senthil1

<p>I don't have 200mm or 70-300mm but shoot some wildlife. But before anything, where are you planning on shooting? Africa in the wild, zoo or sanctuary, similar to that in Montana (or is it MN)? Tigers in India?</p>

<p>I think if you are thinking of Africa or tigers in India, there's no way u can use tripod. More on this after more info.<br>

<br /> Cheers</p>

<p>abcd</p><div></div>

<p>Hi Ivan,</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for the post. I certainly agree with your explanation of possible environmental dust as a cause of flare. However, on my return to Boston, I cleaned the front element of the little bit of dust specs with microfiber cloth and I did test shots. I saw flare even when the lens was pointed upto 30 deg off the sun. In fact, Nikon asked me send the lens to them mainly after they saw the test shots.</p>

<p>In any case, UPS did win. They charged me $183 to send from Bos to Melville! I'll post a few of the test pics taken with D700 + 600mm VR +/- TC14E and TC14EII. Please lemme know what you think. I sent it because I want to go back to Africa early next year.</p>

<p>Regards</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks Shun. I checked with UPS. They said they will take anything as long its not hazardous and pay for insurance for the declared value. So just shipped it to Nikon via UPS.</p>

<p>BTW - I think B&H sent to me by UPS. Seems weird that Fedex said no. I remember sending 200-400mm in past via fedex, insured and they accepted it at that time. Not sure whether it is just this fedex store that gave me wrong info. The fedex store that I usually use is closed Sundays.</p>

<p>I'm sorry Fedex said they wont cover for more than $500 (not $5000) for camera/lens.</p>

<p>I have asked many questions already. Still another q. - hopefully the last one for now :-)<br>

I called fedex for get info about shipment insurance. They said that if its a camera/lens (or jewelery) they don't cover for above $5000. I'm not sure what to do about insurance and don't feel comfortable in sending it without insurance either.<br>

<br /> Does anyone have experience on this? Thanks a lot in advance.</p>

<p>Thanks Shun. Yeah, I don't think they will replace it. I just hope that they acknowledge a problem with this lens and fix it, rather than come back and say that its expected/normal. Whatever Nikon decides to do, I'll keep you all posted.</p>

<p>Another pic shot by my friend with<br>

D700 + TC14E + 600mm VR AFS-II</p><div></div>

<p>Pic shot by my friend with<br /> D700 + TC14E + 600mm VR AFS-II<br>

Please compare it to Bat Ear Fox pic that I shot at the same time (posted earlier in this thread).</p><div></div>

<p>Hi Shun,</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for the reply. True, I want to send only the absolute minimum but in the event that Nikon might replace the lens, I thought that I would be obligated to send everything that came with the package. Yeah, will remove all the sundries!</p>

<p>BTW - as u and Arthur had suggested, I did put a label with my name, address, ph # and Nikon ref # onto the barrel of the lens with a rubber band.</p>

<p>Initially, when Nikon saw my pics from Mara showing flare, they told that all of these lenses flare when shot into the sun. When I told them that it was too excessive and that my friend didn't have the problem, Nikon asked me send new samples shot in controlled conditions; I shot a few using D700 + 600mm VR with and without TC14E and TC14EII. When they saw it, they asked me to send the lens. So I presume that they acknowledge the lens might have a problem. BTW - I also sent Nikon (which I'll post now) 2 pics from my friend shot in very similar conditions with TC14E + 600mm AFS-II (have his permission).</p>

<p>I will certainly post the outcome. Hopefully, they fix or replace the lens. Yeah, I haven't heard anyone on the web complain about flare on this lens. Its probably just this lens.</p>

<p>BTW - I can post the whole conversation that I had with Nikon on their service forum, but I'm not sure whether that's ok (as per Nikon's and photo.net's policy). Please lemme know.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot,<br /> Senthil</p>

<p>Another question -</p>

<p>I've packed the lens to ship to Nikon service center. Should I send the booklet, 1-yr warranty and extended warranty cards along with the lens?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>Surprising to see sun out in Boston today. Did a few test shots comparing 200-400mm and 600mm VR +/- TC14E & TC14EII.<br>

<br /> Again, significant flare with 600mm. There was no difference when using the TC14E vs. TC14EII. Without TC there was more flare, as expected.<br>

<br /> The 200-400mm also showed flare, but less than that with 600mm, when set at equivalent angle of view. Interestingly, I didn't notice flare on this lens on my previous trip in Sep when I was shooting with D300 and TC-14EII, in very similar backlit conditions to that during this trip with 600mm.</p>

<p>And I guess, Nikon is going to be nicer to John Shaw than to me :-) They might offer to replace the lens for him but may not do it for others! In any case, I really want them to fix this problem. Will update on the outcome.</p>

<p>Thanks, a very good point, Shun. Makes a lot of sense; didn't think of it that way. If I've to send it in, will send it with original "accessories." and remove lenscoat.</p>

<p>Hi folks,</p>

<p>I have sent the sample images to Nikon tech support; awaiting their reply. If in case they ask me to ship the lens to them, can I send it along with the replacement wimberley foot, or should I change it to the original foot? Just want to make sure so Nikon dont say that my warranty is void since I changed the foot!!! Any experiences?</p>

<p>Thanks,<br>

Senthil</p>

<p>I'm still hoping its something I can find out myself without sending the lens to Nikon service. Or hoping its just TC (wishing thinking). It is annoying that a new lens of this price might have to be sent for service right away. Planning on doing more testing this weekend, comparing 600mm vs. 200-400mm with and without TC14E and TC14EII.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot folks. Will keep you updated.</p>

<p>Thanks Arthur. Just called Nikon tech support. They asked me to send sample pics showing the problem. I'm gonna send the ones that I posted here. They said, that I might have to send it in for service. So lets see what they think about those pics.</p>

<p>Shun - Not sure who to contact at Nikon to get an answer, and 'm not even sure that they wud accept there's a problem! I'll anyways contact them; do you think I shud call general tech support? Yeah, an option is to rent another 600mm and compare directly. Not sure how expensive that is.</p>

<p>Ivan - Front element dust is minimal. Basically, this lens is brand new, bought last month.</p>

<p>Shun and Arthur Y - I checked the TC's against a bright "point" light source at home. TC14E (which I used with the lens) does show a little bit more flaring than TC14EII on it own; I hope that's at least part of the problem. I tried pointing 600mm VR but the diaphragm is stopped down. I remember on older non-G lenses, without attaching the camera u can change the aperture using the ring, but on these G lenses 'm not sure how to open it up to check the lens elements. Any suggestions?</p>

<p>Front element coating should be pristine as this new. Haven't put anything on it. The black felt on the inside of hood is fine. Filter slot has the std NC filter.</p>

<p>Arthur R - Not sure where there can be light leak. I doubt that's the case.</p>

<p>Even analyzing the images, I haven't come to possible causes and solutions. Not sure whether I can talk with Nikon and see whether they can replace the lens (as it is new) and about 5 wks since I bought. has anyone tried it in the past?</p>

<p>Shun - Yeah, I have to compare with the 200-400mm, and check TC elements. Will post the results.</p>

<p>John - I added the poster board because I saw flare without it (in the viewfinder). So I think it is related to the lens +/- TC.</p>

<p>This is making me very anxious, esp. because it seems to be just this lens and not a general property of 600mm VR's, and 'm not sure what to do! Hopefully it is something that can be easily fixed.</p>

<p>xyz</p><div></div>

<p>abc</p><div></div>

<p>Another</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks a lot for the pointers. I really appreciate it.</p>

<p>Peter - Yeah, I did reposition a bit to get the flare as reduced as possible, without losing the backlit effect. But I lost the composition in many situations (as on the buffalo images). We even tried shooting the 2 lenses in different angles. We thought that even when the VR lens was at a bigger angle with the sun than AFS-II version (meaning AFS-II was more directly at the sun), there was flare in the VR and not in AFS-II version. And I was using added "hood" with black poster card. I absolutely agree that we should've tested as you suggested, but the problem was that we were shooting in a very short window of rising or setting sun in the Mara and didn't want to lose the light. If I can get an AFS-II lens in Boston, I would like do an objective test.</p>

<p>Jet lagged; just got to look at the images and post a few here. Sorry for the delay (came back from work and crashed shortly; now up at 3am). Also, Arthur I would check with flash light today for sure.</p>

<p>'m attaching 4 images - Bat-ear foxes and cheetah in setting sun; other 2 in rising sun; no crop. All shot with 600mm VR + TC 14E @ f5.6.</p>

<p>Thanks,<br>

Senthil</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks a lot for the early responses.</p>

<p>Yeah, I used both the hoods + a black poster/thick paper in a tubular form stuck to the outer hood with velcro.<br>

Shun - As u said, I did shoot into the sun but didn't include it. What intrigues me is that my friend who was shooting right next to me in similar conditions with Nikon 600mm AFS-II version didn't have flare.</p>

<p>I'm at work now; will post a few pics later this evening when I get back home.</p>

<p>Hello all,</p>

<p>Some of you might have seen my previous post regarding its non-availability. Well, I lucked out and managed to get one last month. Better yet, I got it in time for my trip to Masai Mara last week.</p>

<p>My impressions - Other lens I have is the 200-400mm; so there is inherent comparison to it.<br>

Very sharp lens, even wide-open. Used it with TC-14E on D700. AF speed is impressive. Hardly used 200-400mm. On my previous trips, I used 200-400mm on D300 and D200.</p>

<p>Issues - My only concern is flare. I tried using quite a bit into the setting sun (but not directly) for backlit effects. My friend who was shooting right next to me on the same vehicle used the previous version - Nikon 600mm AFSII (non-VR ver). + TC-14EII (please note the diff in TC's too). There was pretty much no flare on his, but on mine its very annoying. I used both the hoods, and in addition added a black poster sheet in a tubular form as an extended hood. Another friend of mine was shooting from another vehicle but in similar conditions with Nikon 600mm AFS (version prior to AFSII); she didn't have any flare. Her husband was shooting with Nikon 400mm VR AFS + 1.4x and had no issues. They were all very surprised to see mine flare this much.</p>

<p>Has anyone out there seen this problem? Is this a known issue with 600mm VR as opposed to non-VR versions, or is it just my lens (intra-version variation)? Or can it be the teleconvertors? I used TC-14E and my friend TC-14EII. I had both the versions of TC's in my bag and at the time of shooting it didn't cross my mind to check both TC's with this lens; of course, thought of it the day after I came back - how stupid!</p>

<p>I'm very concerned about it as many of the shots I take in are the exact situations causing flare! I've used 200-400mm in very similar shooting conditions on my prev trips and don't remember seeing flare. I'm intending to test it over this wkend; hopefully Boston has some sun!</p>

<p>Any opinions, suggestions, links and reviews would be greatly appreciated. If interested, I can post a few pics that shows this prob.</p>