Nikon AF-S 70-300 f4.5-5.6 VR ED G issues

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P.B. Floyd

Senior Member
Got this lens as part of the 2-lens kit for the D600. Noticed right away that I'm getting what looks to me to be some camera or hand shake even when shooting a motionless subject at a fast shutter speed and with a tripod.

Is this something inherently wrong with this model of lens, or is it something wrong with my particular lens?

As an example, here are three crops of the same photo. It was taken @300mm with ISO 500, f5.6, and 1/500sec. The top picture is the full frame, a jpg made from the RAW file with only a minor sharpness adjustment. Look at the out-of-focus branches to the right of the bird's breast in the second, and the in-focus branch in the last.

example1.jpg

example2.jpg

example3.jpg

Anyone else having this problem with this lens?
 
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Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
The twigs especially on the 3rd pic look like camera shake. May I suggest Tripod, VR off, cable shutter release (even the pressure of your finger on the shutter at 300 mm will cause shake.
 
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Geoffc

Senior Member
I don't see it on the bird so it can't be camera shake unless its a new kind that only affects the edges. I think it either the twigs blowing in the wind or some kind of aberration caused by the optics.
 
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Rick M

Senior Member
My guess is motion in the bush (perhaps wind) and the bird is anchoring the branch it is on so it is moving slower or not at all. Had he jumped from the other twig it may have been vibrating?
 
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P.B. Floyd

Senior Member
Geoffc said:
I don't see it on the bird so it can't be camera shake unless its a new kind that only affects the edges. I think it either the twigs blowing in the wind or some kind of aberration caused by the optics.
Click to expand...

Looks like it's on the bird too, just harder to see with objects that are not so narrow. There was very little wind, if any, when I shot this. Even so, shouldn't 1/500th be fast enough to stop any possible slow motions? Thanks for the replies!

example4.jpg
 
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Rick M

Senior Member
P.B. Floyd said:
It is a cheapish UV filter, so I will give that a try, thanks!
The light is fading here now, so tomorrow I will take some test shots in controlled conditions and see what happens
Click to expand...

Hopefully this won't unleash the great filter debate but...., if you feel the need for them (I do not) buy the best.
 
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P.B. Floyd

Senior Member
Wow, it really is the filter! Used a tripod at 1/320 sec., f5.6 @300mm. VR turned off. Top picture is with a Tiffen UV protection filter, bottom pic no filter. The sharpness in the center of the frame is quite obvious, also note the red ribbon on the lower right:

wfilter.jpg

wofilter.jpg

Amazing difference, goodbye cheap UV filters!
 
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480sparky

Senior Member
P.B. Floyd said:
Wow, it really is the filter! Used a tripod at 1/320 sec., f5.6 @300mm. VR turned off. Top picture is with a Tiffen UV protection filter, bottom pic no filter. The sharpness in the center of the frame is quite obvious, also note the red ribbon on the lower right:





Amazing difference, goodbye cheap UV filters!
Click to expand...

Yay! Another nekkid shooter!
 
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