p.6 #1 · Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S images thread
I posted a few pics from the 100-400 using my Z7ii and there were comments here that the lens looked soft. I was just posting examples, for instance, a lobster boat image in the harbor that was shot at 1/30s handheld at 195mm that was meant to show how well the image stabilization worked. But, some of the comments concerned me that the lens was "soft". So, yesterday (which was the first day the sun came out since I got the lens), I went to the local pond and made some images of the ducks. I'm mainly a landscape and studio shooter and hardly ever use anything except single point AFS. When taking the duck photos, I used AFC, auto area, dynamic and single point. When looking at critical focus using Nikon Studio NX, I found that the auto area AF worked very well. The dynamic area and single point worked well when the focus box was directly over the eye/head of a duck. If the focus box was just slightly off, I would get "soft" focus in the eyes and beak. And I mean just slightly off (less than an inch or so). What I found was that this lens precisely focuses where the focus point is on the subject. When it's off just an inch, it makes a difference. It's a small difference but you can see it.
This is an example where AFC, single point is directly over the ducks eye. Of course this hard to do handheld at 400mm. This lens is definitely sharp and I'm quite happy with it. I'm waiting for my Z9 that will be able to automatically pick out the ducks eye. ;-)
Nikon z7ii - AFC single point - 1/1250s, F/5.6, ISO 560 400mm handheld
p.6 #4 · Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S images thread
envirobob wrote:
I posted a few pics from the 100-400 using my Z7ii and there were comments here that the lens looked soft. I was just posting examples, for instance, a lobster boat image in the harbor that was shot at 1/30s handheld at 195mm that was meant to show how well the image stabilization worked. But, some of the comments concerned me that the lens was "soft". So, yesterday (which was the first day the sun came out since I got the lens), I went to the local pond and made some images of the ducks. I'm mainly a landscape and studio shooter and hardly ever use anything except single point AFS. When taking the duck photos, I used AFC, auto area, dynamic and single point. When looking at critical focus using Nikon Studio NX, I found that the auto area AF worked very well. The dynamic area and single point worked well when the focus box was directly over the eye/head of a duck. If the focus box was just slightly off, I would get "soft" focus in the eyes and beak. And I mean just slightly off (less than an inch or so). What I found was that this lens precisely focuses where the focus point is on the subject. When it's off just an inch, it makes a difference. It's a small difference but you can see it.
This is an example where AFC, single point is directly over the ducks eye. Of course this hard to do handheld at 400mm. This lens is definitely sharp and I'm quite happy with it. I'm waiting for my Z9 that will be able to automatically pick out the ducks eye. ;-)...Show more →
p.6 #6 · Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S images thread
MikeInPa wrote:
Great images Lance. When you actually know how to use your equipment it certainly shows.
Thank you very much, Mike!
George DeCamp wrote:
Excellent job Lance and more like what I've been expecting from this lens!
Thank you very much, George!
AdamLT wrote:
Nothing soft here, other than me wanting to bury my face in his/her ample fur! Lovely.
Mystery solved, and now I know what I’m likely asking of Santa next year.
Happy holidays!
Thank you very much, Adam!
Happy Holidays to you also!
OwlsEyes wrote:
This is exactly what I've observed. I think you saw the other 100-400 thread and my swan photos in poor light against a white background, it is possible to see how capable the 100-400 is on a Z6II/Z7II body. The Z lenses and cameras have been optimized for each other, and this is reflected in the speed at which focus locks on and is maintained.
Good shooting Lance... I look forward to seeing more!
bruce
Thank you very much, Bruce!
I am *very* impressed so far with the AF speed and ability to lock on even with my Z7II. This will be a great lens for travel (and everywhere esle) mated to the Z7II (and Z9).
cvrle59 wrote:
Not just sharpness, the falloff, colours, pretty much everything.
Thank you Lance!
Thank you very much, cvrle59!
So, it's not just me, you see the way the lens renders everything so beautifully. A true S lens!
Above is a rar file full of SooC full resolution z7ii JPG's of random mallards. Shot on the 100-400 (All wide open)
I'm not the best at downsampling these huge files for web viewing to show this lens's full potential. but below is a shot from the pack downsampled to 2048 and ran through topaz, def not as good as the full res JPGs
p.6 #14 · Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S images thread
woodstork wrote:
Nice 3d pop!
Thank you. I am not a fan of zoom lense but I think the 70-200S and 100-400 are gonna be a good zoom combo. I am really happy I the trigger on the 100-400!!
p.6 #15 · Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S images thread
I got to play a bit wiht 100-400 on my trip.
It seems that focus with 100-400 is faster and more sensitive with Z7 ii in low light than 600/4e FL with FTZ ii adapter even. Faster as in revving from near to far or vice versa.
p.6 #17 · Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S images thread
suteetat wrote:
I got to play a bit wiht 100-400 on my trip.
It seems that focus with 100-400 is faster and more sensitive with Z7 ii in low light than 600/4e FL with FTZ ii adapter even. Faster as in revving from near to far or vice versa.
It's the stepper motor in the lens. I wonder if Nikon will use same in 400/2.8. But they should make more powerful ones for such a big lens. Let's see.
Can you please tell us if the lens has manual override for focus? Meaning can you do manual focus while the camera and lens are set at Auto Focus? This feature is available on most Nikon lenses except may be the new 70-300 which uses stepper motor?
p.6 #18 · Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S images thread
Jemini wrote:
It's the stepper motor in the lens. I wonder if Nikon will use same in 400/2.8. But they should make more powerful ones for such a big lens. Let's see.
Can you please tell us if the lens has manual override for focus? Meaning can you do manual focus while the camera and lens are set at Auto Focus? This feature is available on most Nikon lenses except may be the new 70-300 which uses stepper motor?
Thanks
At the moment, my understanding is that Z mount lenses only have M and A mode and no M/A mode like in Nikon DSLR.
I asked my dealer about this and I was told that Nikon plans to add manual override option into the body sometimes in the future as there is no A/M button on the lens. Supposedly there will already be first firmware update before the end of the year and several more planned for the next few months so we can expect more features for Z9. Don't know if this will apply to other Z bodies though.
I have not look through the manual yet but scrolling through the menu quickly, I don't see any option for manual overide yet. So at the moment, in A mode, when I use manual focus ring , when I press shutter button, AF will activate and it will focus back to wherever focus point is pointed to.
p.6 #19 · Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S images thread
I still didn't get my 100-400s, so I can't comment it, but I played with z5/24-200 as I was reading this thread.
My answer here is, if camera is in af-s mode, you can prefocus either with af-on or half pressed shutter button, then override it with focus ring.
As soon as you start using MF, the focus scale will show up in the EVF, focus peak too, and focus square will turn green if it aims to the point being in focus.
This works with 14-30mm as well.
Don't forget, MF on Z-mount lenses is by wire, not mechanical like F-mount.
P.S. 14-30 is got M-A switch, it's in A, but 24-200 doesn't have any, it's in A by I-menu.
p.6 #20 · Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S images thread
cvrle59 wrote:
I still didn't get my 100-400s, so I can't comment it, but I played with z5/24-200 as I was reading this thread.
My answer here is, if camera is in af-s mode, you can prefocus either with af-on or half pressed shutter button, then override it with focus ring.
As soon as you start using MF, the focus scale will show up in the EVF, focus peak too, and focus square will turn green if it aims to the point being in focus.
This works with 14-30mm as well.
Don't forget, MF on Z-mount lenses is by wire, not mechanical like F-mount.
Yes, it does work like that as well on 100-400. As long as the focus box is in focus, you can shoot. But if you use
manual focus to defocus the picture and if the area under focus box is not in focus, AF will activate when you press
shutter button.
Not really sure if I am answering the right question. I don't really use manual override much. Basically either I use a manual focus ring with MF ring or sometimes I use manual ring to move focus when AF is stuck in limbo just to help nudge AF a bit to move to the right direction. If this is the case then 100-400 has it
