Sigma 70-200mm soft photos.

[stpierre87]

I have purchased the Sigma 70-200mm 2.8 DG HSM. Ever since I have bought this lens I can't seem to take a sharp photos. I use a Nikon D7000. I mostly use prime nikkor lenses but purchased this lens for say weddings and what not, althought I can't seem to take a sharp photo at all. I keep my shutter speeds high. I uses a tripod when I can and I use the HSM while using it handheld. Just wondering if anyone has any advice on the matter. I was thinking about calibrating the lens to the camera but don't want to camera to be calibrated to the lens I barely use. Any suggestions ??? Thanks !

 

[bhop]

When I had mine, I had to adjust the focus on my d300 to make it work right. Does the d7000 have focus adjustment?

 

[cptkid]

The D7000 allows you to calibrate lenses separately. (AF Fine Tuning)

So if it does need to be done, it won't have any effect on any of your other lenses.

 

[DarkShadow]

Suggestion is to calibrate it for each lens you use in the settings if you want to make use of each lens you use.The D7000 allows more the one lens to be calibrated but remember to switch in back to over when you switch lenses to match the lens on the body. My D7000 has focus issues even after Nikon service I have time to send it back again but it's been the biggest disappointment for me. As right now my Nikon D3100 is smoking the D7000 in the sharpness go figure.I might sell it off and get me a D7100 or the D600 not sure yet.

 

[stpierre87]

Thanks for all the replies. I new I could calibrate the lens but I guess I didn't take enough time to see that I could calibrate muilti lens's. When I have the 50mm 1.8 on the body its pretty sharp. Not crazy sharp but real nice compared to the other lenses. Again, thanks.

 

[Overread19 7]

Check the calibration, remember however that calibration is only calibrating the focusing of the camera itself. That means it will correct for AF alignment errors only - if the specific lens+camera body combo is delivering soft images when the ARE in focus, however then you've a few possibilities:

1) Double check the settings to ensure its not motion blur or image stabilization blur. A tripod, static subject and stable setup can help a lot to determine if its inherent softness or setting softness (it sounds simple, but its an important step to test properly to ensure that it is the gear and not the user causing the problem)

2) Check against other user results - is the lens just a bit softer than you expect (possibly when wide open at the long end for a zoom), but in line with other users experiences. Maybe you just need to tweak your sharpening setup to get the best results. etc... Again this is another important step in working out if its a problem or just how things are

3) Consider sending lens+camera body into the lens manufacturers warranty system to be calibrated (in this case that would be sigma). They'll calibrate the lens for the body(ies) you send. Note you can send the lens alone, but this is a lottery as the lens might be perfectly fine and its a case of specific calibrations of body+lens not lining up - without your specific body the techs have to guess - which can sometimes mean it turns into a cycle of going back and forth (sometimes getting worse even though its calibrated correctly).

4) Consider exchanging at the retailer for another copy - this is a bit like going back into the lottery system again as you hope to get a lens with a slightly different calibration that lines up more perfectly with your camera body.

 

[TheLost]

You say you are shooting at a high shutter... but what aperture?

The sigma 70-200 f/2.8 HSM isn't very sharp at f/2.8. I had the 'sharper' HSM II version and it was 'OK' around f/3.5 and got better the higher you went. Don't expect the best out of that lens at f/2.8.

 

[nickzou]

Could it be that it is a Sigma? It seems to be a common opinion around here "give me Nikkor 70-200mm ED VR II or give me death".

 

[Overread19 7]

I uses a tripod when I can and I use the HSM while using it handheld.

When you say HSM do you mean the HSM (hypersonic motor - ie the auto focus) or do you mean the OS (optical stabilization) which is to help handholding? The two are very different functions and the title of the lens as you introduce it suggests you've the older non-OS edition ?