Focus Problem with New Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E
Jan 1, 2017 01:27:25 #
This is one of my favorite lens on my D810 ... Camera M mode only ...center focus .. mirror up .. electronic front curtain and a sturdy tripod ..no center column ...,
Electronic trigger .. VR on .. even my moon shots are AF .., with my 800E .., , I was better and quicker than the AF ..manual focusing , however with the D810 .., the auto focus is faster and so dead on with most of my lenses including the 200-500 >.
Electronic trigger .. VR on .. even my moon shots are AF .., with my 800E .., , I was better and quicker than the AF ..manual focusing , however with the D810 .., the auto focus is faster and so dead on with most of my lenses including the 200-500 >.
Jan 1, 2017 02:42:53 #
I shoot single spot .., auto tracking off .. A1... A2 focus release .. BBF ..mirror up .. electronic curtain mirror up AF .. VR on the 200-500 ...electronic release .. best carbon fiber tripod no center column and 75lb rated ball head RRS clone and or heavy duty carbon fiber gimbal ...using my D810 ... tack sharp ..
The 200-500 works well on my D7100 .., but can't get tack sharp as I can with the D810 .., your D7000 will never be as detailed sharp as a 36 meg FX using the 200-500 ... but it should get some great shots .. your first squirl shot with that lens wasn't bad at all .. the eye of the squirl is pretty sharp ...
As the D7000 is boosting that lens to a 750mm .. the slightest vibration will be noted in the shot ...
When I first got my 200-500 ...I slapped it on the D810 and away I went .., as I had a D7100 .., I ran it through its paces with that lens as well .., ., I loved the fact that it became a 750mm on that camera ... fun shooting ... , but when I compared the D810 with the 200-500 and cropped in post to equal the 750mm equivalent I was getting out of the D7100 .., wow no comparison ..., so I never put the 200-500 on the D7100 again unless I had both cameras on my shoulder and I had to do a quick lens switch .. and I took one of my FX lenses ( all my lenses are FX) off the 7100 and put it on the D810 and the 200-500 on the 7100 ..,
Do some more experimentation ... you can always return it to Nikon for a warranty focus check .. or give it to a camera store for eval .., or if you can do without it for a while ..just return the lens and order from another supplier a new one .. it is a wonderful lens that takes practice and it can be hand held all day long ...in fact .. I have more hours on that lens handheld than tripod ..
Good luck ..
The 200-500 works well on my D7100 .., but can't get tack sharp as I can with the D810 .., your D7000 will never be as detailed sharp as a 36 meg FX using the 200-500 ... but it should get some great shots .. your first squirl shot with that lens wasn't bad at all .. the eye of the squirl is pretty sharp ...
As the D7000 is boosting that lens to a 750mm .. the slightest vibration will be noted in the shot ...
When I first got my 200-500 ...I slapped it on the D810 and away I went .., as I had a D7100 .., I ran it through its paces with that lens as well .., ., I loved the fact that it became a 750mm on that camera ... fun shooting ... , but when I compared the D810 with the 200-500 and cropped in post to equal the 750mm equivalent I was getting out of the D7100 .., wow no comparison ..., so I never put the 200-500 on the D7100 again unless I had both cameras on my shoulder and I had to do a quick lens switch .. and I took one of my FX lenses ( all my lenses are FX) off the 7100 and put it on the D810 and the 200-500 on the 7100 ..,
Do some more experimentation ... you can always return it to Nikon for a warranty focus check .. or give it to a camera store for eval .., or if you can do without it for a while ..just return the lens and order from another supplier a new one .. it is a wonderful lens that takes practice and it can be hand held all day long ...in fact .. I have more hours on that lens handheld than tripod ..
Good luck ..
Jan 1, 2017 06:06:54 #
I used the 200-500 initially on the D810 without any problems I use it now on the D500 Handholding with BBF I hear no noise and do get sharp photos
1/1250 f/7.1 ISO 1000 Handheld
1/1250 f/7.1 ISO 1000 Handheld
Jan 1, 2017 07:37:16 #
tcthome
Loc: NJ
I also agree with every 1 on the good tripod. That said, Gene's link will help. put your hand on top of the lens to help dampen vibration. There is also a guy , Steve Perry- BackCountry Gallery that goes into the Nikon's focusing system. A search on You Tube might yield more tips. I Also recommend Mastering the D810 by Darrell young, great book!
Jan 1, 2017 07:37:25 #
If you're using BBF make sure you are in AF-C mode all the time. Focus will lock when you take your finger off the button.
Jan 1, 2017 11:57:22 #
I have and use that lens without a problem. Yours may require a firmware update which is offered free from Nikon. Check with www.nikonusa.com.
Do you have a filter? Quality?
This photo taken with 200-500.
Do you have a filter? Quality?
This photo taken with 200-500.
Jan 1, 2017 12:17:59 #
Greetings, I too am having trouble with my 200-500 Nikon. I'm not new to long lenses, I have had a 500 f4 for many years. With this lens I have discovered that in bright light (noon) it works pretty well with a fair amount of keepers. In low light (morning and evening) where I spend most of my time, the amount of missed, out of focus shots is disheartening.
In my attempt to understand the lens I did many tests on a tripod with wireless release shooting at a depth of field gauge. In the shade the results made no sense, in full sun things were much better.
I started out to test the auto focus but was having no luck so I switched to manual focus with no real change in outcome. Then I repeated everything doing a side by side with the 500 F4 concentrating on focus not sharpness.
Is it a bad lens? I think so but I am still experimenting.
One cavat, I purchased this as a refurbished lens. The big down side to this is only having 14 days to evaluate and return if needed. If you have a life those 14 days go by fairly fast. I missed the date or I would have returned it. So my only suggestion is if you don't like the results of your test, exchange the lens. From all the information gathered here on the Ugly Hedgehog we know they are not all made the same.
Best of luck,
Tom
In my attempt to understand the lens I did many tests on a tripod with wireless release shooting at a depth of field gauge. In the shade the results made no sense, in full sun things were much better.
I started out to test the auto focus but was having no luck so I switched to manual focus with no real change in outcome. Then I repeated everything doing a side by side with the 500 F4 concentrating on focus not sharpness.
Is it a bad lens? I think so but I am still experimenting.
One cavat, I purchased this as a refurbished lens. The big down side to this is only having 14 days to evaluate and return if needed. If you have a life those 14 days go by fairly fast. I missed the date or I would have returned it. So my only suggestion is if you don't like the results of your test, exchange the lens. From all the information gathered here on the Ugly Hedgehog we know they are not all made the same.
Best of luck,
Tom
Jan 1, 2017 12:23:05 #
davefales wrote:
\
Thanks for replying. It reminded me that I did not set the scene completely. I have the lens mounted on a tripod and am using both the remote release and the normal release button. Both seem to trigger a slight motor action...but I cannot actually detect a change of focus through the viewfinder.
Thanks for replying. It reminded me that I did not set the scene completely. I have the lens mounted on a tripod and am using both the remote release and the normal release button. Both seem to trigger a slight motor action...but I cannot actually detect a change of focus through the viewfinder.
If on tripod, make sure to turn VR to off, or it could in fact induce blur to the image!! (even hand held,shooting BIF, or any action, one should always turn any kind of image stabilization off)!!
Jan 1, 2017 12:46:40 #
Dave I looked at the EXIF data for this squirrel. F/5.6 - ISO 3200 - SS 1250 - 420mm - D7000. The F/5.6 and the 420mm (630mm FOV)
could be giving you a shallow DOF depending on how close you are. At close range try using a lower F-stop for more DOF. Good luck with your new
new lens.
could be giving you a shallow DOF depending on how close you are. At close range try using a lower F-stop for more DOF. Good luck with your new
new lens.
Jan 1, 2017 14:01:30 #
I am not saying you have a "bad" example of this lens, but I've read reviews from others that had to return this lens 2 or 3 times to get a good copy..BTW, I'm having no such problems with my Tamron 150-600mm G2 coupled with a Nikon D500..Couldn't be happier..The VC (VR in "Nikon
speak") is incredible. All of my shots to date have been hand held with no issues.
speak") is incredible. All of my shots to date have been hand held with no issues.
Jan 1, 2017 14:11:55 #
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The 200-500 is an excellent lens. However there are a number of reports of slightly off examples of that lens. One reviewer tested 5 examples and found 3 perfect lenses and 2 slightly off lenses. Some reviewers speculated that the lenses' lower price ment less QC at the factory. I would return your lens for another copy.
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The 200-500 is an excellent lens. However there are a number of reports of slightly off examples of that lens. One reviewer tested 5 examples and found 3 perfect lenses and 2 slightly off lenses. Some reviewers speculated that the lenses' lower price ment less QC at the factory. I would return your lens for another copy.
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Jan 1, 2017 14:53:31 #
I purchased a Nikon 200-500 About six months ago. Put it on my 810 but could not get a sharp picture under any circumstances even on a tripod. Sent the lens to Nikon and they adjusted the auto focus. This helped some but the lens still will not give me a sharp image. My 70-300 lens is sharper at 200 and 300 than the 200-500. Not an optics issue but an auto focus problem that may be more prevalent in this lens than Nikon will admit.
Jan 1, 2017 16:02:52 #
jeryh
Loc: Oxfordshire UK
I have several long lenses; primarily I found that I must allow the lens to focus first, and then squeeze the shutter release; secondly, how I held the camera is important; rifle training helps here a great deal, as does breathing control. Thirdly, although I do not always use this method- tripod.
Jan 1, 2017 17:27:21 #
Dan De Lion wrote:
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The 200-500 is an excellent lens. However there are a number of reports of slightly off examples of that lens. One reviewer tested 5 examples and found 3 perfect lenses and 2 slightly off lenses. Some reviewers speculated that the lenses' lower price ment less QC at the factory. I would return your lens for another copy.
-----
The 200-500 is an excellent lens. However there are a number of reports of slightly off examples of that lens. One reviewer tested 5 examples and found 3 perfect lenses and 2 slightly off lenses. Some reviewers speculated that the lenses' lower price ment less QC at the factory. I would return your lens for another copy.
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This lens is made in China ....
Jan 1, 2017 18:52:09 #
I had the same problem with my Sigme 150-500mm lens when I bought it. It boiled down to technique. Eventually I found a combination of higher ISO, faster shutter speed and moderate f/. aperture that eliminated the problem for me, even hand held.
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