ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

Camera D7100
Lens: 18-140MM
F13
ISO: 100
75MM
1/15
jpeg large fine

I am currently a jpeg shooter and would like suggestions on how I could have improved the sharpness of this photo. I used a good tripod, wired shutter, mirror up, manual focus. Should I have gone to F16 or F22? Would that have helped. I am not sure if I used live view and enlarged and moved throughout the image before taking the shot (best approach right?). I want a natural look, what our eyes might see, not over the top unreal sharpness, which PP often creates or that is what I observe being done. PP will come trying to really learn and understand the equipment plus the exposure triangle first versus jumping from topic to topic. Thanks so much for your help and guidance.

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dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Let me say a few of the things I would do in taking this shot.
My aperture would be at f8. ( sharpest f stop for this lens)
Remove any protective filters from the lens.
ISO 200-400 and be using a monopod with good facial stabilization.
I would be focused on the large central tree.
Auto white balance
I would meter the foliage around the base of the large central tree.
I would use the auto adjustments for levels and sharpening in Adobe Elements for post process, and bump the saturation slightly.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

i think you have a couple of issues working against you.
1) On paper, the lens is your normal soft kit lens.

2) Using live view to focus is fine but i think the mirror drops and reopens when the shot is taken so does nothing about vibration.

3) F13 is probably soft as diffraction normally sets in pretty well by F 11.

4) A shutter of 1/15 is a bit long for eliminating movement.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

If the lens has VR, I would first shoot one with it on and one off - just to see if there was any difference. ( I really to not trust VR fully)

DougR

I agree to make sure the vr is off when shooting with a tripod. I also recently learned for best sharpness stay between f8 and 11.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

If I may add:
As you are shooting a still landscape, it doesn't hurt to take a series of images, at slightly different settings for each, from which you can later closely compare in an image editor and then select the sharpest to retain.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

You don't mention exactly what is not sharp enough, so perhaps you mean overall, everything? As opposed to the edges or corners, or if you see vertical lines different that horizontal lines, if the foreground is sharper than the background, etc etc.

It does appear that the focus was probably somewhere in the middle of the field, as opposed to on the tree. That might be reasonable too, as the Exif data shows a hyperfocal distance of 21 meters. (But it does look to me as if the brush in the background is not as sharp as the foreground, which would suggest focus might have been much closer than the hyperfocal distance. Except that doesn't seem like a reasonable thing for you to do manually when looking at that scene...

You have a camera capable of extremely sharp images! You are using a lens that might be handy, but with a 7.8X zoom range you can be assured it cannot be thought of as a great lens and is not the sharpest.

You shot at f/13, and f/11 is about where diffraction sets in on a DX sized sensor. Sharpening can deal with that though, and it appears that your image has in fact been sharpened. So while there would be some benefit to shooting at f/8, it wouldn't be much.

Soooo... bite the bullet, break a piggy bank and go buy yourself a better lens. A Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 is wonderful, and costly. A Nikkor 24-120mm is not as wonderful, but it is a professional grade lens that doesn't cost and arm and a leg, and if it's good enough (barely) for a D800 or D810 it will do your D7100 justice. Tamron makes a very nice 24-70mm that is actually higher rated than the Nikon, so look there too.

Macronaut Loc: Redondo Beach,Ca.

I think there is a strong possibility that your lens is the limiting factor here. Along with all the other possibilities previously mentioned.

The 7100 is capable of outstanding IQ. However, if you don't have good glass, you will never be able to realize it's full potential no matter what you do right.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

the tamron 24-70/2.8 was the lens that brought my 7100 to life.
The 28-300 nikon was the worst.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Use centre spot focussing - and focus on that which is most important to your pic. If sharpness is priority, remember that all digital pics will benefit from some PP sharpening. Get to know your lens's sweet spot. Save

Robin Poole Loc: Missoula, Mt

You might also Check and see if Sigma makes a 24-70 f2.8 for your specific model camera. I 've used this lens on my SD14 and it gets good results....I think Good pricing on all Sigma Lens. Robin

clintonnnn Loc: Goldendale,WA

My best technique for getting a really sharp photo was to get a really good tripod. That means spending over $300.

clintonnnn Loc: Goldendale,WA

My best technique for getting a really sharp photo was to get a really good tripod. That means spending over $300.

Madman Loc: Gulf Coast, Florida USA

Please allow me to make a few comments.

First, to my eyes, it appears that your focus point was in front of the tree - notice the grass looks sharper than the bark on the tree trunk. Further, I have not found focusing using the LCD display to be accurate, even when using my Lenshood with magnifier.

Second, 1/15 sec. is generally too slow for foliage as any breeze at all will create movement of the leaves and branches making them appear soft.

And last, regarding your lens - don't toss it yet! It is not the terrible thing that you have been told it is. I would have bought one like yours when I replaced my 18-55 had it been available. It wasn't, so instead I bought a refurbished 18-105 which I think most would agree is the same level of quality.

I am attaching a photo that I took last June to help me answer some questions about low light focusing with a D7100. It was taken 44 minutes before official sunset, tripod mounted, VR OFF, Long Exposure Noise Reduction OFF, shutter tripped via remote. Focal length =105mm ISO =100,
10 seconds at f11. Focus point is the real estate sign at the center of the photo. While the photo itself is of little value, I believe it demonstrates the quality of the lens

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