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70-200 Delemma Nikon mount, D500 camera (D7100 backup)
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Dec 10, 2017 11:56:43   #
acellis Loc: Charleston, SC
 
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to help with a decision. I would like a sharp 70-200 lens. I have lost confidence in the Sigma 70-200. What should i do? A) send it in to Sigma for service (although it is works fine - no trauma, no scratches, etc.) or B) sell it and purchase a different brand: Tamron G or a used Nikon. I would like sharper images. Your thoughts please.


Backstory:
I own the Sigma 70-200 2.8 apo DG HSM about 3 years old new. I have come to the conclusion that it's lack of sharpness might not be my fault i.e. too low of a shutter speed, poor technique, etc. i've used this lens steadily and get these results; sharp, not, not,not, not, sharp, not, not, not, not, not, not, sharp.

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Dec 10, 2017 12:16:55   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
acellis wrote:
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to help with a decision. I would like a sharp 70-200 lens. I have lost confidence in the Sigma 70-200. What should i do? A) send it in to Sigma for service (although it is works fine - no trauma, no scratches, etc.) or B) sell it and purchase a different brand: Tamron G or a used Nikon. I would like sharper images. Your thoughts please.


Backstory:
I own the Sigma 70-200 2.8 apo DG HSM about 3 years old new. I have come to the conclusion that it's lack of sharpness might not be my fault i.e. too low of a shutter speed, poor technique, etc. i've used this lens steadily and get these results; sharp, not, not,not, not, sharp, not, not, not, not, not, not, sharp.
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to hel... (show quote)


For Nikon the sharpest is their 70-200 F2.8 FL. It used to be their 80-200 F2.8 AF-S - but it had a real problem with its focusing motor, and if you get one there is no way it can be fixed if the motor goes bad, at least not with a new motor - Nikon no longer provides them. The 70-200 F2.8 VR II was ok, but it had severe focus breathing, which turned it into a 135mm lens at it's closest focusing distance.

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Dec 10, 2017 12:24:52   #
acellis Loc: Charleston, SC
 
Thank you Gene! So you don't like the idea of letting Sigma take a crack at adjusting?

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Dec 10, 2017 12:37:49   #
via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP
 
acellis wrote:
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to help with a decision. I would like a sharp 70-200 lens. I have lost confidence in the Sigma 70-200. What should i do? A) send it in to Sigma for service (although it is works fine - no trauma, no scratches, etc.) or B) sell it and purchase a different brand: Tamron G or a used Nikon. I would like sharper images. Your thoughts please.


Backstory:
I own the Sigma 70-200 2.8 apo DG HSM about 3 years old new. I have come to the conclusion that it's lack of sharpness might not be my fault i.e. too low of a shutter speed, poor technique, etc. i've used this lens steadily and get these results; sharp, not, not,not, not, sharp, not, not, not, not, not, not, sharp.
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to hel... (show quote)


If you like the lens, send it in and ask them to take a look and let you know if there is anything wrong with it, and if so, how much to repair. If they say there is nothing wrong with it then your question could be answered as to any fault with the focusing. Or, if you just want another lens buy that one. I use a Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 and get good results, unless there is operator error, which sometimes happens if I set the camera incorrectly. I just did this recently when photographing some Sea Otters; I would think, by now after 8 years, I'd know better but apparently not so. Many of my shots were not focused correctly as the shutter speed was too slow for the movement of the otters. I know how to set it correctly so don't need advice on this, just did not think about it at the time. Gives me a really good excuse to go back, although I did get some nice sharp shots with the otter looking good, not like a wet rat!

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Dec 10, 2017 12:41:28   #
acellis Loc: Charleston, SC
 
Thank you Via the lens! I wouldn't advise anyone unless asked!! Hate unsolicited advice. Your advise it spot on. Thanks!

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Dec 10, 2017 13:57:20   #
brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky
 
acellis wrote:
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to help with a decision. I would like a sharp 70-200 lens. I have lost confidence in the Sigma 70-200. What should i do? A) send it in to Sigma for service (although it is works fine - no trauma, no scratches, etc.) or B) sell it and purchase a different brand: Tamron G or a used Nikon. I would like sharper images. Your thoughts please.


Backstory:
I own the Sigma 70-200 2.8 apo DG HSM about 3 years old new. I have come to the conclusion that it's lack of sharpness might not be my fault i.e. too low of a shutter speed, poor technique, etc. i've used this lens steadily and get these results; sharp, not, not,not, not, sharp, not, not, not, not, not, not, sharp.
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to hel... (show quote)


I agree with via the lens . . . send the Sigma for repair. Unless I am confused, this the the ART 70-200 and my experience with them is that they are sharp, sharp. It may simply need a focus adjustment. Plus, if it is an ART lens, I believe the warranty to be 4 years, which would mean yours is still in warranty.

Other than that, Gene51 has given good advice.

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Dec 10, 2017 16:55:28   #
acellis Loc: Charleston, SC
 
Thanks for the reply. This is not the Art lens. this is pre-art and out of warrenty. I think the Van's suggestion is winner winner chicken dinner!! Thanks all.

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Dec 11, 2017 07:33:16   #
Ronald540 Loc: Sandy Utah
 
acellis wrote:
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to help with a decision. I would like a sharp 70-200 lens. I have lost confidence in the Sigma 70-200. What should i do? A) send it in to Sigma for service (although it is works fine - no trauma, no scratches, etc.) or B) sell it and purchase a different brand: Tamron G or a used Nikon. I would like sharper images. Your thoughts please.


Backstory:
I own the Sigma 70-200 2.8 apo DG HSM about 3 years old new. I have come to the conclusion that it's lack of sharpness might not be my fault i.e. too low of a shutter speed, poor technique, etc. i've used this lens steadily and get these results; sharp, not, not,not, not, sharp, not, not, not, not, not, not, sharp.
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to hel... (show quote)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cHhrWF-pqM
http://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d500_tips/af/auto_af_fine-tuning/
If you rule out operator error try the above links first.
Cheers
ron


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Dec 11, 2017 07:38:10   #
Jim Bob
 
acellis wrote:
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to help with a decision. I would like a sharp 70-200 lens. I have lost confidence in the Sigma 70-200. What should i do? A) send it in to Sigma for service (although it is works fine - no trauma, no scratches, etc.) or B) sell it and purchase a different brand: Tamron G or a used Nikon. I would like sharper images. Your thoughts please.


Backstory:
I own the Sigma 70-200 2.8 apo DG HSM about 3 years old new. I have come to the conclusion that it's lack of sharpness might not be my fault i.e. too low of a shutter speed, poor technique, etc. i've used this lens steadily and get these results; sharp, not, not,not, not, sharp, not, not, not, not, not, not, sharp.
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to hel... (show quote)


It will never be as sharp as the Nikon or Tamron counterparts. My vote is to dump (or sell) it and choose one of those.

Reply
Dec 11, 2017 07:44:40   #
jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida
 
Tamron 70-200 is very nice and less then the new Nikon 70-200. You can find good older Nikon 70-200’s which are excellent .

Reply
Dec 11, 2017 08:00:30   #
rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA
 
acellis wrote:
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to help with a decision. I would like a sharp 70-200 lens. I have lost confidence in the Sigma 70-200. What should i do? A) send it in to Sigma for service (although it is works fine - no trauma, no scratches, etc.) or B) sell it and purchase a different brand: Tamron G or a used Nikon. I would like sharper images. Your thoughts please.


Backstory:
I own the Sigma 70-200 2.8 apo DG HSM about 3 years old new. I have come to the conclusion that it's lack of sharpness might not be my fault i.e. too low of a shutter speed, poor technique, etc. i've used this lens steadily and get these results; sharp, not, not,not, not, sharp, not, not, not, not, not, not, sharp.
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to hel... (show quote)


I bought a Tamron 70-200 f2.8 and it's terrific. It's also heavy.

Reply
 
 
Dec 11, 2017 08:10:55   #
Fotomacher Loc: Toronto
 
One suggestion not already made is to loan the lens to a friend who shoots Nikon and what he/she results he/she gets. There may be nothing wrong with the glass. I had an interesting conversation last night with a relative who insisted that the program mode was affecting the focussing on his lens. He said he’s getting good results with Program mode but out of focus images with Aperture priority. He is taking the camera and body to a service centre before his next trip to correct this issue. You can “do the math” yourself on this one. I just kept quiet........

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Dec 11, 2017 08:12:02   #
Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga
 
I use the two ring 80-200 F2.8 Nikkor (the one they still make & sell). Costs a lot less than the 70-200 and for what I shoot, I don't need the in lens focus motor nor the VR....

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Dec 11, 2017 08:13:22   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
acellis wrote:
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to help with a decision. I would like a sharp 70-200 lens. I have lost confidence in the Sigma 70-200. What should i do? A) send it in to Sigma for service (although it is works fine - no trauma, no scratches, etc.) or B) sell it and purchase a different brand: Tamron G or a used Nikon. I would like sharper images. Your thoughts please.


Backstory:
I own the Sigma 70-200 2.8 apo DG HSM about 3 years old new. I have come to the conclusion that it's lack of sharpness might not be my fault i.e. too low of a shutter speed, poor technique, etc. i've used this lens steadily and get these results; sharp, not, not,not, not, sharp, not, not, not, not, not, not, sharp.
Hi all! Turning to this wealth of knowledge to hel... (show quote)

The Nikon 70-200 VR II is a wonderful lenses and is still available new, but also from ebay at very good prices. Buy mint in the box.
This is just an example. https://www.ebay.com/itm/MINT-Nikon-NIKKOR-70-200mm-f-2-8-G-SWM-AF-S-ED-IF-VR-II-TELEPHOTO-LENS-BOX-NR/352228344247?hash=item52027201b7:g:Kn0AAOSwsFpaKKTK

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Dec 11, 2017 08:34:37   #
Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga
 
When looking at eBay, it's better to peruse the "sold" listings for what units sold for as opposed to auction listings. Attention must be paid to condition and items included with the lens, if any....

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=NIKKOR+70-200mm+f%2F2.8+G+SWM+AF-S+ED+IF+VR+II&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=0&LH_Sold=1&_udlo=&_udhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=15&_stpos=30132-1983&_sargn=-1%26saslc%3D1&_salic=1&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=200&LH_Complete=1

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