Your correct, I'd like it to be quite a bit sharper than it is especially at this price pointWell if you are expecting a zoom lens to be tack sharp across the focal range then sweet dreams. Zooms are always a compromise to one degree or another, usually based on quality and length of focal range covered.
No I know someone who is selling one used, I was told by a couple different photographers that it is very soft, to soft for its price point as a pro level lens. I would use it for wildlife (birds flight) Right now I hand hold a Nikon 500mm F4 VR2 85 percent of the time and use a mono/tripod the other 15 percent the 200-400 would be a little easier to hand hold but I don't want to sacrifice to much sharpness or I would be better off with the new Tamron 150-600 G2@photo61 do you own one?
It's an excellent lens for sports.
No I know someone who is selling one used, I was told by a couple different photographers that it is very soft, to soft for its price point as a pro level lens. I would use it for wildlife (birds flight) Right now I hand hold a Nikon 500mm F4 VR2 85 percent of the time and use a mono/tripod the other 15 percent the 200-400 would be a little easier to hand hold but I don't want to sacrifice to much sharpness or I would be better off with the new Tamron 150-600 G2@photo61 do you own one?
It's an excellent lens for sports.