Focus problem with 70-200 VR

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Focus problem with 70-200 VR

Postby marc on Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:30 pm

I've had my 70-200 VR just 2 weeks and have just sent it to Maxwells for
a warranty repair/ckeckup.
The lens appears to be very soft across the entire focal range, I just can't
seem to get an image that I'm at all happy with.
Have tried (with my D70s) various speeds, apertures, distances , VR on & off, tripod, no tripod, etc but no luck.
Has anyone else who has this lens had this type of problem?
Appreciate any comments.

Cheers
Marc
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Postby MCWB on Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:35 pm

sorry to hear marc. :( My copy is fine, sharp even at f/2.8. I thought I had a problem with the focus at first, but then I realised I'd selected the left hand AF point rather than the middle one, so I was focussing on the wrong thing. :oops:
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Re: Focus problem with 70-200 VR

Postby birddog114 on Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:43 pm

marc wrote:I've had my 70-200 VR just 2 weeks and have just sent it to Maxwells for
a warranty repair/ckeckup.
The lens appears to be very soft across the entire focal range, I just can't
seem to get an image that I'm at all happy with.
Have tried (with my D70s) various speeds, apertures, distances , VR on & off, tripod, no tripod, etc but no luck.
Has anyone else who has this lens had this type of problem?
Appreciate any comments.

Cheers
Marc


Marc,
I think you're the first one has this problem on this board with this lens, perhaps only applied to Maxwell stock with luxury premium. :wink:
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Postby marc on Thu Aug 04, 2005 4:45 pm

Bought from HK actually Birdy .
Have taken it to Maxwells for warranty repair (under international warranty coverage)
I just hope they can remedy it

Cheers
Marc
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Postby kipper on Thu Aug 04, 2005 4:47 pm

I blame the softness on the D70 :)

I find it quite average around the edges of subjects where it transitions from the subject to the next subject/background. Then again that could be the fact that I always use handheld. I think I did a few tripod tests that were sharp.
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Postby marc on Thu Aug 04, 2005 4:48 pm

MCWB wrote:sorry to hear marc. :( My copy is fine, sharp even at f/2.8. I thought I had a problem with the focus at first, but then I realised I'd selected the left hand AF point rather than the middle one, so I was focussing on the wrong thing. :oops:


I wish it was just this, unfortunately mine was centered correctly :cry:
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Postby marc on Thu Aug 04, 2005 4:51 pm

kipper wrote:I blame the softness on the D70 :)

I find it quite average around the edges of subjects where it transitions from the subject to the next subject/background. Then again that could be the fact that I always use handheld. I think I did a few tripod tests that were sharp.


Hi Kipper

Have given Maxwells the D70 as well, just in case thats the cause.
However it's working well on the 17-55 DX .
Tripod tests with the VR (off) were no better :cry:
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Postby birddog114 on Thu Aug 04, 2005 4:52 pm

marc wrote:
MCWB wrote:sorry to hear marc. :( My copy is fine, sharp even at f/2.8. I thought I had a problem with the focus at first, but then I realised I'd selected the left hand AF point rather than the middle one, so I was focussing on the wrong thing. :oops:


I wish it was just this, unfortunately mine was centered correctly :cry:


Have you tried it on another body?
Very strange story about the focussing of this lens, mostly people got them here are perfect.
Well at least you have it covered..
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Postby marc on Thu Aug 04, 2005 5:06 pm

Have you tried it on another body?
[/quote]


I haven't Birdog, as usual when these things happen I'm going
away on Hol's so I quickly sent it to Maxwells for repair in the hope
I'll get it back (and fixed) before I leave :roll:
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Postby birddog114 on Thu Aug 04, 2005 5:08 pm

marc wrote:Have you tried it on another body?



I haven't Birdog, as usual when these things happen I'm going
away on Hol's so I quickly sent it to Maxwells for repair in the hope
I'll get it back (and fixed) before I leave



Wish you all luck with the repair!
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Postby atencati on Tue Aug 09, 2005 6:23 am

Do you have any filters on your 70-200? I found mine to become extremely soft and focus wandered if I used my CPL in certain situations. I also have had focus issued if I dont clean the contacts every time I put the lens on the body. Also try shooting from tripod with VR off. I find the VR can soften some situations which seems backwards, but oh well...Maybe mine is screwed up as well but I have learned to work with it.

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Postby stubbsy on Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:44 am

atencati wrote:Do you have any filters on your 70-200? I found mine to become extremely soft and focus wandered if I used my CPL in certain situations. I also have had focus issued if I dont clean the contacts every time I put the lens on the body. Also try shooting from tripod with VR off. I find the VR can soften some situations which seems backwards, but oh well...Maybe mine is screwed up as well but I have learned to work with it.

Andy

Andy. Mine works fine CP or no CP. What sort of situations gave you a problem?
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Postby marc on Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:19 pm

Just got my VR back from Maxwells . The focus problem has been fixed, however I didn't get to speak to the person who had looked at it (not available apparentely) .
:roll:
Just given back with the job sheet listing the lens as being recalibrated and the auto focus on the D70 fixed (even though the focus was fine on my DX 17-55?)
Anyway I'm happy :D
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Postby birddog114 on Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:27 pm

marc wrote:Just got my VR back from Maxwells . The focus problem has been fixed, however I didn't get to speak to the person who had looked at it (not available apparentely) .
:roll:
Just given back with the job sheet listing the lens as being recalibrated and the auto focus on the D70 fixed (even though the focus was fine on my DX 17-55?)
Anyway I'm happy :D


marc,
Glad you have your gears back in good shape and well working, ready for your trip.
What I did say before, sometime it's nothing wrong with the lens, especially with the 70-200VR, mostly with the camera AF system, and it happened to few of people I knew, and the D70 is the one DSLR body of Nikon with heap of things to check when you use with the 17-35/ 17-55/ 28-70/70-200.
Now back to the game and enjoy!
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Postby ipv6ready on Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:28 pm

marc wrote:Just got my VR back from Maxwells . The focus problem has been fixed, however I didn't get to speak to the person who had looked at it (not available apparentely) .
:roll:
Just given back with the job sheet listing the lens as being recalibrated and the auto focus on the D70 fixed (even though the focus was fine on my DX 17-55?)
Anyway I'm happy :D


Does it still work with the DX 17-55 :shock: :D
I'm back
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Postby marc on Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:26 pm

Does it still work with the DX 17-55 :shock: :D[/quote]



Yep, works fine.
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