Question for Nikon 200-500 Owners

[Friggs]

Hello folks,
I took my 200-500 out for the first time today. A little puzzled. I was shooting with my D300. My shutter speed was 1/1600 sec. ISO between 320-800. Most with a F stop of F8. I was shooting a Eastern Screech Owl sitting in a tree. Not moving at all. I took about 400 shots between the owl and a few other birds around. I got more blurry pictures that I thought I should have. I was shooting from my car with it turned off. Elbow on the window ledge and hand under the tripod collar. VR on and on Normal. Using single and continuous focus to try different setting. I was using a single focus point. Most using the center one but some using one off to the side for composition. I did notice one thing when I was shooting. When I was shooting I could see the lens jumping between shots. Especially when in continuous. I have another lens with VR and it does not do that. I jumps when it first starts. But not between shots. Is this normal for this lens? Any thoughts on this?

Thanks,

 

[Blacktop]

Hello folks,
I took my 200-500 out for the first time today. A little puzzled. I was shooting with my D300. My shutter speed was 1/1600 sec. ISO between 320-800. Most with a F stop of F8. I was shooting a Eastern Screech Owl sitting in a tree. Not moving at all. I took about 400 shots between the owl and a few other birds around. I got more blurry pictures that I thought I should have. I was shooting from my car with it turned off. Elbow on the window ledge and hand under the tripod collar. VR on and on Normal. Using single and continuous focus to try different setting. I was using a single focus point. Most using the center one but some using one off to the side for composition. I did notice one thing when I was shooting. When I was shooting I could see the lens jumping between shots. Especially when in continuous. I have another lens with VR and it does not do that. I jumps when it first starts. But not between shots. Is this normal for this lens? Any thoughts on this?

Thanks,

I just got back from FL a few days ago and took about a 1000 shots of birds with that lens and the D750. From the settings that you describe , you should have gotten clear shots.

I took them hand held. AF-C with Single SS 1/1600th F/5.6 (this lens is sharp wide open) and auto ISO. VR on sports mode. I took stationary as well as BIF shots. I have a bunch uploaded on Flickr if you'd like to check the settings and sharpness. These were all processed of course.

Please post a few examples.

 

[hark]

I don't own the lens...didn't know VR could be used in continuous. I thought VR needed a moment to settle between shots. Does anyone know?

 

[Blacktop]

I don't own the lens...didn't know VR could be used in continuous. I thought VR needed a moment to settle between shots. ? Does anyone know

Yes. On the 200-500mm there is a sports mode. It is designed just for that task. I had it on all day at the reserve with good results.

 

[Friggs]

Yes. On the 200-500mm there is a sports mode. It is designed just for that task. I had it on all day at the reserve with good results.

My understanding is the sports mode is just for when you are panning shots. Like race cars or birds in flight. Didn't think it had anything to do with whether or not you are in single or continuous mode.

 

[Blacktop]

My understanding is the sports mode is just for when you are panning shots. Like race cars or birds in flight. Didn't think it had anything to do with whether or not you are in single or continuous mode.

I was on AF-C single point with VR-Sports mode all day with this lens. Shot stationary and flying birds. It works. Your problem is something different. I can't really help unless you post some shots of the problem.

 

[Friggs]

Here is a sample shot. It is at 1/1600 F8. VR on. Well supported. Single center AF sensor on the owls left eye. Yet the owl is blurry. No reason it should be.

 

[Blacktop]

Here is a sample shot. It is at 1/1600 F8. VR on. Well supported. Single center AF sensor on the owls left eye. Yet the owl is blurry. No reason it should be.

The only thing I can suggest is try it without the VR at that shutter speed. Have you tried different settings? Is the lens sharp on a tripod? Also from the shot it looks like the focus point is on the tree left of the owl

 

[Friggs]

Well the focus point was on the eye. But when I asked about the image jumping between shots I noticed that I would shoot with the sensor on its eye and after the shot the sensor was off of it but I know I did not move. Like I said it is like the image jumps and moves.

 

[Blacktop]

Well the focus point was on the eye. But when I asked about the image jumping between shots I noticed that I would shoot with the sensor on its eye and after the shot the sensor was off of it but I know I did not move. Like I said it is like the image jumps and moves.

If the focus point is truly on the Owl, then you may need to fine focus the lens. I have no idea why the image would jump around as you describe. Does it do it with the VR off?

 

[D200freak]

Have you done an autofocus fine tuning procedure?

I recommend that you do. I perform this procedure with every lens. Usually the fine tuning amount required is absolutely none, but I have had to tweak the AF values for at least one lens and it cured any softness problems I was having with it.

Yes, the D300 does have AF fine tune.

Go here and do this.

Jeffrey Friedl's Blog » Jeffrey?s Autofocus Test Chart

 

[Friggs]

If the focus point is truly on the Owl, then you may need to fine focus the lens. I have no idea why the image would jump around as you describe. Does it do it with the VR off?

I know at one point I turned off the VR. But I didn't pay attention to see if it is jumping with it off. I figure I am going to go out again and try different things.

 

[Friggs]

Have you done an autofocus fine tuning procedure?

I recommend that you do. I perform this procedure with every lens. Usually the fine tuning amount required is absolutely none, but I have had to tweak the AF values for at least one lens and it cured any softness problems I was having with it.

Yes, the D300 does have AF fine tune.

Go here and do this.

Jeffrey Friedl's Blog » Jeffrey?s Autofocus Test Chart

I know about the fine tune. And I can try it. But the more I think about it the more I think something is up with the VR. Since I got some supper sharp images. And some horrible ones. If it was simply a back or front focus it would be more consistent I would think one way or another. Like I said I am going to take it out again and pay more attention since I think something might be up with it.

 

[mikew_RIP]

You could have a problem with the lens but i think i would try a different support method to check,i know when i first got my 150-600 if i took a few shots in burst mode the focus point box in view nx would be all over the place,i just was not holding it as steady as the VR made me think i was,if i was shooting from the car i would use my bean bag to rest the lens on.

 

[J-see]

When I was shooting I could see the lens jumping between shots. Especially when in continuous. I have another lens with VR and it does not do that. I jumps when it first starts. But not between shots. Is this normal for this lens? Any thoughts on this?

Thanks,

Nikon lenses reset the VR unit (position) right before exposure which probably explains your jumping. If your other lens isn't a Nikon, it doesn't necessarily perform the same reset.

 

[Friggs]

Nikon lenses reset the VR unit right before exposure which probably explains your jumping. If your other lens isn't a Nikon, it doesn't necessarily perform the same reset.

It is a Nikon. A Nikon 70-300 ED VR.

 

[Friggs]

You could have a problem with the lens but i think i would try a different support method to check,i know when i first got my 150-600 if i took a few shots in burst mode the focus point box in view nx would be all over the place,i just was not holding it as steady as the VR made me think i was,if i was shooting from the car i would use my bean bag to rest the lens on.

I will do that. But I would think if I have a shutter speed of 1/1000-1/1600, I should get a sharp image. And I was working hard on keeping it as steady as I could.

 

[J-see]

It is a Nikon. A Nikon 70-300 ED VR.

I once read that a battery on low power might also trigger the jumping but I personally can't connect the dots in that explanation. But it could be tested if true or not.

I personally bet on the VR reset.

 

[mikew_RIP]

Just a few random thoughts,how well does the D300 focus at f5.6,coupled to that i guess you can get a fairly high frame rate on the D300,if its near its focus limit due to design and light conditions then is the burst rate too fast.You say the focus point was jumping off was it mainly on the shots you where not happy with.
Looking at the Woodpecker shots on your flickr the detail looks very good so the lens you have can produce the quality its just not all the time.

 

[J-see]

The jumping is "normal" for Nikon lenses with VR. My 300mm does the same at times.

I'll pop in a new battery next time to see if that somehow affects it or if it is simply a construction "feature".