Soft images from 24-70 f2.8


baggiolee

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Dec 7, 2006
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i was wondering why my images i've taken so far appeared unaceptably soft at f4. so i carried out a proper testing with tripod, set up shutter release using timer, etc. following the guide here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_909500&v=xXgtdz5EZ5I&feature=iv

the test images i took are soft all the way until f7.1. At f7.1, it appeared to be the sharpest and remain about the same sharpness til f10.


Auto focus

70mm, at f2.8. 100% crop, focus at center.
dsc0001qn.jpg


70mm, at f4
dsc0003yy.jpg


70mm, at f7.1
dsc0006yn.jpg




i heard calibration can only fix front and back focus error, not sure if mine can be fixed. i'm really worry...a 2.5k lens at f4 is blurred whereas my 70-300 vr lens is almost razor sharp even at its widest aperture.

what if this issue can't be fixed at NSC? :(
 

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Distance used? Near MFD?

mebbe try it again at a longer focusing distance. It does look very weird to have to stop down so much, :think:
 

:think:

Did you use manual focusing? Because @ MFD D60's AF sensor may not be that accurate. If AF is slightly off, then the increase in sharpness would be due to the words just being in focus after the increase in DOF after stopping down, instead of "lens softness".
 

slightly better at f4 with manual focus, but still unacceptable.

manual focus, focus distance = 0.65m

f2.8
76061219.jpg


f4
41733074.jpg


f7.1
59184383.jpg
 

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focusing accuracy can be a case of lens + camera combination...

2 of the same lens can have different results on 1 camera.... and 2 of the same camera can have different results on the same lens...

camera and lens work as a set... some work better than others... so its important the lens works well with ur camera as a set...
 

focusing accuracy can be a case of lens + camera combination...

2 of the same lens can have different results on 1 camera.... and 2 of the same camera can have different results on the same lens...

camera and lens work as a set... some work better than others... so its important the lens works well with ur camera as a set...

if they do calibrate on my camera then my other lens Auto focus will be off. :sweat:
 

Bingo! seems like the range finder is off too. using my naked eye to do the focus, i was able to get sharp image even wide open at f2.8 and all the way to f7.1. this is how this lens should be, i'll reject this lens if NSC is not able to calibrate the AF the same sharpness as my manual focus.


Manual focus, using focus range finder. Focus distance 1m.

f4.0

dsc0207y.jpg




Manual focus, without using focus range finder. Focus distance 1m.

f2.8

f28d.jpg


f4
11649673.jpg


f7.1
59286728.jpg
 

Looks like you've gotten one that's 'minus 6 sigma', see if NSC can do anything for you.
 

Also curious whether NSC charge for lens calibration if lens is still under warranty?
 

the NSC juz called me up and said thats nothing wrong with the lens...but i demanded it to be fixed and he said he will place with a "new" lens but the collar with the serial no. will use back the old one. is this a good idea? and i worry that he'll used a old lens to replace mine. btw, my lens is only 3 weeks old. pls advice!
 

the NSC juz called me up and said thats nothing wrong with the lens...but i demanded it to be fixed and he said he will place with a "new" lens but the collar with the serial no. will use back the old one. is this a good idea? and i worry that he'll used a old lens to replace mine. btw, my lens is only 3 weeks old. pls advice!

Ok.

As mentioned earlier, lens and body is a marriage. Your D60 may not be up to handle the 24-70, in other words the problem could be your D60 instead. It really is a FX lens and the Fx bodies will grind the most stellar performance from it.

Similar findings had been discussed in other forums IIRC, just google around. IIRC, remember reading it at Nikonians forum.

My suggestion is to test your lens on a friend's FX body (where this lens should be) and maybe also the better spec-ed DX bodies like D300 up, and see how it respond.

If the pro speced bodies are getting good results, it might be better to upgrade your camera body coz you dont want NSC to adjust the lens to suit an entry level D60 and when you eventually upgrade to better bodies, you might re-experience the same problem again.

Also, I doubt replacing parts inside it will change anything much IMHO.
 

Ok.

As mentioned earlier, lens and body is a marriage. Your D60 may not be up to handle the 24-70, in other words the problem could be your D60 instead. It really is a FX lens and the Fx bodies will grind the most stellar performance from it.

Similar findings had been discussed in other forums IIRC, just google around. IIRC, remember reading it at Nikonians forum.

My suggestion is to test your lens on a friend's FX body (where this lens should be) and maybe also the better spec-ed DX bodies like D300 up, and see how it respond.

If the pro speced bodies are getting good results, it might be better to upgrade your camera body coz you dont want NSC to adjust the lens to suit an entry level D60 and when you eventually upgrade to better bodies, you might re-experience the same problem again.

Also, I doubt replacing parts inside it will change anything much IMHO.


the funny thing is my fx lens 70-300 vr has no such issues. and i've tested the latest 85 1.4G and 70-200 2.8 vr2 on my D60 at the showroom a few days ago, both can capture sharp image wide open.
 

the funny thing is my fx lens 70-300 vr has no such issues. and i've tested the latest 85 1.4G and 70-200 2.8 vr2 on my D60 at the showroom a few days ago, both can capture sharp image wide open.

As mentioned, the issue is more specific with this lens.

DX should use 17-55. :)
 

used AF-A or AF-S or AF-C? if on AF-A mode shaky tripod could trigger AF-A to Continuous Focus which means it would release without getting AF confirmed...
 

the NSC juz called me up and said thats nothing wrong with the lens...but i demanded it to be fixed and he said he will place with a "new" lens but the collar with the serial no. will use back the old one. is this a good idea? and i worry that he'll used a old lens to replace mine. btw, my lens is only 3 weeks old. pls advice!

I think you could do a comparison test with another 24-70 f/2.8 lens in NSC, and show them that your lens is soft.

Your lens is still under 11 months warranty right ? If it's free of charge, why not take this opportunity ? As long as it could solve your problem. :)