Ever hear of a camera body having problems with a known "good" lens but not others?

[sk66]

I have an old Tokina 828 AT-X Pro (80-200 f/2.8). I've owned this lens for a very long time. I've used it on Film bodies, a D200, D300, and D3, and always with very good results.

I loaned it to a friend and he had terrible results with it. I then loaned him my new Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR II to see if it was the lens or his camera (I was quite surprised by the results he showed)...The Nikon performed much better.

Much of it is easily explained by the Exif, but some not really. There was evidence of front-focusing/ misfocusing with the Tokina especially at long distances 200mm F/2.8, but not with the Nikon.

His camera is a D90 and he doesn't complain of misfocus/soft-focus normally. He seems happy with it and I've seen some very nice images he's taken. I'm a little mystified.....but I haven't had a chance to actually test his D90 myself nor go thru his "portfolio" to see if there is any evidence of a problem w/ the camera.

I know front/back focus issues can be a problem with a body, or with a lens, but just one body with just one lens?

I might have to do a comparison test w/ my D3 to see if I can duplicate the results (other than poor technique/ bad settings) but it always worked well for me before...

[digirebelva]

Originally Posted by sk66

I know front/back focus issues can be a problem with a body, or with a lens, but just one body with just one lens?..

Possibly, I had a tamron 28-75 f2.8 that I used on my XTI, the results werent always sharp (kind of soft actually), I tried it on my 50d when I got it and and almost didnt want to sell it (I was getting the 24-70) , the images were that much better..

[LoveDSLR]

I assumed that the Tokina is an AF model. Then it could be an issue with the D90's AF motor interface with the lens. Note that the Nikon VR is AF-S.

[sk66]

Did the XTi do notably better with most other lenses?

[digirebelva]

Pretty much, the 70-200 seemed to work well with it (as long as I worked well, the images were sharp )

[sk66]

Yes, AF....I would think it would either focus or not.
Of course I would expect the Nikon to focus faster, especially on a D90, but not more accurately.
I would also expect the VR to make a notable difference wide open and slow.

Honestly I could chalk all of it up to technique/ settings....If he was using a multipoint focus mode the camera easily could have chosen a focus point other than the one desired......

I didn't want to put him thru an inquisition or make him feel stupid or anything so I really don't know what all of the settings/technique were other than exif...

I mean there were images where the exif and character would suggest the softness is due to camera shake although *I* could get a sharp image with those settings.....I suspect autofocus point issues; I mean I've NEVER seen a camera/lens front focus by a car length before in any situation and it was a static subject. (but the nikon nailed the same shot)

[sk66]

I guess I could see one model of camera or one "level" of camera having a problem with a particular lens...

[LoveDSLR]

I picked this piece of info up from Nikoncafe:

"Slrgear.com reports focus speeds from infinity to minimum focus distance for the "d" lens of .42 seconds on a D90, .32 on a D200 and .28 on a D3. The 50mm f/1.4G was tested at .69 on any camera body."

Not all Nikon AF focusing and drive system are equal. The D90's focusing motor may not be able to dirve Tokina at 200mm properly.

[sk66]

Why, does it "time out"? I've never heard of that...

[LoveDSLR]

Don't know! May be not enough torque or your Tokina needs some lubrication.