Older lens on New body...

TKC_D500

Senior Member
I have used the original version of the 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR on my D90 for years and have always been pleased with the results. On my D500, not so much. Has anyone heard of any issues with this combo. This is my every day walking around lens and the images are just enough softer to bother me. Don't really have the funds to replace it right now, so I guess I'll go to my backup plan, my 50mm 1.4d.
 

hrstrat57

Senior Member
I have used the original version of the 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR on my D90 for years and have always been pleased with the results. On my D500, not so much. Has anyone heard of any issues with this combo. This is my every day walking around lens and the images are just enough softer to bother me. Don't really have the funds to replace it right now, so I guess I'll go to my backup plan, my 50mm 1.4d.

Both are great lenses.

I think Don has called it....do the fine tuning.

Other than that how's the D500?
 
Raw or jpeg ?? look at the picture controls and up the sharpness if you shoot jpeg


RAW then do the Post PRocessing

JPEG follow these directions.

If you are shooting JPG I would suggest that you use the Fine>>Large setting and also set your camera for better sharpness.



Go into your Menus and highlight the "Shooting" menu (the camera icon)

Drop down to "Picture Controls" and click right one time.

From here, highlight "Standard" and then click right one time.

From this settings menu, increase the "Sharpness" setting to "7".

Drop down and increase the "Saturation" setting +1 notch on the slider.

Press "OK" to exit the menus and you're done.



 

TKC_D500

Senior Member
I have calibrated all my primes, but I'm not sure what focal length to use with this one. Since it is a multipurpose lens and I don't tend to use any particular focal length I have tried both ends and in the middle. It helps a little, but I'm still not completely satisfied. I'll keep at it though. I love the range of this lens.

As for the D500, I love it! It was a huge step up from my D90 and has been Well worth it! My hit rate on birds in flight has probably doubled or More! The AF system is scary good! I have been saving for a 200-500, but made an impulse buy on a new tripod so that set me back! Lol.

I shoot in RAW pretty much all the time except when I'm playing with Snapbridge.


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hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
I have calibrated all my primes, but I'm not sure what focal length to use with this one. Since it is a multipurpose lens and I don't tend to use any particular focal length I have tried both ends and in the middle. It helps a little, but I'm still not completely satisfied. I'll keep at it though. I love the range of this lens.

As for the D500, I love it! It was a huge step up from my D90 and has been Well worth it! My hit rate on birds in flight has probably doubled or More! The AF system is scary good! I have been saving for a 200-500, but made an impulse buy on a new tripod so that set me back! Lol.

I shoot in RAW pretty much all the time except when I'm playing with Snapbridge.


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You will have the shallowest depth of field on the long end. I'd suggest doing the AF tuning close to the long end, but not at the very end. Maybe give it a try around 170mm or 175mm then check the wide end to see if it has adversely affected it. If so, then try closer to the middle of the zoom.
 

TKC_D500

Senior Member
You will have the shallowest depth of field on the long end. I'd suggest doing the AF tuning close to the long end, but not at the very end. Maybe give it a try around 170mm or 175mm then check the wide end to see if it has adversely affected it. If so, then try closer to the middle of the zoom.

Thanks for the input. This is kind of what was rolling around in the back of my mind, but I wasn't really sure of my thinking. I'll give it a try.


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RocketCowboy

Senior Member
I shoot in RAW pretty much all the time except when I'm playing with Snapbridge.

Shooting RAW pretty much rules out the idea that the jpeg picture control settings need more sharpening added as well. I'd go with Hark's suggestion on where to fine tune the lens and see if that doesn't help. It sounds impressive the increase in the number of keeper shots you're getting with the new body, regardless!
 
My wife uses a lot of old lenses Tokina 400mm f5.6 with fungus and a Sigma 400mm F5.6 APO
You must use +9 sharp and contrast +3 with these old lenses to get the best and the fine focus spot on .
Large is essential but fine normal or basic makes little difference except to the buffer
 
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aroy

Senior Member
My wife uses a lot of old lenses Tokina 400mm f5.6 with fungus and a Sigma 400mm F5.6 APO
You must use +9 sharp and contrast +3 with these old lenses to get the best and the fine focus spot on .
Large is essential but fine normal or basic makes little difference except to the buffer

Down sampling Large JPEG to a smaller size will increase the perceived sharpness and reduce noise a bit. With the cost of SD cards quite low, there is no reason to shoot at lower resolution, unless you want to send the images as is.
 

TKC_D500

Senior Member
I have surrendered on this one. Two trips to the nature preserve to play with my new tripod, and not a single sharp image. I have tried the focus tuning at several focal lengths and it hasn't helped. I'm going to put it back on my wife's D90 and see if maybe it's the lens, but for now it is no longer in my bag. Now what do I replace all that zoom range with??


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