Nikon 80-200 f2.8 AF-S advice

allanm

allanm

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Allan
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I just bought a used AF-S version for my D300. I have noticed that when using it at f2.8, the images seem soft when viewed at 100%. Its razor sharp by the time i get to f5.6. The f2.8 shots seem to sharpen up quite well in PP
Is this to be expected? I have only used it for a few days so my technique may be off. Just looking for some advice from another owner really.
I can post some examples to illustrate this softness if needed.

Allan
 
Any chance of some examples?

From what I understand this is meant to be an incredibly sharp lens even at f/2.8.
 
Thats what I thought, however, I may be expecting too much, it is certainly a lot sharper as you get up tp f4+
Heres a couple at about 200mm, click on the image for all sizes.
1/500 @ f2.8


1/200 @ f4.5



Didnt do one at f5.6, but it still sharpens up a bit.

Heres a couple more at 200mm
1000th at f2.8



200th at f5.6



These are typical of my results, look at the signpost in the second two, at f2.8 it is soft.

In a bit of a rush at the moment but I could post some more later. Not the best subjects, but they show what I am getting.

Allan
 
This is by far my favourite lens and the only one I am happy to use wide open all day.

Some photos (exif included in photos)

Pic1 – my son on his Go-kart
D300, 1/200, f2.8 iso 400 at 80mm – amazed its sharp with a shutter speed that slow for a moving subject.

pic1.jpg


A 100% crop of the above
pic1-crop.jpg


One taken yesterday on my d50, 1/1600 f2.8 200mm and iso800 so it’s not the best.

Squirrel7.jpg



I think on my d300 I have fine tuned the AF to +5, I cant check now as I am in work.
 
They certainly are nice and sharp, mine seems to produce the same sharp results at f5.6, but below that it is definately soft and gets softer towards f2.8. its like looking through a fine net curtain!

Is there much difference between f5.6 and f2,8 with yours? Maybe I am expecting too much.

I`ve tried all combinations that the limited weather will allow to get a sharp wide open shot. Hopefully, the weather will improve tomorrow and I will get a chance to try it again.

Allan
 
Are you sure you are not confusing shallow depth of field with softness - the thistle hairs in the first one look pin sharp to me - off centre leaves/hairs.

Mine is sharp fully open- individual filaments on the feathers of falcons/hawks sharp.
 
Lensflare said:
Are you sure you are not confusing shallow depth of field with softness - the thistle hairs in the first one look pin sharp to me - off centre leaves/hairs.

Mine is sharp fully open- individual filaments on the feathers of falcons/hawks sharp.
Click to expand...

Try taking a photo with a great distance between subject and background.
At f/2.8

Those sample pics above are very busy and near one dimensional.
 
Tomas Whitehouse said:
Try taking a photo with a great distance between subject and background.
At f/2.8
Click to expand...

I`ll take a few more tomorrow if the rain stops, as you suggest, thanks

Allan
 
Tomas Whitehouse said:
No problem, you can take a few indoors if you have a bit of room. Post up the results too :thumbs:
Click to expand...

I use mine a lot indoors, just bounce the flash and this should give good results. Can post some examples if you want.

allanm said:
Is there much difference between f5.6 and f2,8 with yours? Maybe I am expecting too much.

Allan
Click to expand...

I can't really say as I never shoot at F5.6 with it, its always set at 2.8 – 3.5 which is sharp enough for me, just remember not much DOF.
 
Again ISO 800 so its a bit noisy, f3.2 so not wide open but close enough.

Don't normally post wedding photos but i have nothing else indoors with this lens.

Not the best photo but to show sharpness.
pic2.jpg


100% crop - As you can see not much DOF only the first eye is in focus

pic2-crop.jpg


One of the bride for good measure

pic5.jpg
 
Love the bride shot!!

Not had a chance to post any more yet, but will do some later.
Now, I am not too sure if I am expecting too much, the weather doesnt help, I seem to have been spending more time trying to find fault with the lens than actually taking pictures. I saw a post in another forum that compared shots with the AF-S and D versions of this lens showing some chimneys taken at f2.8 f4 and f5.6 and they looked like the results I get. I certainly wouldnt say either were pin sharp at f2.8, but like mine, above that they were superb.
Anyway, I have just taken a few and will post the results later. I could do with trying another lens, might nip into Jessops later to see if they have a 70-200 to try out, IQ is supposed to be very similar.

Allan
 
I have an old practical photography mag here which compares all the pro spec 70(80)-200lenses and the afs80-200 came out on top for IQ.
 
Well, the sun came out today for a while and i managed some shots at 80mm 135mm and 200mm. Looks like the 80mm is not too bad and 200mm are the worst, they seem to show a hazy image with softness more noticeable on the right.

Here is a link to 12 images on Flickr, if anyone has the time to look at them. They are all fine large jpegs using standard picture controls on my D300. Sharpening is set at 5.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/allans/sets/72157607468884198/

Allan
 
allanm said:
Well, the sun came out today for a while and i managed some shots at 80mm 135mm and 200mm. Looks like the 80mm is not too bad and 200mm are the worst, they seem to show a hazy image with softness more noticeable on the right.

Here is a link to 12 images on Flickr, if anyone has the time to look at them. They are all fine large jpegs using standard picture controls on my D300. Sharpening is set at 5.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/allans/sets/72157607468884198/

Allan
Click to expand...

You have your gallery set to private mate.
 
Sorry, they should all be public now :bonk:

Allan
 
I found the following images ( linky), all shot with a 70-200vr on a D2x mostly at F2.8. This is someone elses pbase site and obviously the images belong to him.
I would have expected my images at f2.8 to be similar in sharpness, they dont show any of the softness and haze that mine exhibit.
Allan
 
I also have a D300 and 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S, fantastic lens!

I've had a look at the images of the chimney and the photo at 200mm f/2.8 really doesn't look right - the images from f/4 to f/5 are more like what I would expect to get at f/2.8 on my lens. It's also strange that it looks ok at 80mm f/2.8 on the image of the trees :thinking:

Are you using a UV/Skylight filter on the lens? If so it might be worth taking it off.
 
I have a UV filter on the lens, the results are the same whether the filter is on or off.
I would be interested to see some of your images using your set up at 200mm f2.8. I have only had the lens a week, it would be good to have some to compare so I can show the retailer I bought the lens from.
Bit of a nuisance really, these AF-S lenses dont come available often...

Allan
 
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