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Hi guys, I've recently bought a Nikon D300 as an uprade to a D50 - had been tossing up between a D80 or maybe a D200, but the D80 didnt seem a big enough step forwards to be worth making, and couldn't get the D200. Anyway, after a couple of weeks trying it out in Scotland I've found a problem (if thats the right way of putting it) and I'm not quite sure whats going on so wondered if anyone here might have any suggestions......

I have a Tamron SP AF Di LD (IF) 200-500 1:5-6.3 that is mainly used for wildlife (mainly birds) pics and up to now, it seems to have done a great job in most conditions when using it with the D50. However now, on the D300, at maximum zoom (500) on subjects some distance away I just can't get a crisp clean shot in the way I can with the D50. Pulling the lens in, to say 300 or 350 helps, but I still don't the sharpness I did on the D50.

Had anyone else had (or heard of) similar problems? Could it be an incapability problem between the Tamron and the D300? Is it that the lens just isn't good enough to match the better camera? Or maybe its just me doing something very wrong with the camera settings? All thoughts and suggestions greatly recieved...
 
im stumped but keen to know as i have a d300 and sometimes get naff shots. have u tried using a tripod
 
yeah, was on a tripod and for comparison, I also tried on the monopod (just as much shake as I expected on that one LOL) as well as setting up the tripod on its lowest/shortest setting to tr and minmise potential shake. Used both cameras at the same subject (Osprey and their nest) one after the other (so same light contions etc) and got much cleaner crsiper shots from the D50 - but those pics are still no good to me as the lack of mega pixels prevent crpping as tight as I'd like
 
Two possibilities that I can think of.

First the D300 has twice the pixel density of the D50. A lens that performs well on the D50 may look a lot worse on the D300 when viewed at 100%, because the higher resolution shows minor defects more clearly. Compare the images at the same magnification.

If the images still look softer then you may have a problem with the autofocus. Try manually focusing and see if it helps. If so then you should contact Tamron and ask about getting the lens recalibrated.
 
thanks, I'll give that a go - just out of interest, what would be involved with getting it recalibrated?
 
Sending it back to Tamron, and waiting however long it takes. Not sure if they will charge or not. I agree it could be due to the amount of pixels.
 
Could be vibrations set up by mirror slap. Try using the mirror lock up (on the D200 the switch is on the top plate) and see if that cures it. Not a lot of help if the pictures you're after are split second type things (like an osprey taking a fish) but should work OK if the bird's on the nest.

A higher shutter speed might help solve this problem as well - try upping the ISO and see if that improves sharpness. While the ISO is up, try using a smaller aperture and see if that helps as well.

FWIW, I have a similar "problem" with a Sigma 170-500. It's fine on a D70 but softer on a D200. The M-Up option helps, as do the other 2 things but the lenses are on the budget end of the market, so maybe we're just expecting too much!
 
Nod said:
Could be vibrations set up by mirror slap. Try using the mirror lock up (on the D200 the switch is on the top plate) and see if that cures it. Not a lot of help if the pictures you're after are split second type things (like an osprey taking a fish) but should work OK if the bird's on the nest.

A higher shutter speed might help solve this problem as well - try upping the ISO and see if that improves sharpness. While the ISO is up, try using a smaller aperture and see if that helps as well.

FWIW, I have a similar "problem" with a Sigma 170-500. It's fine on a D70 but softer on a D200. The M-Up option helps, as do the other 2 things but the lenses are on the budget end of the market, so maybe we're just expecting too much!
Click to expand...


Yeah, I did wonder if it could be a result of the mirror jumping about - and then ruled that one out thinking (guessing/assuming) that I'd have had the same problem with the D50/ I did try messing with the settings, including the ISO - but all that got me was loads of noise.

TBH, I'm thinking that problem lies, at least in part, with the D300 showing up the limits of the lens that the D50 couldn't get near - but in an effort to try and fnd out I have emailed the Tamron UK service center this afternoon. No reply as yet though.......
 
It's possible that the greater resolution of the D300 is showing up the limitations in your tripod technique more than the D50 did. However the difference should still only be apparent at higher magnifications than are possible with images from the D50.
 
what you recomend for using the tripod?
 
IIRC, the mirrors in the D200 and D300 move a lot faster than the D50 ones and are more solidly built so have more momentum.

Another thing to consider is how much/little in-camera processing gets done. D300 images may need a bit more sharpenning to get the best out of them compared to those from the D50.

Have you tried the mirror up experiment to eliminate mirror slap as a cause?
 
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