Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8E FL VR vs Nikon AF-D 85/1.4, 105 DC, 135 DC, 180/2.8

[Jedi]

I'd like to have it checked the AF-D 180mm f/2.8. With AF fine tuning at +10 the sharpness is a bit better, +10 is the best value, I have tried a lot searching for the best value, +10 is the best. Sharpness, I repeat, at close and medium distance is great, bokeh is fantastic, but sharpening at infinity is poor, also with +10. I have this problem only with AF-D 180/2.8, not with AF-D 85/1.4, 105mm DC, 135mm DC and, in the past, no problems with Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VRI, 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII, Nikon AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8, Nikon AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8, Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8. Poor sharpness at infinity, in the past, only with Nikon AF-D 20mm f/2.8, but I think it was poor for 36 Mpxs of my D810 and because I tried in the same time the Zeiss Distagon 21mm f/2.8 and I wanted to buy the Zeiss.

[Macro_Cosmos]

I'd like to have it checked the AF-D 180mm f/2.8. With AF fine tuning at +10 the sharpness is a bit better, +10 is the best value, I have tried a lot searching for the best value, +10 is the best. Sharpness, I repeat, at close and medium distance is great, bokeh is fantastic, but sharpening at infinity is poor, also with +10. I have this problem only with AF-D 180/2.8, not with AF-D 85/1.4, 105mm DC, 135mm DC and, in the past, no problems with Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VRI, 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII, Nikon AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8, Nikon AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8, Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8. Poor sharpness at infinity, in the past, only with Nikon AF-D 20mm f/2.8, but I think it was poor for 36 Mpxs of my D810 and because I tried in the same time the Zeiss Distagon 21mm f/2.8 and I wanted to buy the Zeiss.

Not sure what's wrong with your 180mm here, mine was tact sharp globally, and AF was just bang on. It's slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow, but it's bang on. I've taken some of my best photos with that lens.
Waking up in the Morning by Macro Cosmos (DH), on Flickr

This is on the D750, and its tonality is great, colours are vibrant, oh and tact sharp. The D750 has an AA filter, this lens will only be far better on a D810, and even better on a D850.
Many of these old nikkors actually have insane resolution. They may not be the sharpest knife in the kitchen wide open, but closing the iris by just half a stop delivers brilliant results. If you post some screenshots of your 180mm exposures, I may be able to help and provide more insight.

[Jedi]

Not sure what's wrong with your 180mm here, mine was tact sharp globally, and AF was just bang on. It's slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow, but it's bang on. I've taken some of my best photos with that lens.
Waking up in the Morning by Macro Cosmos (DH), on Flickr

This is on the D750, and its tonality is great, colours are vibrant, oh and tact sharp. The D750 has an AA filter, this lens will only be far better on a D810, and even better on a D850.
Many of these old nikkors actually have insane resolution. They may not be the sharpest knife in the kitchen wide open, but closing the iris by just half a stop delivers brilliant results. If you post some screenshots of your 180mm exposures, I may be able to help and provide more insight.

I can't add a picture to show to you the problem at infinity of my lens: can you help me? I haven't a site; I have tried with Imageshack, but you can't deliver the images to a forum.....

[Jedi]

[Jedi]

I can't add a picture to show to you the problem at infinity of my lens: can you help me? I haven't a site; I have tried with Imageshack, but you can't deliver the images to a forum.....

Here you are a shoot at infinity with D810 + Nikon 180mm f/2.8     AF-D,   at 1/400s    f/8    ISO 160   Focus on the town. It is not fault of the mist, my lens is always poor at infinity.
Morro Reatino (Italy)

[Jedi]

If I use Live View, it is discreetly better..........

[Jedi]

Do you think that Nikon 180mm f/2.8 ED Ai-S is better at infinity? I don't need autofocus.

[Jedi]

Another:  D810  +  AF-D 180mm f/2.8   1/400s   f/8  ISO 400    (focus on the town)

(it was a true test, the picture is a filth

[Jedi]

Another shoot, but a short distance:

D810  +  AF-D 180mm f/2.8   1/500s     f/3.2   

[Jedi]

Another shoot, at short distance:

D810  +  AF-D 180mm f/2.8   1/400s   f/3.2   ISO 180

[Jedi]

Please help me!! Have I to change lens?

[Akira]

Here you are a shoot at infinity with D810 + Nikon 180mm f/2.8     AF-D,   at 1/400s    f/8    ISO 160   Focus on the town. It is not fault of the mist, my lens is always poor at infinity.
Morro Reatino (Italy)

The contrast of your second distant shot is low because of the haze, which is a common problem of any long lenses shot at distance.  The images whose contrast is low don't look really sharp.

[Jedi]

The contrast of your second distant shot is low because of the haze, which is a common problem of any long lenses shot at distance.  The images whose contrast is low don't look really sharp.

Yes, but with my lens all the images at long distances are soft, no sharp!!!

[MFloyd]

I think you have a problem with your 180 mm f/2.8.

[Roland Vink]

The first picture of the girl look sharp enough but it is back-focused -  the focus point is not on the eyes but further back on the head. The second picture looks better. The AF 180/2.8 does not focus quickly, so if the subject is moving there may be some out of focus shots.

Before we blame the lens (or camera) try some tests: focus the lens manually and focus using live view (best on a tripod). Use a static subject so subject motion does not affect focusing. Select subjects near infinity, medium and close distances. This will tell you if the lens, when focused correctly, is optically sharp.

If the lens is sharp, repeat the tests using AF to test the focus system. If the lens is consistently back-focusing, use the AF fine tune to adjust it. If you still cannot get consistent focus using AF at near and far distances, maybe the lens and/or camera need adjusting at a service centre.