Ok, I bought a 80-400 afs. I wanted a more portable rig when shooting outdoor kids sports. When I am shooting for someone else it is always the d3s and 200-400, 400 2.8., depending on light. When I go watch my own kids I don't always want to lug out the big glass and I wanted a rig I could reach out when taking them to the park. I found the 80-400 to focus fast, seemed to be quick, but when I got home, the images from the 7100 were much softer than the D3s. ( I shot to compare).I set the cameras up as close as possible. continuos servo, manual 2500 f 5.6, iso 800 for most. Had back Af-on set for both ( ae-l Af-l) on 7100. Am I missing some 7100 setting? I don't use croppers a ton, but am intrigued by the extra reach. On the d3s the lens worked fine. Thanks for the help.
I don't know how closely you've studied the images... are you sure it's focusing correctly on the crop body? Perhaps try a more controlled test since the lens seems fine on your other body. On a tripod, @ 400mm/5.6, let it autofocus, take a picture. Repeat but this time manual focus using live view. See if the two pictures are of equal sharpness.
Did you try it with VR off on the 80-400? My images improved on the D7100 on everything over 1/800th with VR off. The D4 and D600 don't seem to be as temperamental. There wasn't a huge difference between the FX bodies and the 7100 but I could see it in general, the 7100 images just didn't have that POP.
Keep in mind that a D7100 is like a 54MP~ D3 when it comes to pixel density. The tighter the pixels, the more any AF / subject / camera movement is going to show, especially at 100% views. Focus / movement errors that you wouldn't notice on a D3s will be very obvious on a D7100.
The D7100 really needs to have AF fine tune perfect, as well as enough shutter speed and good technique on your end to keep it sharp.
There is an additional factor, which caused me to turn OFF my commonly used AF-ON setting on my D7100. Nikon changed the way AF-ON works on the D7100 so that it will always release the shutter whenever you hit the shutter button while holding the AF-ON button "on" --- even if you have it set to "focus" release mode. So you can shoot a burst and have every single image out of focus, even if your review screen shows the little red focus point box.
SO.......start with Steve Perry's and NathanHamler's comments, add in rd4tile's comment (personally, I never use VR above about 1/750th), throw in mine, and you've got a really good chance for some sharp, sharp images from the D7100.
Steve Perry wrote:
The D7100 really needs to have AF fine tune perfect, as well as enough shutter speed and good technique on your end to keep it sharp.
OK, so with the 80-400mm how, specifically are you doing fine tuning? Are you first finding the sharpest f/stop, or are you simply fine tuning with the lens at f/4.5? I am finding mine sharpest right around f/8. So I assume I should do mine at f/8 and 400mm at the closest focus distance?
ckcarr wrote:
OK, so with the 80-400mm how, specifically are you doing fine tuning? Are you first finding the sharpest f/stop, or are you simply fine tuning with the lens at f/4.5? I am finding mine sharpest right around f/8. So I assume I should do mine at f/8 and 400mm at the closest focus distance?
Thanks.
Fine tuning isn't really affected by the f/stop selected, since the lens always autofocuses with it wide open.
Consequently, you should always fine tune with the lens wide open, because it provides the smallest possible depth of field, which is important in the fine tuning process. That way, when it's fine tuned at f/4.5 (or f/5.6 at the long end), it will only get better when you stop it down to f/8.
If you take the test pictures at f/8, the increased depth of field might be compensating for a little bit of bad autofocus.
Also, you usually don't want to fine tune at the closest focus distance - unless that's just where you use the lens the most.
ckcarr wrote:
OK, so with the 80-400mm how, specifically are you doing fine tuning? Are you first finding the sharpest f/stop, or are you simply fine tuning with the lens at f/4.5? I am finding mine sharpest right around f/8. So I assume I should do mine at f/8 and 400mm at the closest focus distance?
Thanks.
Pretty much what Binary Visions said would be my answer.
Ok went out and tried it again. Images are much darker and focus is very soft compared to using the lens on the FF. I post 2 images with the 7100 and 80-400. Also 2 with the D3s and 80-400 Af-2. you can see the difference. both shot on the same day minutes apart. Cameras set the same as far as setting. I also posted a d3s and 200-400 from same field the day before . Even on the d3s, the 80-400 doesn't seem near as sharp.
Settings Aperture priority.
Continuos servo, single point
Auto WB
Back button focus AE-L(d7100, af-on d3s)
Thanks
I don't think it's the lens looking at those, more the difference between the lighting in those shots and differences in the 2 bodies themselves, metering and potentially PPing. The 80-400 needs good light to really sing.
Thanks for starting this thread.
I have an old 80-400 (I have not used it since getting a 28-300).
There is something about the D3 that brought the lens to life.
Not sure if it is the strong focus motor or the FullFrame Sensor.
But, it is fast enough for sports.
I am not convinced that the new AF-S version is enough better to justify the cost.
amlsml wrote:
Ok went out and tried it again. Images are much darker and focus is very soft compared to using the lens on the FF. I post 2 images with the 7100 and 80-400. Also 2 with the D3s and 80-400 Af-2. you can see the difference. both shot on the same day minutes apart. Cameras set the same as far as setting. I also posted a d3s and 200-400 from same field the day before . Even on the d3s, the 80-400 doesn't seem near as sharp.
Settings Aperture priority.
Continuos servo, single point
Auto WB
Back button focus AE-L(d7100, af-on d3s)
Thanks
I see 80- 400 afs front focusing in these shots, look at grass leaves and strings on net.
amlsml wrote:
rd4-- Lighting was exactly the same, shots were taken minutes apart.
Tjny- I see that and will play with adjustment today.
Will- thanks I posted the f4 for comparison. I guess there is no substitution for good glass.
Is there a carry around lens for the crop body that will get reach, IQ and be portable?
If you take the rear caps off the two lens, you will see the glass on the 200-400 is twice the size.
I much prefer the 28-300 for carry around mostly due to the 28-80 end.
The old 80-400 has a real advantage shooting into the sun due to the long hood.
You are at the end of the line for Nikon glass for zoom portability. If I had the cash, I'd have a 200-400mm over the 80-400mm "G" any day. Comparing those two isn't that important... All I can afford is the 80-400 "G" though.
amlsml wrote:
rd4-- Lighting was exactly the same, shots were taken minutes apart.
...
Lighting may have been the same, but the exposures aren't. Both d7100 shots are darker and the histo's show it. . I'll bet that a +.3 to +.7 exposure bump and fine tuning that lens on the 7100 would yield better results.
