D7100 and Tam 150-600 problem

J-see

Senior Member

Considering we often shoot similar scenes, you too have those gulls at close range. You should try if shooting them at close range during a feeding chaos triggers more freezes than normal. You have the advantage with the D7100 to trigger the problem if it is related to sudden movements and focus changing required at close range.

I can't get that close with mine which implies I don't often make these sudden moves or even use the range below 3-400. I'm going to repeat the gull shots next time and see if I can trigger the issue or not.

This seems to be a problem that requires data. If we'd all add our settings during a freeze, we might discover something we all do at that very moment.
 
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Marilynne

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
My Tamzooka did freeze on Monday and I took note that it did it while trying to focus and refocus and refocus and refocus, etc... Shut it off and back on and it worked again.
 

cbay

Senior Member
Happened to me last night so i went to release priority. I know that's not a fix but i was taking advantage of the moment and wanted to keep shooting the deer. That took care of it.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Happened to me last night so i went to release priority. I know that's not a fix but i was taking advantage of the moment and wanted to keep shooting the deer. That took care of it.

Thats sort of along the lines of my thinking,i have OS working away my camera shake and AF-C in picture priority so many things trying to come right at that split second,the last time i was out with it on ta tripod with those settings i had no problem so trying to find out if removing the camera shake does the trick.
 

cbay

Senior Member
Thats sort of along the lines of my thinking,i have OS working away my camera shake and AF-C in picture priority so many things trying to come right at that split second,the last time i was out with it on ta tripod with those settings i had no problem so trying to find out if removing the camera shake does the trick.
FYI I never had it happen in AF-S mode. (new with this lens though).
Are you finding VR works well on a tripod? Was under the impression that it would mess up. ?
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Only tried it once,150 odd shots with no problem,it could be to do with how solid the tripod is though and i have one of those gimbal heads that are about £60,its my intention to change the timing on AF-C next time i handhold so its not seamless.

Tripod shot with VR on.

DSC_3562.jpg
 

J-see

Senior Member
I has two freezes today at 450mm while using constant focal adjustments but contrary to the "normal" freeze, these didn't last as long and the lens jumped back into action after maybe five seconds.
 

J-see

Senior Member
Three times frozen today.

The first time I wanted to take a shot, lowered shutter and switched VR on but the bird was gone by then. I kept walking to the canal and when I wanted to take my first shot there, focus was frozen. I didn't even focus or shoot between the enabling of VR and my first try at the canal. The lens had just been swinging in my hand while walking.

Then two times again (VR off) during constant focal changing shots with plenty of up/down left/right shooting.

All three times it responded again after a little bit of waiting.
 

J-see

Senior Member
Mine has only done it twice since getting it back,nearly 800 shots but ime not sure its as sharp as it was

Since the weather is changing fast lately, I'm shooting at the same spot at the canal a lot and some come pretty close which is probably why I have so many freezes compared to previous times. Usually the Tam is at 600mm and doesn't get shorter until I pack it in but these days I shoot more closer than far.
 

nikonpup

Senior Member
i am sending my unit in for checkout. Focus is the problem, above 300mm i could not get a lock. (see my post in j-see thread)
 

J-see

Senior Member
Yesterday I had the exact same problem as some day(s) before.

I walked to my favorite spot but halfway there switched on the cam and set my A/S just in case I encountered something. By the time I'm at my spot and want to take the first shot, focus is frozen. I didn't take a shot before that but had VR enabled. Somewhere between switching all on and attempting my first shot focus must have locked up purely because of swinging around in my hand while walking.
 

nikonpup

Senior Member
time to send it in for repair!. It will hurt for awhile, better than the frustration it is causing. Tamron here said 4 day turn around after they receive the lens.
 

sharp shooter

Senior Member
I now use back button focus. (Google it if it's a new term to you). It decouples the focus operation from the shutter operation.
It also allows 6fps instead of the camera/lens trying to re-focus between each shot.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Time to update i guess,since getting it back i dont seam to have as many focus freeze situations,often when i do ive noticed there is a large section of monotone subject color in the focus area,ime now wondering if there is not enough contrast for the D7100 to focus on but would the camera freeze or try to focus.
Not sending it back any more i dont think,it could possibly go in exchange for the sigma contemporary but that will be after that one has proved itself,i want to keep the 150-600 zoom range.
 

J-see

Senior Member
Time to update i guess,since getting it back i dont seam to have as many focus freeze situations,often when i do ive noticed there is a large section of monotone subject color in the focus area,ime now wondering if there is not enough contrast for the D7100 to focus on but would the camera freeze or try to focus.
Not sending it back any more i dont think,it could possibly go in exchange for the sigma contemporary but that will be after that one has proved itself,i want to keep the 150-600 zoom range.

I'm ignoring my freezes. Now I've locked it into the 400mm, I don't have that many freezes as before but I suspect it has less to do with focus itself and more with lens movement since I had two freezes while carrying the lens after activating VR or switching the cam on.

There's something strange going on but it seems to be impossible to reproduce at will.

I dot tuned the 400mm and had to take it to +8 to be middle of the range. I don't remember focus being that much off in the past so it makes me frown too.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
I'm ignoring my freezes. Now I've locked it into the 400mm, I don't have that many freezes as before but I suspect it has less to do with focus itself and more with lens movement since I had two freezes while carrying the lens after activating VR or switching the cam on.

There's something strange going on but it seems to be impossible to reproduce at will.

I dot tuned the 400mm and had to take it to +8 to be middle of the range. I don't remember focus being that much off in the past so it makes me frown too.

Mine is +9 @ 600mm
 
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