joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Got this lens used about four months ago. Winter? Pictures sharp. Lately? Everything soft. Have tried AF-S, CL, and CH. Even at shutter 1000 or more, soft! Braced against tree, table, knees - soft!!! I have tried BBF. Same softness. Have limited ISO from 400-1000. Noisy and soft. Cannot undo BBF for some reason. I only have phone internet where I am, so can't post pictures. Have latest L firmware installed. Understand that with firmware 1.04, lens should be fine, but it sure lost something. Please help. Joe🤔🤔🤔🤪🤪🤪

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

Nikon is just a phone call away. 1-800-645-6687

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

I have that combo with no problem. I am wondering if it would be worthwhile to fix the ISO at 100 to see if that affects it, also maybe limit the other settings one by one to experiment.

uhaas2009

My 70-300 VR the focus engine broke and later on my 7000 the focus engine broke too. The lens started when I turned the zoom ring it feels Like there is a bump, was between 200-300mm. In the end from about 40 pics there was maybe less than 10 sharp. This lens I got fixed and a common problem Nikon used a leftover focus engine what wasn’t meant for this lens-with a different engine this lens is now incredible.
My 7000 I could just use certain lenses till the end there was just two lenses left I used. When I got the 810 all lenses work without any problem. I set up a still life and the 7000 would focus 2mm behind the focus point. The 7000 I didn’t fixed because the shutter count have its limit and the guy who fixed my lenses didn’t work there anymore. Read reviews on eBay there are honest.....

I hope you have warranty left...

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...Got this lens used..." Why Joe? This wonderful lens is available Gray Market for far less than the Nikon USA model.

Joe I purchased two copies of this epic jewel... both new...
One was a USA Nikon from B&H at I believe roughly $500 just after it came out (5 year warranty)
The second was a "Gray Box" new Gray Market from Walmart for $199... Both performed equally well...

That said I've had to AF Fine Tune each of these optics on my D7100... albeit just a small amount.
My D7100's Firmware Versions are.... C: 1.04 (Camera) L: 2.017 (Lens)

I will say this... These lenses are cheaply made and thus rather fragile
If you purchased from KEH; Roberts, mpb etc they will replace it in kind (with one of the same condition you ship back to them) from up to I believe Six Mouths! Check this, it changes now and again.

If you purchased from eBay or a private seller you may be SOL...
Great lens but very fragile...
If you want one that will withstand abuse and heavy use try the vintage AF 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Nikkor
However you'll need a tripod to use that puppy... It does have a highly useful built in tripod collar that allows you to shoot in portrait mode... I use it in the studio... it's acuity is equal to my AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VRII Nikkor from 75-200mm after that if gets a tad soft... However unlike the 70-200mm VRII it is a REAL 200mm at 200mm not 135mm at 200mm when used at portraiture distance...

Hope this helps Joe... If I were you I would try AF fine tune for the lens before you give up on it...

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Tough to diagnose without an image. Based on the lack of that, the first thing I’d want to know is the lens auto focusing correctly? One rough test is to line up a number of similar objects, such as cans, diagonally across the field of view so that each can is maybe 6” apart and 6” behind the next one. Put the camera on a tripod with spot AF, with the lens wide open and from a decent distance (maybe 25’ with the lens set at 300 mm) so the depth of field is very shallow and take an image focusing on the center can. Is it in focus and sharp, and is it in better focus than the one in front and behind? If they’re all soft, and your SS is high enough that it can’t be camera shake, then I’d suspect the lens. If the one(s) in front of or behind the center is in sharper focus, then I’d expect front or back focusing which you MAY be able to address with microfocus adjustment if your camera supports it (or you can send the camera and lens to Nikon for adjustment).

BebuLamar

We need to determine the cause of unsharpness. Out of focus? Len aberration? Camera/subject movements?

Bankshot Loc: Henderson, NV, USA

Can you manually focus it and get sharp images?
Bill

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Excellent question.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Joe, that lens has limited compatibility with the 7100. It might require an upgrade to the camera. Do you have the latest upgrade to your camera? Is 1.04 the latest?

https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm


Search this.....nikon lens compatibility chart and click on the Nikon site.

https://www.nikonians.org/reviews/nikon-slr-camera-and-lens-compatibility

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Private seller on Miranda, $145, rarely used. Like new when I got it. I will follow your kind advice. Thanks for your informative response and recommendations🏆🏆🏆

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Thanks for the great advice⭐⭐⭐

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Thanks for responding🍀🍀🍀

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

No sir Thanks for responding

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

I installed that firmware upgrade. Pictures were better without it🤔🤔🤔 Thanks for responding.