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Archive 2014 · 80-400G Help Needed

  
 
bipock
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 80-400G Help Needed


I picked up this lens last week and had the opportunity to use it over the weekend. Pictures were pretty sharp, but not to the extent I really wanted, especially at 20-30 yards.

However, I think part of that problem is another issue I seemed to have with the lens. Most of my shooting this weekend was waterfowl. The lens really struggled locking focus whether in flight against a clean background or birds on the water swimming around. Low contrast were a little worse, but not much. I had the camera set to AF-C using 9 point and switched to S point. No help. And, before I get asked, yes, I am proficient at using longer lens as this is not my first one.

I've read about the chatter and although I did get some of that, it didn't bother half as much as the fact that the AF would simply never lock. It just seemed unsure of what it was supposed to lock on.

Any thoughts? Should this be considered pretty normal behavior for this lens?



Feb 24, 2014 at 08:38 AM
Two23
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 80-400G Help Needed


What camera are you using this on? On my D7100, focus is nearly instant. Second question, how much light did you have to work with?


Kent in SD



Feb 24, 2014 at 09:08 AM
bipock
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 80-400G Help Needed


Kent, I too am using it on the 7100. Light was sunny through mid morning with some lighter clouds the rest of the day. Certainly plenty there to work with in my opinion. Initial AF acquisition was instantaneous, but it just won't stay locked. You could hear the lens flipping back and forth between dead on and "not really sure if this is what I should be focusing on", despite the AF point being in the same spot.

The 200-400 I previously had never had this issue with this body and it got used with a 1.4x a lot, so I would have thought, given the same aperture, they would handle pretty close to the same. Not even remotely close.



Feb 24, 2014 at 09:17 AM
Steve Perry
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 80-400G Help Needed


My 80-400 struggles sometimes on my D800/e bodies to maintain good tracking focus. When I go to my D4 it's much better. Never really had any problems with my 500mm and now my 600mm on other bodies, only the 80-400. I really think it's just a limitation of the lens. I think it enjoys more static subjects.


Feb 24, 2014 at 09:32 AM
bipock
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 80-400G Help Needed


Steve Perry wrote:
I really think it's just a limitation of the lens. I think it enjoys more static subjects.


That's not a good ting for my uses, but I am beginning to agree with you.



Feb 24, 2014 at 09:37 AM
glassartist
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 80-400G Help Needed


Just to help narrow down the parameters, was the focus limiting switch set to infinity or limited? Contacts all clean?

I have the same combination but I don't have the 200-400 experience to compare it to.



Feb 24, 2014 at 09:42 AM
ckcarr
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 80-400G Help Needed


What happened to the 200-400mm?
Is your comparison fair, or niggling differences between a "pro" lens and the prosumer lens? (Just asking, don't get mad!)

I find this lens better on my D800e over the D7100

I find my 70-200mm VR1 the best of my zooms on the D7100.
But, I figure it's me when I use the 80-400mm on my D7100...



Feb 24, 2014 at 09:45 AM
rick_reno
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 80-400G Help Needed


I tried two copies of this lens at different brick and mortar shops I've done a lot of business with. One exhibited what you describe, the other was perfect. If you have the opportunity to try another copy, you should try it. I was using them on my d800.


Feb 24, 2014 at 09:50 AM
bipock
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 80-400G Help Needed


VR was turned off and the focus limiter was set to 6m-Infinity as I knew everything would likely be outside of that range. Lens is new, so I haven't cleaned the contacts.

I sold the 200-400 as I plan to move to a 600 in the next few months. While I could be wrong, I am pretty sure I'm not expecting the same results given that I am shooting with less length. In the situations I experienced yesterday, While the 200-400 and 1.4x would have been almost full coverage, the 80-400 would only have been slightly less and still had plenty of the subject under the AF point to AF. Biggest example was a mallard in full sun on the water swimming and the lens initially hit focus n the head and immediately started jumping.

My second body is a D610 and while it may work better on it, my intent was never to use it there. It will always be on the 7100, or until makes a better crop camera that's where it will be.

Rick, your experience shows what I was thinking of a bad copy. Unfortunately, my store is small and only keeps one copy at a time, so I can't try them side by side. They have sold 3-4 other copies with no reported issues, but none of those users are using it for BIF. Wildlife, yes, but static situations only.



Feb 24, 2014 at 10:12 AM
ckcarr
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 80-400G Help Needed


Even though it was new, with my 80-400mm I had a lot of the chattering and cleaning the contacts with isopropyl alcohol helped stop/minimize that. I never had to do that with any other lens.


Feb 24, 2014 at 10:26 AM
unclemikey
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 80-400G Help Needed


+1 for the bad copy theory. I have this lens and use it both on my D7100 and D800e and have not had a problem except in very low contrast lighting. The 80-400G is certainly much faster then my 80-400D and my copy is sharp as a tack.

Suggestion, take it back and try another one.



Feb 24, 2014 at 11:14 AM
m.sommers00
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · 80-400G Help Needed


Mine had the chatter issue and had it sent it with my camera (D800) for calibration, got told both suffered impact damage and now waiting to get my gear back from the service centre. I'm hoping that after paying an additional $1,000+ that it'll work as advertised, but with Nikon these days I guess you never know.

Sounds like there are some serious QC problems out there as more people try this lens, which is pretty pathetic given the price.



Feb 24, 2014 at 11:36 AM
Doug Maclean
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · 80-400G Help Needed


Did you try turning AF C to lock off in the autofocus menu??


Feb 24, 2014 at 06:47 PM
rosella
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · 80-400G Help Needed


Focus tracking w/ lock on - set to short, long, off? I've never noticed such extreme differences in situations like you describe regardless of those settings, but worth testing anyway.


Feb 24, 2014 at 07:02 PM
Two23
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · 80-400G Help Needed


Mine seems to have no problem at all locking onto rapidly moving subjects. I have a very high "hit" rate. Below photo:
Ice racing on Lake Brandt, South Dakota


Kent in SD

http://www.flickr.com/photos/96826069@N00/12758712555/



Feb 24, 2014 at 07:23 PM
trenchmonkey
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · 80-400G Help Needed


rosella wrote:
Focus tracking w/ lock on - set to short, long, off? I've never noticed such extreme differences in situations like you describe regardless of those settings, but worth testing anyway.


OFF. I've had 2 and I'm done with 'em. Over 40 yds the IQ turns to crap if you crop at all.
My 300 f4 and 200 f2/TC-20E III absolutely killed the zoom...wasn't even close for what
and how I shoot. Even $400 off...back the last went. When they're $1500...maybe. It's
a slow variable aperture zoom. Nikon's pricing is freakin' nuts. GL



Feb 24, 2014 at 07:40 PM
bipock
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · 80-400G Help Needed


Tracking was off.

TM, I agree that IQ really drops quickly. I don't know that I would go 40 yards.



Feb 24, 2014 at 07:55 PM
Doug Maclean
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · 80-400G Help Needed


Seems to be a bunch of bad copies out there.Af on mine is way faster then my 300 f4 naked.It is also sharper at 400 then 300f4 with 1.4 tc.Contrast and lack of flaring better on my 80-400 G.I say Return it


Feb 24, 2014 at 08:06 PM
trenchmonkey
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · 80-400G Help Needed


bipock wrote:
Tracking was off.

TM, I agree that IQ really drops quickly. I don't know that I would go 40 yards.


Yeah, fully 75% of my sales are 38 meters+ on BIF. The BG's can't break up
and look like crap on a 20 X 24 now can they



Feb 24, 2014 at 08:14 PM
jim allison
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · 80-400G Help Needed


Hi Nikon! So I shouldn't buy the new Tamron 150-600mm because?


Feb 24, 2014 at 08:26 PM
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