[jatrax]

OK did some more tests in more controlled environment. Honest opinions needed, if it's the lens it needs to go back by the end of the week. If the problem is me, well my expiration date is past so I guess I'll have to just try harder

On tripod, Manfrotto 055 with gimbal
Inside on solid floor
mirror lock up and timed delay of about 10 seconds
target is 22 feet away

First image is DFA 150-450 @ 300mm using auto focus
Second is the DFA 150-450 @ 450mm manually focused using live view
Third is the DA*300mm using auto focus and the exact same set up

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[Dieseler]

OK did some more tests in more controlled environment. Honest opinions needed, if it's the lens it needs to go back by the end of the week. If the problem is me, well my expiration date is past so I guess I'll have to just try harder

On tripod, Manfrotto 055 with gimbal
Inside on solid floor
mirror lock up and timed delay of about 10 seconds
target is 22 feet away

First image is DFA 150-450 @ 300mm using auto focus
Second is the DFA 150-450 @ 450mm manually focused using live view
Third is the DA*300mm using auto focus and the exact same set up

Hard to say for sure since the forum scales the pics down, but the 150-450 pics look similar quality to the *300 to me? Can you link to the originals?

[Dieseler]

Congratulations..... it certainly requires a bit of the poor Aussie currency!

Oh yeah.... nice shots! Now don't go showing us up to much too soon....ok!

Thanks Noel, I think I have a long way to go before I am at Colodion's level!

And yes, it costs a lot but worth it IMO.

[Dieseler]

First image is DFA 150-450 @ 300mm using auto focus
Second is the DFA 150-450 @ 450mm manually focused using live view
Third is the DA*300mm using auto focus and the exact same set up

Also, try the following:

DFA 150-450 @ 300mm using PDAF
DFA 150-450 @ 300mm using Live View AF (not MF)
DA* 300 using PDAF
DA* 300 using LV AF (not MF)

This is the premise behind the Northlight link I posted earlier and will show up any focus discrepancies between PDAF and CDAF (Live View).

CDAF is reckoned to be more accurate but slower so adjusting PDAF to match the CDAF should make the PDAF accurate too.

Incidentally, the new Nikon D500 does this semi-automatically in camera apparently.

[jatrax]

Hard to say for sure since the forum scales the pics down, but the 150-450 pics look similar quality to the *300 to me? Can you link to the originals?

Here you go. I'm not all that concerned about focusing issues, I think that is fine. My problem (see the original photo in post #542) is that the whole series I shot look like mush. Some manually focused, some auto. The image in post #542 is actually one of the good ones. I was concerned the lens is de-centered? I guess that is the term? Or just bad for lack of a better description. But the problem might well be my technique. AF, I can fine tune that. Technique, I can learn that. A bad lens that cost this much, that has to go back.

Anyway here are the full size images. If the DFA 150-450 is anywhere close to the 300mm then I'm fine and the problem is me.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/92869206/DA300mm.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/92869206/150-450%20%40300mm.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/92869206/15-450%20%40450%20manual.jpg

[redpit]

I don't see anything that makes me worry about a defective lens. Just go out there and take more photos. I would suggest that you take some handheld with very high shutter speed (>=1/1600) and SR deactivated. The high ISO isn't a concern at this stage. You will only see that the glass is OK and then you will relax and eventually get the photos you want and that great lens can deliver ;-)

[Dieseler]

Here you go. I'm not all that concerned about focusing issues, I think that is fine. My problem (see the original photo in post #542) is that the whole series I shot look like mush. Some manually focused, some auto. The image in post #542 is actually one of the good ones. I was concerned the lens is de-centered? I guess that is the term? Or just bad for lack of a better description. But the problem might well be my technique. AF, I can fine tune that. Technique, I can learn that. A bad lens that cost this much, that has to go back.

Anyway here are the full size images. If the DFA 150-450 is anywhere close to the 300mm then I'm fine and the problem is me.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/92869206/DA300mm.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/92869206/150-450%20%40300mm.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/92869206/15-450%20%40450%20manual.jpg

OK, to me overall the DA*300 looks the worst of all and the 150-450 @ 450 looks the best of the above, although I can pick up a few inconsistencies such as the horizontal bars to the left and right of the center circles - on the 150-450@300 the bars to the left resolve better, the bars on the right not so good, on the 300@300 the bars to the right resolve better, the bars to the left are not so good .

If the image in post #542 is a 'good' one, I would not like to see the bad ones!

You still have a few days, keep taking photos of anything with the lens and see if things improve as Redpit suggested.

[jatrax]

Thanks guys. I have to say these test shots are OK to my eye. And I could not really see much difference between the 300mm and the 150-450mm. So whatever happened when I was outside must have been me. I guess I need to up my game.

Any difference left / right might be alignment, I was not all that precise about getting the target exactly perpendicular.

[redpit]

Go on with real world pics and you'll come to a conclusion. I was trying mine today at evening light and I'm happy with the results. Here is a pic with the HD 1.4 TC wide open with a strange frame and strange light-bokeh that I like. It is MF pic so no AF involved!

[Zygonyx]

Amazing !

[noelpolar]

Go on with real world pics and you'll come to a conclusion. I was trying mine today at evening light and I'm happy with the results. Here is a pic with the HD 1.4 TC wide open with a strange frame and strange light-bokeh that I like. It is MF pic so no AF involved!

Nice doved array!

[noelpolar]

We've netted our fruit trees....but still put some fruit out for the birds. Here a Silver Eye gives me the evil eye. DFA on K3 1/500, 7.1 at Iso 800.




and Mr Biege

[colodion]

Very nice shots, tests see them very matches I also I made and there were no differences between 300 DA and the 150-450, the 055 tripod tried it and nodding much, stretched at all, in the end I bought the Gitzo GT5541LS and Gimball made home, a tripod much more stable that allows me to use lower speeds.

[noelpolar]

At CFS training last night I got asked if I had my camera in the car to take a shot of Tony getting his 2015 Firefighter of the Year award......only had the DA 150-450 with me ..... so it was pulled into service to do the deed.......from a distance!



CFS.jpg by Noel Leahy, on Flickr

---------- Post added 19-01-16 at 10:29 AM ----------

I've recently bought a Sirui W-2204 with a larger ball head to match, mostly for the DFA 150-450. Have tried it a few times and now have my eye on their Gimbal.....

[OJGoreng]

Juvenile Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) in Scheveningen harbour, earlier today.
K-3, f/8 450mm 1/1000 s, ISO 200. Click for larger version.