dieseldave Loc: Davenport,IA

These two birds were fairly close to each other, but only one is in focus. Am I setting something wrong or is this to be expected?

File Info 1
File: scfoc.jpg
Date Created: 7/27/2015 8:09:49 AM
Date Modified: 7/27/2015 8:09:49 AM
File Size: 2.72 MB
Image Size: L (6000 x 4000)
File Info 2
Date Shot: 7/24/2015 12:23:34.30
Time Zone and Date: UTC-6, DST:ON
Image Quality: Compressed RAW (12-bit)
Camera Info
Device: Nikon D5300
Lens: VR 150-500mm f/5-6.3G
Focal Length: 500mm
Focus Mode: AF-A
AF-Area Mode: Auto
VR: ON
AF Fine Tune:
Exposure
Aperture: f/6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/500s
Scene Mode: Auto
Exposure Comp.: 0EV
Exposure Tuning:
Metering: Matrix
ISO Sensitivity: Auto (ISO 280)
Flash
Device:
Image Settings
White Balance: Auto, 0, 0
Color Space: sRGB
High ISO NR: ON (Normal)
Long Exposure NR: OFF
Active D-Lighting: Auto
Image Authentication:
Vignette Control:
Auto Distortion Control: OFF
Picture Control
Picture Control: [SD] STANDARD
Base: [SD] STANDARD
Quick Adjust: -
Sharpening: Auto
Contrast: Auto
Brightness: 0
Saturation: Auto
Hue: 0
Filter Effects:
Toning:
Location Info
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bird 2 out of focus

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Depth of field (the amount of your image in focus, from foreground to rear) is a function of your aperture (f/stop), focal length of the lens, distance between you and your subject, and distance between subject and background, or in this case, the second bird.

Here is a calculator. I suspect that at 500 mm, you have very little depth of field + your aperture was too large (try f/11, f/16 etc)

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

How the aperture works:

http://www.digitalslrphoto.com/dslrbasics/startersguides/12708/dslr_starters_guides_aperture.html

Depth of field:

http://digital-photography-school.com/understanding-depth-field-beginners/

Algernon Loc: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The depth of field depends on how far away you were from your subject.

Given 500mm on an APS-C camera, f6.3...

... at 30 feet = 3 inch depth of field
... at 50 feet = 8 inch depth of field
... at 100 feet = 33 inch depth of field

Since the cranes were not the same distance from the camera, it is not surprising that they both are not in focus.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Not to mention a slight amount of camera shake.

dieseldave Loc: Davenport,IA

Is that indicated by the vertical lines in the background ? Could well be as I had that long lens, couldn't use a tripod since the birds kept moving and I have Parkinson's disease. Thanks for your input.

Algernon Loc: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I didn't notice camera shake in the photo, but I didn't download it, and it wouldn't be surprising. You are shooting with an equivalent 750mm lens. Without a tripod,your shutter speed should be about 1/750 to minimize camera movement. It's just a rule-of-thumb.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Camera shake is easily visible on the grass immediately before the bird on the left at the bottom of the shot. Looks more of a sideways shake than an up / down. Does this lens offer you the facility to choose different modes stabilisation?

I'd go with Algernon's suggestion, I think you could have bumped up the ISO a bit to get a higher speed and possibly increase your 'F' stop, but I'm not familiar with Nikons.

Latent-Image Loc: bunker not on Google

I remember fondly the good old days, set the shutter speed, set the aperture, twist the focus ring and boom a perfect shot almost every time with your $200 camera. And the best part was you did it all yourself. I think its time to bring back that type of photography. I still have many of my old cameras and use them all the time they give me great joy and great pictures and i still am doing it all myself.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Dave, with a 500mm lens, your depth of field is almost non-existent. You could improve it, slightly, by using a smaller f/stop. I've a 500mm fixed f/8 lens and that has a very shallow, if any, depth of field.
--Bob

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Ditto! What she said. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'm with you. All but one of my cameras is completely manual. Of those, all but one will work if the battery is dead or missing. I use my digital in the same manner, manual mode. I do use the AF feature, most of the time, though.
--Bob

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

[quote=dieseldave]These two birds were fairly close to each other, but only one is in focus. Am I setting something wrong or is this to be expected?
I posted the camera data. I prefer to see it in the computer. You are right on the edge of speed if hand held. Formula is shutter speed should be 1/mm lens. You shot at 1/500 speed and used a 500 mm lens. Then the aperture was 6.3. Quite low DOF (depth of field). ISO could have been increased from 280 to 800 and aperture closed more. David

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

OK, here is my take ............

Your in a position damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Another words you can lessen the damage but not completely eradicate the problem.

The 5500 Nikon isn't great at high ISO's, granted you can probably squeeze it enough to gather another stop on your aperture, somewhere in the 640 - 800 range.

Use a tripod to eliminate camera shake at 1/500 shutter, heck, with a tripod your can probably go down to 1/250 and by yourself another f stop.

I wouldn't go to f/16 as your will start to degrade the sharpness. most telephoto lenses have a sweet spot between f/8 and f/11 and then it's downhill, do an internet search on your lens, it will have a 'sweet' spot.

Another thing where you can cheat is not use a 500mm lens which is really 750 on your crop. Use a 300mm which is a 450mm on your crop. At the same f/stop you will have better DOF, then crop in 100% in PP.

A newer full frame Nikon or Canon wouldn't have an issue with a 500mm lens as you could go up to ISO2500 and then set your f/stop to f/9 along with the use of a tripod. Save your money :)
OK, I gave 4 cents worth ..........

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

At your focal length (500mm) with a relative wide aperture of 6.3, this is sure expected, Your DOF is still very narrow at these settings, so there is nothing wrong on your part, except maybe that you did not calculate for this ( if you intended to get both birds in focus!

Haoa808 Loc: Hawaii

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I am new to this but as I read the problem, I thought it was going to be a DOF issue. I'm learning! I would have used a tripod for the distance and lens you were using, let alone physical maladies. I cant take shortcuts to get a good photograph so take your time, set up, think what you need to do before your try to photograph it. That's what makes photography so fun for me. Good luck and study, you will figure it out! HOWARD