: Not sure

Good point but how many points can you set up on fine tune, done the old way? Canon allows 2 points of focus with micro adjustments. However with the dock you can set 4 points of focus. Gene 51 a regular here is selling his Nikon 600 f/4.0 and is now using the G2. He's very happy with it and says that it performs as well as the Nikon. I'd buy the dock in a heartbeat!

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

Body-based fine tuning doesn't fix all issues. It merely lets you adjust for a focus error at a specific distance (and focal length, if using a zoom), by introducing a focus shift. The problem is that the shift is linear for all distances and focal lengths, but focus errors in lenses are often not linear - it could be fine for a lens at 5 ft, but be off by +10 at 30 ft and -8 at 60 ft. If the lens is inaccurate on one body, if you fix it for that body by adjusting the camera's single point of adjustment, then there is a good likelihood you'll need to do this on all of your cameras. Better to get the lens straightened out by a tech, even if it doesn't have a dock, since the dock is only a user-accessible port to perform what the tech can do in a repair environment.

DAN Phillips Loc: Graysville, GA

The fact of the matter is I do not have the dock yet, but will purchase later and definietly intend to upgrade the camera to possibly a D750 or even a much later model. Most of the time I shoot hand held and don't, even though I maybe should, use a tripod.

I had the Nikon 400mm but wanted more reach. This lens was purchased from B&H less than a year ago, the op was in a bind and needed some money, I got the lens for half of what a new one would cost.

At this point in time I am very well satisfied with my stroke of luck.

RRS Loc: Not sure

As you should be!

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

What is the old way?

RRS Loc: Not sure

The old way is with an alignment tool something like Lens Align. Depending on your camera you may only able to calibrate it to one point or with some newer cameras you can align to two points. You have more options with the Doc.

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

I use the Sigma Sport version and I found that no fine tuning was required on my D300S, D700, D800 (2 different bodies) and now my D810. In fact I have a couple dozen lenses, and all work just fine (and have worked fine with other bodies) without the need to do fine tuning. And in the old days, there was no such thing as fine tuning. All that is required is that the lenses and bodies be within spec. Interchangeability is critical.

If you find there is a focus error, as I have in the past, then either the camera or the lens(es) go in for repair. The techs can correct focusing errors on any lens and any body. I don't have access to the tools that they use to correct a body focus error, or the patience and optical bench required to dismantle a lens and adjust it for correct focus at multiple distances and, if a zoom, at multiple focal lengths. The lenses that offer software interfaces to adjust the focus behavior are great - in that you can not only custom tune the focus accuracy, but also the acquisition speed, tracking and the behavior of the stabilization system, and though I have tried making all sorts of adjustments, I get the best results using factory defaults.

D810

(Download)

RRS Loc: Not sure

Great shot Gene!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Sir after viewing many of your images and not knowing your age I suggest you forget hand holding with this lens, really there is no Shame in using a tripod. I resisted using a tripod for many years I finally got to the point hand holding anything except Flash images was no longer an option , I now use a tripod for almost everything and I very seldom post an image that I know is not in focus for what ever reason, the exception would be a historical event of importance.
I own and use the Sigma 150-600 sport lens and use it on a D810, last week I shot some images at a lake when I got them on the computer none were as sharp as they should have been (auto focus)I don't have a clue as to what happened since most pervious images have always been sharp,I had purchased the USB dock when I bought the lens and never used it. The rest of the story, I updated the firmware on the lens, the test images were tack sharp.
Will be going to the lake in the near future for some real time images, if they are up to snuff I will be posting otherwise they will be trashed.