Tough Gig

I used a cheap AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G lens on a Nikon D50. Here the camera was set at 400 ISO on a bright day with a shutter speed of 1/1000th; the aperture was f/8 and the focal length 70mm. At those settings the result ought to have been better. I have had quite acceptable photographs from this lens but not many that sparkle in the way a 50mm prime lens frequently does.