Discussion
Hi Guys,
Long story short ....
Have an 18-200 Nikon lens that has always been "soft" - numpty here put it down to user error ... Eventually tok it into shop and is was sent to be fixed (undera ayear old). Got lens back and it was very sharp for all of about 15 pics, then the folowing weekend back to it's old tricks, however ...
1st repar the VR module was replace.
2nd repair - well, at first the tech guy could find no fault, so I presume the VR unit is ok, as he would have checked this, probably first. Sent he some example pics, and he looked at the lens again, putting it on different test kit. He's now not happy with the lens, and although Nikon authorised, he cannot fix this and has sent to Nikon.
So, question one, is was the VR unit really faulty, as if so, the lens had two faults that gave the same symptoms ?
The lens gave similar results on two cameras, a D50 and D300.
Now, I bought the other week a Sigma 120-400mm - from day one, that was soft, and seemed to get worse, so that's been back and swapped. It's replacement was tested in the shop on a D90, seems ok.
My main question is, not knowing the fault on the Sigma, but is it possible one of my cameras is knackering the lenses ...
However, against this arugument, is the fact I had a 70-300 Nikon lens (with VR) that is fine, no issues.
My other lenses (kit lenses that came with the D50) are fine, in fact they are surprisingly good.
I'd also tried a friends 18-200 - no issues (did this, I hasten to add, before it occurred to me the camera could have an issue).
I'm just a little wary of sticking the new Sigma on my cameras ...
Thanks for any help.
Martin
Long story short ....
Have an 18-200 Nikon lens that has always been "soft" - numpty here put it down to user error ... Eventually tok it into shop and is was sent to be fixed (undera ayear old). Got lens back and it was very sharp for all of about 15 pics, then the folowing weekend back to it's old tricks, however ...
1st repar the VR module was replace.
2nd repair - well, at first the tech guy could find no fault, so I presume the VR unit is ok, as he would have checked this, probably first. Sent he some example pics, and he looked at the lens again, putting it on different test kit. He's now not happy with the lens, and although Nikon authorised, he cannot fix this and has sent to Nikon.
So, question one, is was the VR unit really faulty, as if so, the lens had two faults that gave the same symptoms ?
The lens gave similar results on two cameras, a D50 and D300.
Now, I bought the other week a Sigma 120-400mm - from day one, that was soft, and seemed to get worse, so that's been back and swapped. It's replacement was tested in the shop on a D90, seems ok.
My main question is, not knowing the fault on the Sigma, but is it possible one of my cameras is knackering the lenses ...
However, against this arugument, is the fact I had a 70-300 Nikon lens (with VR) that is fine, no issues.
My other lenses (kit lenses that came with the D50) are fine, in fact they are surprisingly good.
I'd also tried a friends 18-200 - no issues (did this, I hasten to add, before it occurred to me the camera could have an issue).
I'm just a little wary of sticking the new Sigma on my cameras ...
Thanks for any help.
Martin
I tested just about everything every possible way I could think of ... at various focal lengths, f stops, shutter speeds etc ...
However, the "main" tests were of the same subject handheld with VR / OS on, AF, which produced poor results compared to my kit lens (with no VR).
The shop agreed there was an issue, no problem there, they also tested the lenses.
However, the "main" tests were of the same subject handheld with VR / OS on, AF, which produced poor results compared to my kit lens (with no VR).
The shop agreed there was an issue, no problem there, they also tested the lenses.
Edited by mph999 on Friday 4th September 01:00
Okay, back to basics, but does it have any filters on it? We've had a few threads about soft lenses that were actually down to cheap skylights...
The VR could be sending things soft if it's enabled, over compensating for movement. With that off, and the AF off, it should be fine, if it isn't send it back. Would check the eyepiece setting is correct etc etc.
Could be one of your cameras front / back focuses, the AF fine tune on the D300 should be able to discount this one.
The other thing is more simple, the 18-200 isn't the magic wonder lens Ken Rockwell says it is. Good for most things, but I'd never expect it to be 100% sharp.
The VR could be sending things soft if it's enabled, over compensating for movement. With that off, and the AF off, it should be fine, if it isn't send it back. Would check the eyepiece setting is correct etc etc.
Could be one of your cameras front / back focuses, the AF fine tune on the D300 should be able to discount this one.
The other thing is more simple, the 18-200 isn't the magic wonder lens Ken Rockwell says it is. Good for most things, but I'd never expect it to be 100% sharp.
VxDuncan said:
Okay, back to basics, but does it have any filters on it? We've had a few threads about soft lenses that were actually down to cheap skylights...
The VR could be sending things soft if it's enabled, over compensating for movement. With that off, and the AF off, it should be fine, if it isn't send it back. Would check the eyepiece setting is correct etc etc.
Could be one of your cameras front / back focuses, the AF fine tune on the D300 should be able to discount this one.
The other thing is more simple, the 18-200 isn't the magic wonder lens Ken Rockwell says it is. Good for most things, but I'd never expect it to be 100% sharp.
Hi vx ...The VR could be sending things soft if it's enabled, over compensating for movement. With that off, and the AF off, it should be fine, if it isn't send it back. Would check the eyepiece setting is correct etc etc.
Could be one of your cameras front / back focuses, the AF fine tune on the D300 should be able to discount this one.
The other thing is more simple, the 18-200 isn't the magic wonder lens Ken Rockwell says it is. Good for most things, but I'd never expect it to be 100% sharp.
In both cases, with VR/ OS off, still soft.
Actually, to be honest, 'soft' is generous - opened on a PC they look poor , zoom in to actual size and things are clearly very very wrong.
I think we're too far gone to rescue with AF fine tune, the lenses really are unuseable - I'm just a little concerned about the cause.
Thanks,
Martin
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