aolander
Well-known member
Even with the best of filters, I still wouldn't put one on an expensive, long prime. A hood is all you need for "protection".
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Interesting observation. I too noticed that the images look way overexposed if I view them on my cellphone or tab. It’s almost as if the files are ‘processed’ to a compressed format for viewing.I'm just curious here. The suffix says nef but when I look in an exif viewer it says its a tiny jpeg. Am I viewing the thumbnail or missing something? Not near lightroom right now, just on a tablet.
I think you have some bad camera settings or a bad camera. The lens can't control the camera!
My thoughts as well. The wildlife photos both seem overexposed, the rabbit by at least a full stop and the Catbird by less but still a bit bright. If not a camera issue, is the apparent lack of focus compounded by a metering issue like some positive exposure comp dialed in or maybe inappropriate use of spot metering (i.e. spot metering on a particularly dark area leading the camera to overexpose images)?Grasping at straws... can you try this lens on a different body?
Yeah, these look great both from an exposure and critical sharpness standpoint.Hello All, thank you for your inputs and suggestions. While I try to figure out what's happening with the lens, I have converted the NEF files to JPEG (no other correction, just export as JPEG). I did this because the images don't look overexposed on my computer, but once I open them(NEF files) using the Dropbox link, they definitely seem overexposed. Hopefully JPEGs won't have the same issue. Just eliminating variables here.
Thank you.
I'm sorry, but what is ART software? Is it an Adobe product? Thanks!I agree there is something going on other than just the lens.
I checked your focus using ART / the focus mask (more green indicates in focus points), the results are below.
image-1.NEF
View attachment 18395
image-2.NEF
View attachment 18396
It looks to me that image-1 has missed focus, as well as there being movement of some type.
Whereas image-2 has managed quite well with focus on the tree branches, with little movement obvious.
Is it possible to check your AF fine tune (DotTune recommended) of the camera / lens combination?
AF fine tune - Page 269 of the D7500 manual.
The PF lenses are great and very light but are never going to be as sharp as a non Fresnel lens.Hello All,
I recently bought a Nikon 500mm F5.6 PF (after watching Steve's review 5 times ). The first copy I received had some very obvious issues with sharpness and focus and I requested a replacement. However now that I have the replacement copy, it still does not feel sharp, although its much better than the first copy i received. When I shoot wide open, images feel just a bit soft. I generally shoot hand held but to gauge if the lens is OK I shot some images with the camera on a tripod. Here are 2 images I took (Drop Box link below). Could you please take a look and comment on sharpness and focusBoth are unprocessed NEF files. Both images were taken with the camera on a tripod, 10s timer to minimize vibration, VR ON (normal)
Image1: Camera D7500, Manual Mode, F5.6, Auto ISO(450), 1/500s, Single Point Focus at the Center
Image2: Camera D7500, Manual Mode, F8, Auto ISO(720), 1/500s, Single Point Focus at the Center
The second image taken at f8 is sharper (as expected) but my concern is that at f5.6, Image-1 seems soft. I have limited time to return the lens if it does not seem OK.
Thank you.
These are all really sharp for unprocessed files. I'd say you've tested enough and the lens is great. Time to get out and just shoot with itHello All, I was able to go out this evening and try out the lens again without the filter. It was overcast again, so most images are hight ISO (>1500). Here are some samples. These are not processed, essentially straight out of the camera. They will look better after a pass through Lightroom. Also not the best in terms of composition, just test images to check for sharpness. All images taken in Manual Mode, Auto ISO, F5.6, 1/1600s. Please let me know your thoughts.
Thank you for this analysis again. I agree that there is bit of front focusing. I plan to auto tune the lens with my camera in the coming week, hopefully that will fix it. That along with more practice and better technique should improve image quality further.No EXIF information on exposure in the jpg files.
Again checking the focus mask within ART, I still feel there is a little bit of front focusing going on, not a lot but a little can make a big difference.
These screen shots show what I mean, note the number of bright solid green spots and the location, I would like to see more on the birds around the eye.
View attachment 18646
Note the seeds in the left foreground and the closest leg and wing.
View attachment 18647
Note the solid green dots in the right bottom corner.
View attachment 18648
I think this shot is the best one, brightest greenest dots on the seed in the beak and on the eye.
I agree though, get out and give it some time, you will now be more aware of what might be happening?
I agree, though your results seem have gotten a lot better since the beginning of this topic starting, well done.That along with more practice and better technique should improve image quality further.