Sony 200-600 - is my sharpness normal?

[krisljungberg]

The eternal question. Is the lens sharp? Is it normal?

Today I tried my new Sony 200-600 paired with the Sony A7 III for the first time. Here's some photos I took today and I think they look soft. What do you guys think? Everything OK? They are converted from RAW to JPEG in Lightroom with standard sharpness applied by default (amount: 40).

• ILCE-7M3
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/640 sec
• ISO 320

• ILCE-7M3
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/640 sec
• ISO 320

• ILCE-7M3
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/640 sec
• ISO 500

• ILCE-7M3
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/640 sec
• ISO 500

• ILCE-7M3
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/640 sec
• ISO 500

• ILCE-7M3
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/640 sec
• ISO 500

 

[spudhead]

Ah, the first photo looked so bright I thought it was a nicely lit day.

Any particular settings you would recommen

 

[krisljungberg]

Weather? Distance? Processing? Lenses and cameras 'usually' don't change from day to day unless there's an accident. Having said that, I took the liberty (hope you don't mind) of downloading the starling shot and putting through a bit more processing, including some more cropping. I don't see where it looks that bad considering the distance.

View attachment 18969

I felt the starling was really close. I mean, if I can't get tack sharp images from that distance on a bird then I don't even know what we're doing here.

 

[krisljungberg]

Here's two more from a couple of hours ago. These are uncropped, unedited, nothing is done to them. Close distance. I feel like it should be better, no?

• ILCE-7M3
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/1250 sec
• ISO 1250

• ILCE-7M3
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/1250 sec
• ISO 400

 

[spudhead]

Ok a7iii these are my personal thoughts based on having used the camera for 3 years plus prior to a9 , are shooting in manual? you should if you can, forget about raw for now while you sort focus out, metering mode for your interests wildlife is multi, I dont ever remember using zone for anything, focus mode expanded flexible spot and focus point link , af-c set af iso auto limit to 12000 ish , pre focus off, track sens 5 responsive , af speed fast, white balance auto, lens set to 1. constant focus only, shoot e shutter for now it will reduce movement, a7iii does have shutter roll so normal when focus is sorted. Find plant or something at normal standing height and dial focus in. regards and good look Gary

 

[krisljungberg]

What's 'really close'? What's 'that distance'?

I know a guy who sets up his camera 8' away from a bird feeder and fires it with a wireless remote. My current setup on my feeder is 25', although I'm going to improve that at some point. From 25' I'm still cropping a lot more than what I'd like. Here's a starling from that distance, cropped.

DSC00097 by telecast, on Flickr

I mean, the photo I posted of the starling is uncropped at 600mm. I don't know the distance, lol. Closer than 25 feet at least.

 

[MrFotoFool]

Your initial set of photos did appear a bit soft, but everything you have posted since then looks quite good. I suspect, as someone else said, the first set was atmospheric haze or camera shake from slow shutter or both. You are getting very sharp results since then, so I would not be concerned. This is the only Sony lens I own, which I bought recently with an A74 (and grip) for wildlife to supplement my Nikon F setup for architecture and landscape. I rented it first and was amazed at the sharpness, even at 600mm, which convinced me to buy it.

 

[krisljungberg]

Your initial set of photos did appear a bit soft, but everything you have posted since then looks quite good. I suspect, as someone else said, the first set was atmospheric haze or camera shake from slow shutter or both. You are getting very sharp results since then, so I would not be concerned. This is the only Sony lens I own, which I bought recently with an A74 (and grip) for wildlife to supplement my Nikon F setup for architecture and landscape. I rented it first and was amazed at the sharpness, even at 600mm, which convinced me to buy it.

Thanks for writing! Yeah, I'm much happier with a lot of the photos I've taken since so the happiness is back and the anxiety is gone, hehe.