Focusing Problems on D300s: I've been noticing my pictures aren't coming out as clear as they should of late and yesterday a lazy lizard gave me an opportunity to snap quite a few...

Onquest Loc: Just Wandering

I've been noticing my pictures aren't coming out as clear as they should of late and yesterday a lazy lizard gave me an opportunity to snap quite a few shots. These are the best two and I'm not happy. I'm shooting a Nikon D300s with a nikkor 70-300mm 4.5-5.6 G lens & no filter, which I have set a aperture priority

Both shots were hand held but I did have my elbows propped on either a chair or the ground so I felt I was adequately stable.

# 1: Matrix metering, focused on the eye. 1/800, f6.3, iso 200 at 240mm

# 2: Spot metering, 1/500, f6.3., iso 200 @ 240mm.

I also caught a few shots of a road runner with same disappointing results. Here's one picture I shot at 1/1000, f6.3, 270mm, also set on spot metering focused on the eye. This time I was hand holding the camera.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Do me a favor and post the originals by reposting them and making sure you check the "store originals" box.

That way we can get a close look at them.

Onquest Loc: Just Wandering

Ok, done. Go for it :D

And thank you.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

It SEEMS like there is some movement of the camera; I'm not sure but the zone of acceptable focus seems like it's in the right place, but there is movement.

I know that you shot with a high shutter speed but at 250mm + that's not even a guarantee of sharpness.

My other question is: are these very small objects and crops or did you "fill the frame"?

Onquest Loc: Just Wandering

No amendments here. These are straight out of the camera.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Onquest wrote:

No amendments here. These are straight out of the camera.

Well, definitely SOMETHING is wrong, the zone of focus seems to be in the right spot; your lens isn't back-focusing or front-focusing, but they aren't tack sharp by any means...

I think it's movement.

Have you set up on a tripod and did a shot on a motionless subject in good light using the timer just to check to make sure it's not motion issues?

Onquest Loc: Just Wandering

Yes, I was thinking that would be my next move. I'll use the same rock (probably minus the lizard unless he's an extrovert :lol: ) and try again. Have to wait til later, though, as the wind has come up. Thanks for your help.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Onquest wrote:

Yes, I was thinking that would be my next move. I'll use the same rock (probably minus the lizard unless he's an extrovert :lol: ) and try again. Have to wait til later, though, as the wind has come up. Thanks for your help.

I use some object where you KNOW what you're focusing on...something large enough with an obvious target :)

tkhphotography Loc: Gresham, Or, not Seattle

Onquest wrote:

I've been noticing my pictures aren't coming out a... (show quote)

Do you know that the D300s has a lens calibration feature on it? You 'adjust' any (and several) lens focus calibration details into a 'bank' memory on one of the menus and when you use that lens, you punch in the bank slot.

It remembers you're settings you used to get the best focus nailed, by use of downloading a focus chart off the net and using it and storing that info right into the camera.

If you can't figure out how or have more questions, you can pm em, but it's in your manual.

Onquest Loc: Just Wandering

This time I put the camera on a tripod and used the cable release. With each picture I focused on the tread of tyre right above the Schwinn lettering. Picture #1 is at ISO 200 matrix metering and picture #2 is also at ISO 200 but spot metered.

Onquest Loc: Just Wandering

tkhphotography wrote:

quote=Onquest I've been noticing my pictures aren... (show quote)

Really?? Cool! I'm slogging my way through David Busch's Nikon D300s book as I write this but obviously haven't got to that part yet. Time to fast forward, I think. Thanks for pointing it out.

naturepics43 Loc: Hocking Co. Ohio - USA

Onquest wrote:

I've been noticing my pictures aren't coming out a... (show quote)

Your auto focus mode is set to AF-C. Try using AF-S on similar shots as the ones you first posted. Comparing hand held to tripod shots won't solve the problem. It only shows that the problem is with hand held shots.

dourob Loc: Palm City, Florida

Your focus is set to AF-C. You are spot metering and then recomposing the picture. The camera is then refocusing to the middle of the subject.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Onquest wrote:

This time I put the camera on a tripod and used the cable release. With each picture I focused on the tread of tyre right above the Schwinn lettering. Picture #1 is at ISO 200 matrix metering and picture #2 is also at ISO 200 but spot metered.

The problem is that the depth of field is so wide everything is in focus.

If I used these shots as an example I'd say that you don't have any focus problems.

Try to take a shot at minimum focus distance wide open, on a tripod.

That will rule out two things:

1.) Camera shake.

2.) Back/front focus issues.

Basically those are the two possibilities.

Onquest Loc: Just Wandering

Thanks for all the input. Can't do much today but tomorrow I will take some more shots following your different theories and see if I can get to the bottom of this. It's good to know its probably me and not the lens - that would be so disappointing. Stay with me please :)