Finding Nemo? Naaah...

[DrEntropy]

Found a Furby.

Had curiosity over the sharpness of the 80~400 so set up a test. Full frame first, then a fairly aggressive crop-in for an APS-C sensor. Did do some fettling in Darktable, but over all found the lens to be "soft" at wide-open (∱5.6) but better if one stop down. ∱6.3, 640th sec. Full extension to 400mm. Used tripod and remote shutter release too.

 

[GregW]

I just read a review of that lens that found the same softness you were shooting at.

 

[DrEntropy]

Now I'm thinking I need to find a G-series in need of some attention. The 70~300 used to shoot that squirrel in a prior post is sharper. And have seen a difference between the D7200 and the D7500 resolution as well. A lesser "pixel count" with the 7500 is BS where it comes to resolution and IQ. A far better image from it than the 7200. Identical conditions, setup, etc. Just swapped bodies using the same settings.

 

[DrEntropy]

I just read a review of that lens that found the same softness you were shooting at.

My WAG would be the thing was designed when the film/digital transition was going on so a bit of softness using the glass edge-to-edge didn't mean as much then.

 

[DrEntropy]

Put the 70~300 on the D7200, went squirrel hunting. Shot at 300 mm, ∱5.6, at 160th. did some Darktable messing and the result:

 

[Basil]

Nice shot! Looks like he's posing for you! He really blends well with that tree.