sharper images: I would like some advice on what i'm doing wrong. I've read some of the other folks who are having similar problems. i'm putting one of the red dots on the bird when...

bellaj

I would like some advice on what i'm doing wrong. I've read some of the other folks who are having similar problems.
i'm putting one of the red dots on the bird when focusing. I've tried manual, auto, "A" and scene. with and without tripods. without fail i cannot get any of the birds i am photographing clear when using my larger lens.
i am using a Nikon d5100, with a DX 55-300mm lens.
Help?

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Some folks have stated that the lens has a sweet spot on apeture.

Sarge69

Utah Native Loc: Utah

What focal length are you shooting at? what f stop. higher F stops will give greater depth of field but in most cases slow the shutter speed enough that anything that moves will be slightly out of focus. tripods are great but if your subject is alive it can blur with any slower shutter speed.
Can you give more information on your post?

bellaj

Utah Native wrote:

What focal length are you shooting at? what f stop. higher F stops will give greater depth of field but in most cases slow the shutter speed enough that anything that moves will be slightly out of focus. tripods are great but if your subject is alive it can blur with any slower shutter speed.
Can you give more information on your post?

I'll try but i'm pretty new. this is from the info on iPhoto, does it help?
iso 320, 300mm, 1/7.1 1/500
4926 x 3264

Utah Native Loc: Utah

increase your iso a bit say around 500 or up for subjects that might move or for cloudy or darker scenes. that will give you a faster shutter speed. i am not that familiar with the 5100 but check to see if the camera focus is adjustible. you may need to adjust the back focus a touch too.

bellaj

Utah Native wrote:

increase your iso a bit say around 500 or up for subjects that might move or for cloudy or darker scenes. that will give you a faster shutter speed. i am not that familiar with the 5100 but check to see if the camera focus is adjustible. you may need to adjust the back focus a touch too.

thank you, i'll check into this.

clixpix Loc: Surprise, Arizona

Bellaj:

I use the Canon 50D and the center focusing spot that I put on the subject. However, when I look at the photo in the Canon software to see where the focus spot is, I often find that the spot has moved slightly off my main subject and the camera focuses on something behind the subject. I am now really careful to make sure I do not move the spot when I press the shutter. I have changed to using the back button focus to make sure things do not change when I press the shutter. You camera manual should explain how to do this if the camera has that feature. If you can view the placement of your focus spot in the picture using your photo software, a review of your previous photos may be helpful. Good Luck.

bellaj

clixpix wrote:

Bellaj: br br I use the Canon 50D and the center ... (show quote)

great, thank you!

Bobber Loc: Fredericksburg, Texas

Looking closely as I can at your picture, I see no area that looks in focus. To me this suggests that camera motion is at play. You may have exposed at too slow a shutter speed for hand held shooting. I don't think it is so much a matter of putting your red dot out of place or that your lens is at fault, as shutter speed and/or unsteady camera.

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

I would just add this: shooting on an overcast, low-contrast day will not work in your favor. Even your subject matter in this particular photo is low-contrast, so it's a double-glitch for you.
Keep trying and be sure to get out on a brighter day, I think you'll get closer to success!
Good luck!

Dback4430 Loc: Lockport Il

bellaj wrote:

I would like some advice on what i'm doing wrong. I've read some of the other folks who are having similar problems.
i'm putting one of the red dots on the bird when focusing. I've tried manual, auto, "A" and scene. with and without tripods. without fail i cannot get any of the birds i am photographing clear when using my larger lens.
i am using a Nikon d5100, with a DX 55-300mm lens.
Help?

If you put the origional file up here I can show you where your camera focused

bellaj

Dback4430 wrote:

quote=bellaj I would like some advice on what i'm... (show quote)

i appreciate that this is the raw file

bellaj

Bobber wrote:

Looking closely as I can at your picture, I see no area that looks in focus. To me this suggests that camera motion is at play. You may have exposed at too slow a shutter speed for hand held shooting. I don't think it is so much a matter of putting your red dot out of place or that your lens is at fault, as shutter speed and/or unsteady camera.

i agree, yesterday was a windy overcast day and i could feel the camera moving. (and I broke my tripod so it was handheld)
But i still seem to have this problem, when i try to focus on birds in particular. I've attached another one from a brighter day.
I think I've gotten some good ideas from everyone though so i'm going to try again today and see if I can improve.

CanonFire Loc: Phoenixville, PA

bellaj wrote:

quote=Dback4430 quote=bellaj I would like some a... (show quote)

From looking at the raw file, I don't see a focus issue. It looks like "camera shake". You moved when you took the photo. I would suggest a faster shutter speed or use a tripod.

CanonFire Loc: Phoenixville, PA

bellaj wrote:

quote=Bobber Looking closely as I can at your pic... (show quote)

In order for us to help, "check" the "store original" box so we can evaluate the full size image. It's hard to make a determination with the second image you posted since we can't look at the original.