Nikon D7500 and 300mm f/4 PF

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aolander

aolander

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I recently purchased a used, but like new, 300mm f/4 PF (serial # 238xxx) lens to use with my D7500. I've been a little disappointed in the shots I've taken at shutter speeds under 1/200th with VR on. They don't seem as sharp as I thought they would be. Higher shutter speeds with VR are good as are images at very high speeds without VR. I know there have been issues with this lens and VR, but was hoping that wouldn't be the case with my D7500. My 200-500mm seems to have better VR than the 300mm PF. Anyone else use a 300mm PF on a D7500?

I was hoping to use the lens for photographing butterflies, etc., but my shutter speeds are often not that high when stopped down for good depth of field so was planning on the VR to help out.

Image below is a 50% crop taken at f/4, 1/200th, ISO 320, hand-held. No sharpening or other processing in LR. Focus was on the nose of the beaver.

beaver2-1.jpg
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The beaver is swimming. So I wonder if part of the issue is subject motion. VR helps for camera/lens motion, but not subject motion. I have used my 300 mm PF on a D500, with and without a 1.4x TCIII. Have liked the results a lot, especially when I want a light kit. It also has a pretty good minimum focus distance and I find I like it for butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies with the 1.4x TCIII attached (which increases the magnification, but not the minimum focus distance). I do tend to use a faster shutter speed.
 
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That ain't sharp and I would be disappointed too. Were you in manual mode? That could explain it if there was not enough natural light. I will watch this post with great interest as I would like to buy that lens myself.
 
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Seem to recall there was an issue with VR on the earlier 300mm f/4 PF's, think it was if shutter speed was around 1/200 or lower.

Actually think @Steve did a video about it years ago?

Might be worth checking with Nikon if your lens was from that S/N range?
 
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Thanks for your reply, Graham. My lens has a high serial # so supposedly the firmware for the VR issue was updated at the factory. I have watched Steve's video about the 300mm PF, and my take away was that the VR improved with the firmware update, but that it was not perfect. Depends upon camera, etc. I was hoping the D7500/300mm PF combination was immune to the issue but maybe not.
 
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aolander said:
Thanks for your reply, Graham. My lens has a high serial # so supposedly the firmware for the VR issue was updated at the factory. I have watched Steve's video about the 300mm PF, and my take away was that the VR improved with the firmware update, but that it was not perfect. Depends upon camera, etc. I was hoping the D7500/300mm PF combination was immune to the issue but maybe not.
Click to expand...

That was pretty much it. It was improved but not perfect and seems dependent on the rest of the setup too. I shoot M + Auto ISO and that allows me to keep the shutter speed at 1/320th or so and out of the danger zone.
 
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