A few images shot with the new AF-S 300mm PF. More tests shots that anything else, basically trying to push it to its limits. All handheld with VR Sport on, AF-C 21.
1) D810, AF-S 300mm f/4 PF, TC-20eIII (600mm, f/11, 1/640s, ISO 800, cropped from 4912x7360 to 2116x3182 pixels):
2) I was with a friend who also got the new lens. We bet on who would catch a swallow in flight. He was shooting at 300mm and got a very sharp shot. I was shooting with the TC-20eIII at 600mm, not as sharp but not too bad. Noise is more the issue. I was using the central AF sensor, it was tough to first spot the birds and lock focus on them but got amazed when the camera tracked pretty well once focus was acquired. I noticed a weird behavior from the VR system when the camera was up straight close to vertical though, the VR started to jingle all over the frame. (600mm, f/8, 1/2500s, ISO 800)
I received mine yesterday from a UK online store that sells Import goods. I've had good dealings with them before so it wasn't risky, but it did save me £200 over the UK price. Sadly I have the VR issue with shutter speeds around 1/160, it's totally unusable with VR on at that speed, which is the area of shutter speed you want VR for on this kind of lens. Straight back it went ( I'll get the postage cost refunded), and they will send me one once they've tested it to see there's no issue with it before sending it out. Hopefully it won't be a case of them saying it looks ok only to for me to get it and still have problems with it.
