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It's probably easier to define a 'bad copy' as one that just does not produce crisp images even though the lens works perfectly otherwise.
Thanks, Tigger.
Well it sounds like you have been very lucky. As I mentioned in my earlier post I have had 3 obviously bad copies of lenses (2 F-mount, 1 Z-mount) that did not need test charts to discern. In each case the replacement copy was sharp on the first shot. So 3 out of over 15 Nikon lenses over 14 years including many of the exotic super telephotos.
Great images thanks - can you tell me what distance wre these shot at please and whether there was any sharpening in Lightroom? It would be good to shoot something to compare now that I have a new copy of the Z 180-600.I’m looking at picking up the 180-600 and TC 1.4 at some point. Currently I’ve been using a F mount Sigma 150-600 C that I had with a D-750 in the past. It still works well but the motors are somewhat noisy and it doesn’t have weather sealing. I have had some pretty good results with it though. From what I’ve seen the 180-600 is sharper around the mid and corners and a bit more in the center but nothing drastic (center). But the other improvements (weather sealing) are what I’m really after with the Nikon lens. I’m actually not expecting anything to huge from image quality difference.
Here’s a few samples with the Z8 and Sigma 150-600C, shot in RAW and processed in Lightroom.
Very close to the minimum focus distance for the lens, around 3 meters. I used denoise in lightroom, some sharpening but nothing extreme, the subject AI ”pop” feature to distinguish them from the background a bit and the camera matching color profiles, standard with a bit more saturation to bring out the feather colors.
I, too, had issues with consistently soft images from my 180-600mm. Initially, I was convinced the fault was down to my poor technique. But this theory was doubtful - as, at the same Wetlands Centre, I came away with 100s of pin-sharp shots using my Sigma 150-600mm Sports on my D6. I sent the 180-600mm back to the store and following testing, it was apparent the lens was not focusiing correctly. It was sent to a specialist in Scotland (I am in Wales!!) and was re-centred and calibrated on a whizzy bit of Nikon-approved kit they have.
