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Question for Nikor 37-70 F2.8D owners

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Cabowner

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I just purchase an used 35-70mm, F2.8D and after some test shots I've found that it's very soft at 50-70mm wide open (yes, I put it on tripod and shot with IR remote). I have to stop down to F4 or smaller to get useable IQ at that focal lens!

Is it normal if the lens clunk (rattle) if I give a little shake

Do I have a lemon?
--
cabowner
 
My 35-70 makes no noise when I shake it so I would say it is not normal.

It also requires -20 fine tune to get sharp focus at f2.8 on a human eye. Otherwise the ear is sharp and the eye is not.
Cabowner said:
I just purchase an used 35-70mm, F2.8D and after some test shots I've found that it's very soft at 50-70mm wide open (yes, I put it on tripod and shot with IR remote). I have to stop down to F4 or smaller to get useable IQ at that focal lens!

Is it normal if the lens clunk (rattle) if I give a little shake

Do I have a lemon?
--
cabowner
Click to expand...
--
Everything happens for a reason. #1 reason: poor planning
WSSA #44
 
That lens is my work horse lens day in and day out. It is razor sharp at all f stops. It's quite an amazing lens and every time I want to replace it, the sales guy says that if you don't need the extra mm's, it's not worth it.

I had a problem with my copy several years ago and it needed a new rear element. With the push, pull mechanism it should get serviced periodically. I would suggest you have the lens serviced and reset to factory and it will shine again. BTW, that lens was made for a D700.

Paul
 
Some of the older versions had a problem with the inner element. One test to see if yours has that issue is to remove both lens caps and shine a good flash light through the back of the lens toward the front. If you have any type of haze or fog the lens may need to be serviced by Nikon.
 
Both the AF and AFD vesions had this problem. My AFD did, and Nikon replaced the inner element.
 
I'll send it in for service. The inner element did not alight with the hole when zoom to70mm that cause the clunk when shake
--
cabowner
 
pavi1 said:
It also requires -20 fine tune to get sharp focus at f2.8 on a human eye. Otherwise the ear is sharp and the eye is not.
Click to expand...
Or does it?

There is the probability yout camera AF cannot detect the eye - and is picking the ear instead - which is a "learn the limitations of AF issue" and not a general fine tune issue.
https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4585
There is also the possibility the lens is being used at 70mm minimum focus.

If it is, it is one of 4 last century optical designs where AF is (mentioned in the camera body notes) is not accurate at that zoom and focus setting.
It is not 1st April ;)

You are not seriously suggesting Nikon ever made a lens that in good condition focused on the eye was sharp on the ear - are you!

--
Leonard Shepherd

Good photography is mainly about doing simple things well. The challenge is doing simple things well enough for good results.
 
My non-D version suffers from what you describe. It's very sharp from about 35-50mm at all aperture but needs to be stopped down past f5.6 to be sharp past 50mm. Mine has no hazing of the inner elements.

I tried another used one and sent it back because it showed the same problem. I also checked out a D version that was on my local craigslist. It was sharp wide open but would not zoom out past 58mm so I passed on it.

I've given up on this lens even though I think my problems are just bad luck as I've sharp shots from this lens. I need a lens to go wider than 35mm which is the main reason I'm looking elsewhere.
--
Snapshott
 
I use that lens on a d700 and it is a very nice lens. It does not have any of the issues discussed above. It's just as good at 35 as it is at 70 at all apertures. However it is prone to lens flare, never use it without a hood and be aware of bright incident light across the front element.
--
Pat
 
You are without a doubt the most clueless person I have ever run accross on dpreview.
Totally clueless.
Leonard Shepherd said:
pavi1 said:
It also requires -20 fine tune to get sharp focus at f2.8 on a human eye. Otherwise the ear is sharp and the eye is not.
Click to expand...
Or does it?

There is the probability yout camera AF cannot detect the eye - and is picking the ear instead - which is a "learn the limitations of AF issue" and not a general fine tune issue.
https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4585
There is also the possibility the lens is being used at 70mm minimum focus.

If it is, it is one of 4 last century optical designs where AF is (mentioned in the camera body notes) is not accurate at that zoom and focus setting.
It is not 1st April ;)

You are not seriously suggesting Nikon ever made a lens that in good condition focused on the eye was sharp on the ear - are you!

--
Leonard Shepherd

Good photography is mainly about doing simple things well. The challenge is doing simple things well enough for good results.
Click to expand...
--
Everything happens for a reason. #1 reason: poor planning
WSSA #44
 
Cabowner said:
I just purchase an used 35-70mm, F2.8D and after some test shots I've found that it's very soft at 50-70mm wide open (yes, I put it on tripod and shot with IR remote). I have to stop down to F4 or smaller to get useable IQ at that focal lens!

Is it normal if the lens clunk (rattle) if I give a little shake
Click to expand...
Can't say about the rattle, but the sample I had wasn't all that great at 70/2.8, either...
 
pavi1 said:
You are without a doubt the most clueless person I have ever run accross on dpreview.
Click to expand...
What is "clueless" about providing accurate information :)

Having examined 642 images alleging mis focus only 2 of the photographers were "clued up" enough not to use a subject which Nikon advise might cause mis focus.
How many images have you examined?
By the way you cannot spell "accross".
--
Leonard Shepherd

Good photography is mainly about doing simple things well. The challenge is doing simple things well enough for good results.
 
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