Question for Nikon 200-500 Owners
- Thread starter Friggs
- Start date
You have tested it on which lens? This thread is about the Nikon 200-500mm lens.
You'll notice the same with Nikon. At the very least you skip a reset before each shot during a burst. If that occurs while the mirror is up, it eats your lens' focus time.
I am not going to get into a debate if you have not tried this lens. All I know is what I saw and what I experienced with this lens using AF-C with VR on sports mode at 1/1600th of a shutter speed.
I took over a thousand shots last Thursday, and except for a few, every one is in focus. (This is with a lens that I had just a few days to practice with)
I threw away shots that were blown out, or compositional disasters or just duplicates of other shots.
I'm not trying to talk anyone into this lens . I'm just trying to help figure out what the OP's problem is. I would suggest that if you are going to debate about a lens that you have no knowledge of, at least do some Googling and read up on it. I have nothing to prove nor am I interested in proving anything.
I am done with this now.
Friggs
Senior Member
I tested the auto focus as spelled out at this site. https://photographylife.com/how-to-quickly-test-your-dslr-for-autofocus-issues
It does not have a auto focus problem. The normal auto focus looked identical to the live view tripod focus. I did it several times and it all came up the same. I could not tell the difference between the two different types. So that means what? Is there a VR problem? Tomorrows weather is supposed to be better. I am going out again and "re do" the shots of the owl. If it cooperates. Try sports mode. Try with the VR off. Lower my shutter speed with VR in case it does have a issue with high shutter speeds. Then depending on the results, a decision will need to be made as to send it back or not. I will update tomorrow how try number two goes. (I am going to go to a different owls nest where I can set up a tripod as well.
Thanks again for all the help.
It does not have a auto focus problem. The normal auto focus looked identical to the live view tripod focus. I did it several times and it all came up the same. I could not tell the difference between the two different types. So that means what? Is there a VR problem? Tomorrows weather is supposed to be better. I am going out again and "re do" the shots of the owl. If it cooperates. Try sports mode. Try with the VR off. Lower my shutter speed with VR in case it does have a issue with high shutter speeds. Then depending on the results, a decision will need to be made as to send it back or not. I will update tomorrow how try number two goes. (I am going to go to a different owls nest where I can set up a tripod as well.
Thanks again for all the help.
Friggs
Senior Member
Just in case you all think they all where bad. It did take some very sharp pictures. Like these below.
DSC_6890-1 by William Friggle, on Flickr
DSC_6904-1 by William Friggle, on Flickr
DSC_7010-1 by William Friggle, on Flickr
DSC_6884-1 by William Friggle, on Flickr
DSC_6890-1 by William Friggle, on Flickr
DSC_6904-1 by William Friggle, on Flickr
DSC_7010-1 by William Friggle, on Flickr
DSC_6884-1 by William Friggle, on FlickrJust in case you all think they all where bad. It did take some very sharp pictures. Like these below.
Judging by these shots,(I looked at them on Flickr) there is nothing wrong with this lens. You just need more practice with it.
kgilbertsen
New member
Hi Friggs,
I know this is an old thread, but I am renting the 200-500 for the weekend and noticed that it does exactly what you describe here. (I found this thread doing a Google search 'Nikon 200-500 single point jump') I am using it with a D500. I rented the 200-500 and the Tamron 150-600 G2 to compare them over the next couple days. I popped each lens on the camera briefly while at the camera shop to see how they performed.
The camera was in Shutter priority @ 1/1600, VR on, back button focus, AF-C, single point focus (center). The Nikon and the Tamron both did the typical slight jump when VR was activated. But when using the 200-500 the focus point did a noticable jump AFTER every shot. Tried using both sport and normal VR setting, with the same result. I had the counter guy try it, and he experienced the same thing. Said he'd never seen it before in any lens (neither have I). When checking the focus point in playback mode, it moved around the subject, just as it appeared to be doing while shooting.
When I got home with the lenses I continued to shoot around a bit with both lenses, with the same result regarding the jumping focus point.
I've been shooting since the 70's, digital since 2000, and have used a D300 for the last 7-8 years. I've owned and used VR lenses (18-200, 70-300, 70-200), and none have done this.
I will continue to see how the lens does in this regard over the weekend, but it's not a good sign.
Have you figured out this issue?
I know this is an old thread, but I am renting the 200-500 for the weekend and noticed that it does exactly what you describe here. (I found this thread doing a Google search 'Nikon 200-500 single point jump') I am using it with a D500. I rented the 200-500 and the Tamron 150-600 G2 to compare them over the next couple days. I popped each lens on the camera briefly while at the camera shop to see how they performed.
The camera was in Shutter priority @ 1/1600, VR on, back button focus, AF-C, single point focus (center). The Nikon and the Tamron both did the typical slight jump when VR was activated. But when using the 200-500 the focus point did a noticable jump AFTER every shot. Tried using both sport and normal VR setting, with the same result. I had the counter guy try it, and he experienced the same thing. Said he'd never seen it before in any lens (neither have I). When checking the focus point in playback mode, it moved around the subject, just as it appeared to be doing while shooting.
When I got home with the lenses I continued to shoot around a bit with both lenses, with the same result regarding the jumping focus point.
I've been shooting since the 70's, digital since 2000, and have used a D300 for the last 7-8 years. I've owned and used VR lenses (18-200, 70-300, 70-200), and none have done this.
I will continue to see how the lens does in this regard over the weekend, but it's not a good sign.
Have you figured out this issue?
kgilbertsen
New member
What seems to settle things down is using VR Sport mode, even though the situation doesnt call for it.
The Nikon fared better overall vs the Tamron G2 imo. Better sharpness, contrast & VR. Also, during burst shots on a static subject the Tamron would occasionally lose focus for several frames.
I've seen wonderful images from both lenses by much better photographers than me, so take this for what it is - my opinion based on my experience with these two lenses.
The Nikon fared better overall vs the Tamron G2 imo. Better sharpness, contrast & VR. Also, during burst shots on a static subject the Tamron would occasionally lose focus for several frames.
I've seen wonderful images from both lenses by much better photographers than me, so take this for what it is - my opinion based on my experience with these two lenses.