Help! Nikkor 200-500mm. Do I have a bad copy? I used my Nikkor 200-500mm lens for the first time this weekend, and am not happy with the bokeh; I think it is front focusing also, but I...

photoMark Loc: South Texas

I used my Nikkor 200-500mm lens for the first time this weekend, and am not happy with the bokeh; I think it is front focusing also, but I can fine tune that! There are streaks in the out of focus areas in both the foreground and background that I've never seen before with any of my other lenses. I've seen some beautiful images from others with this lens and it makes me think I received a bad copy. I cropped in on a section of the pic with the flower to make it easier to see, but if you zoom in on the other two images you can see what I'm concerned about! I'd appreciate your thoughts! Thanks!

(Download)

jkoar Loc: The Gunks, NY

I notice it on the same diagonal on the last 2 pix. Hand held or tripod? VR on or off? Mine so far has been trouble free. Try those 4 combinations. I would contact Nikon.

photoMark Loc: South Texas

jkoar wrote:

I notice it on the same diagonal on the last 2 pix. Hand held or tripod? VR on or off? Mine so far has been trouble free. Try those 4 combinations. I would contact Nikon.

I had it mounted on a monopod and VR was on because of the slight movement.

jkoar Loc: The Gunks, NY

Try turning VR off and see if it persists.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

photoMark wrote:

I used my Nikkor 200-500mm lens for the first time... (show quote)

On the middle photo,looks like camera shake or twist to me. I often find I have a subconscious twist of camera when depressing shutter while using tripod. I'd give it a go on tripod with remote shutter release or at least turn off VR if you feel your technique is spot on.
** Upon further review, I think it is almost certainly VR movement. Doesn't that occur between shutter depression and lens opening? Mirror slap maybe? You have a high enough shutter speed to compensate for any shake.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

There are two things that can make bokeh look especially ugly - adding too much contrast and applying too much sharpening to the out-of-focus areas during editing. For best results, edit the in-focus and out-of-focus areas separately using the selection tools. Allow the out-of-focus areas to appear soft and less defined.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

PM Steve Perry. When he compared the 300mm PF f4 to the 200-500mm in BackCountry Gallery he indicated problems with getting good copies of the 200-500mm. Others on this site say that they've not had problems with this lens, however. Steve may be able to give you some insight. If you do, indeed, have a bad lens, you should return it for another copy.

Leitz Loc: Solms

photoMark wrote:

I used my Nikkor 200-500mm lens for the first time... (show quote)

Can't tell if it's because of the lens or not, but you got some bad pictures all right.

photoMark Loc: South Texas

jkoar wrote:

Try turning VR off and see if it persists.

I will! Thanks!

photoMark Loc: South Texas

mikeroetex wrote:

On the middle photo,looks like camera shake or twist to me. I often find I have a subconscious twist of camera when depressing shutter while using tripod. I'd give it a go on tripod with remote shutter release or at least turn off VR if you feel your technique is spot on.
** Upon further review, I think it is almost certainly VR movement. Doesn't that occur between shutter depression and lens opening? Mirror slap maybe? You have a high enough shutter speed to compensate for any shake.

I'm not sure! The shutter speed was 1/1600 which should have been fast enough! I'll test it out on a tripod to see if anything changes! I appreciate your input!

photoMark Loc: South Texas

rook2c4 wrote:

There are two things that can make bokeh look especially ugly - adding too much contrast and applying too much sharpening to the out-of-focus areas during editing. For best results, edit the in-focus and out-of-focus areas separately using the selection tools. Allow the out-of-focus areas to appear soft and less defined.

I agree with you there; I learned that lesson the hard way-lol! The top two pics are not edited except for creating a small jpeg for download purposes. The pic of my dog has some minor editing, but the RAW file still has those streaks! Thanks for you input!

photoMark Loc: South Texas

SteveR wrote:

PM Steve Perry. When he compared the 300mm PF f4 to the 200-500mm in BackCountry Gallery he indicated problems with getting good copies of the 200-500mm. Others on this site say that they've not had problems with this lens, however. Steve may be able to give you some insight. If you do, indeed, have a bad lens, you should return it for another copy.

Good idea; thanks! I watched that video and I have Steve's book where he talks about returning his first two copies!

CO

Steve Perry is certainly one to ask about that. MT Shooter is another person who would know if that's a bad copy of the lens. He has a camera store and shoots with a lot of lenses. I've seen bokeh like that described as nervous bokeh. Out of focus areas seem "nervous", as if to be shaking.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Take a couple shots using live view using AF and MF and compare results.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Let me advise you that the majority of AF problems are operator's problems. I am sure you know that when using a lens like the 200-500 your minimum shutter speed should be 1/500sec. although if you ask me I am going to say that it should be 1/1000sec. minimum.
Hand holding the lens VR on is a must. It should be off if camera on a tripod. Useless to say that where the focus point is it will be where the camera will focus. Very limited depth of field will be available if using the lens at the widest aperture. Raising the ISO speed is common with these lenses to compensate for a higher shutter speed. Shutter priority is most probably the best shooting mode.
Make some more tests. In spite of all that is discussed about front and back focus it is not very common for the AF system to do that.
If after retesting the lens you are not yet satisfied with its performance then it is time to give Nikon a call.