Does anyone mind taking a look here if it’s normal the images to be this soft with the Nikon 400mm f4.5s?

[ajrmd]

Hey, BC

I shoot both the 400mm 4.5 and the 400mm 2.8 TC, and the 4.5 is very close in sharpness to the exotic 2.8 — both lenses are exquisitely sharp.
So the 400 4.5 should get you razor sharp results, even wide open.

As others have noted, I’d test the lens under controlled conditions — high shutter speed, stable platform, and outside away from heat sources that can cause atmospheric distortion.

I suspect that you’ll find the lens is fine, and then you can start narrowing down what the problem was with those particular shots.

Good luck!

Not in my experience. The 400 f/4.5 is good but it doesn’t approach the 400 f/2.8. At 4.5 it’s reasonably sharp and at 5.6 it’s at its best. The 2.8 lens is sharp wide open and out resolves the 4.5 at every aperture. Add the lack of CA on the 2.8 lens (it’s terrible imho on the 4.5) and you’ll understand why the lens costs 4-5x more.

 

[threesixty]

Not in my experience. The 400 f/4.5 is good but it doesn’t approach the 400 f/2.8. At 4.5 it’s reasonably sharp and at 5.6 it’s at its best. The 2.8 lens is sharp wide open and out resolves the 4.5 at every aperture. Add the lack of CA on the 2.8 lens (it’s terrible imho on the 4.5) and you’ll understand why the lens costs 4-5x more.

Yes, I use both regularly, and the 2.8 is indeed the better lens.
But I have no trouble getting razor sharp images with the 4.5 at any aperture.
Purely in terms of sharpness, viewers are hard put to tell at a glance which lens I used on a shot.

So, for the purpose of the OP’s question, a normally functioning 400 4.5 should produce excellent images with professional quality sharpness unless there are confounding factors in the shot.

 

[Piecat]

It does not look soft, it looks like very shallow depth of field. The point of focus is tack sharp but the depth of field is so thin that the majority of the areas away from that point are soft (which is how they are supposed to be when shot with large aperture). Photos 1,2,5 head and beak are tack sharp, but focus quickly falls off on body. Photos 2,3 closest part of bird to camera - photos on chest -are sharp while focus falls of quickly (and since head is behind this point, it looks soft because we always look at head and eyes).

Perfectly said…

 

[MartyD]

Were these shot with the original Z6? If so, you don't have subject detection so single point might be your best option. I think the image quality is a combination of things. The first image was at 1/400 at f4.5 so shutter speed is a little slow and f4.5 at 15 feet only provides less than an inch of DOF, 1/2 inch in front and 1/2 inch behind the focus point. You won't be able to get the entire bird in acceptable focus with those settings. You were also at ISO of 2800 witch might be a little high to really test critical sharpness.

 

[SCoombs]

It's discussions like this that make me question my own equipment. The photos look reasonably sharp on my monitor and I feel like they are pretty similar if not a little better than what I get out of my 500pf and 180-600 at its higher end of quality. If people think these are too soft then it really makes me question what I am getting!

 

[John Navitsky]

Not in my experience. The 400 f/4.5 is good but it doesn’t approach the 400 f/2.8. At 4.5 it’s reasonably sharp and at 5.6 it’s at its best. The 2.8 lens is sharp wide open and out resolves the 4.5 at every aperture. Add the lack of CA on the 2.8 lens (it’s terrible imho on the 4.5) and you’ll understand why the lens costs 4-5x more.

darn you! i need you to tell me there’s no reason to want the 2.8tc!

 

[Calson]

To test lens "sharpness" I use manual focus so I am not evaluating autofocus performance. I use the largest aperture available so DOF is less of a factor when evaluating images.

What is often perceived as a lack of sharpness is a lack of contrast from an improper exposure. Adjusting Levels and Contrast can provide a more accurate rendition of overall sharpness of an image.

 

[Roy]

Just got this lens. Is it too soft for Nikon 400mm f4.5s? Took it handheld with 1/500 shutter speed. Was expecting it to be sharper…

If it’s a bad copy, should I return it or send in for service?

Have you tried using a tripod for comparison ???

 

[Doug Herr]

If these photos are the best that can be made with the lens I'd be disappointed. I'd try eliminating variables (shake, atmosphere, focus) before saying it's the lens' fault.

 

[Ken Miracle]

The meta data for your first image says you were in Single Shot Auto Focus. Try switching to Continuous Auto Focus...and as others have said subject detection helps a lot.

How are you viewing the meta data I do not see it?

 

[Ken Miracle]

Were these shot with the original Z6? If so, you don't have subject detection so single point might be your best option. I think the image quality is a combination of things. The first image was at 1/400 at f4.5 so shutter speed is a little slow and f4.5 at 15 feet only provides less than an inch of DOF, 1/2 inch in front and 1/2 inch behind the focus point. You won't be able to get the entire bird in acceptable focus with those settings. You were also at ISO of 2800 witch might be a little high to really test critical sharpness.

How are you and others seeing the meta data (EXIF) ?

 

[MartyD]

How are you and others seeing the meta data (EXIF) ?

I downloaded the first image and looked at image properties.

 

[Ken Miracle]

I downloaded the first image and looked at image properties.

Got it dowloaded it and did get info. on my Macbook Air.

I agree I am not seeing a problem with the lens but settings and possible expecations for how much of the bird will be in focus with the shallow depth of field at this distance from subject, 400 mm at f/4.5. And SO a bit high as you noted but mostly I am seeing focus point and OP said he was using AF-S not AF-C and he and the bird moving at all will change the point of focus.

@bcgnz I am spoiled by so many using the preset @Steve has put together so the exif/meta data is available here without downloading

Lightroom Preset: Resizing Images For The Forum

A free Lightroom preset to help you resize your images for the forum

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