70-200 f/2.8 IS MK1 Sharpness

[The23rdman]

Guys 'n' gals,
I had one of these up for sale for my girlfriend recently but pulled it because I wasn't sure it was sharp. I've only ever used one other of this iteration of the lens and that wasn't that sharp wide open either. I've added a dropbox link with a wide open shot at both ends on a 60D at iso 400 in less than ideal light. Can you tell me if this is about normal?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fcqnz2pcqkaksl4/New folder.zip?dl=0

 

[owenb]

not the sharpest example I have seen to be honest, that being said not terrible I'm sure if sold on here would be ok if you just note it price might take a slight hit though

 

[Kodiak Qc]

Can you tell me if this is about normal?

•
I examined your CR2 files in my RAW converter (it does not see that very often!)
and if I am to understand that the focus point is the the car plate, then this is a of
back focus issue that is, if your camera has the option onboard, corrected through
the AF Fine Tuning (Nikon denomination).

Usual, almost normal, not dramatic.

I always, systematically, AFFT all my lenses on all my bodies before they get in the bag!

 

[The23rdman]

•
I examined your CR2 files in my RAW converter (it does not see that very often!)
and if I am to understand that the focus point is the the car plate, then this is a of
back focus issue that is, if your camera has the option onboard, corrected through
the AF Fine Tuning (Nikon denomination).

Usual, almost normal, not dramatic.

I always, systematically, AFFT all my lenses on all my bodies before they get in the bag!

That's why I stated that it was shot on a 60D so people would know that there is no microadjust feature.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

•
Do you mean I did not understand correctly your post?

 

[The23rdman]

•
Do you mean I did not understand correctly your post?

I was really expecting answers from people with experience of the lens, Kodiak. It wasn't really a question about micro adjustment, although I understand why you said what you did.

 

[domart]

I was really expecting answers from people with experience of the lens, Kodiak. It wasn't really a question about micro adjustment, although I understand why you said what you did.

There are too many variables, just take a few photos manual focus and check the sharpness of the lens, as it stands you're really just testing the accuracy of the focus system

 

[domart]

Fwiw I took some of the best photos I've ever shot on the mk1 is, sure the mk2 was better but it wasn't night and day, if the mk1 isn't sharp there's probably something amiss

 

[modchild]

I've had both the Mk1 and the Mk2 and while the Mk2 is better the Mk1 was no slouch. I got plenty of sharp shots with the Mk1 on various bodies, indeed much sharper than the 2 examples you've posted. Do you know someone local with another camera to try the lens on to check there isn't a back focussing problem. I've only had to Microadjust a couple of my lenses and as you can't do it on the 60D it would be worth trying the lens on another body.

 

[The23rdman]

Thanks for all the replies. I've tested the lens again in a much more controlled environment that allowed me to take front/back focusing issues into account. I used flash and shot at 45* across my bookcase. Admittedly most lenses are nowhere near their best near to minimum focus distance, but it did reveal that the lens is pretty good at 200, but less so at 70.

 

[owenb]

honestly don't think you will have a prob selling it in the forums or on auction site

 

[domart]

Thanks for all the replies. I've tested the lens again in a much more controlled environment that allowed me to take front/back focusing issues into account. I used flash and shot at 45* across my bookcase. Admittedly most lenses are nowhere near their best near to minimum focus distance, but it did reveal that the lens is pretty good at 200, but less so at 70.

Mine was the other way round, fantastic at 70-135mm bit lost it a bit at 135-200

 

[admirable]

It was hard to see what focus point you used as it doesn't show up in the software. If you used the centre point, then the 2273 image centre was about the '04' and on the 2277 image it was on the 'U'.

Zooming into 100% without any sharpening I would say they are both acceptable for what they are but (as stated above) it's not really a fair and accurate way to test a lens