jimmix7 Loc: England

After much deliberation I eventually went and bought the Nikon D7100, everyone who bought one seems to like it.. saying one would be blown away with the quality, Well after setting mine up and after 500 shots I am no way blown away,,infact the opposite, I have the D90 and up to now the D90 is way sharper, The problem is , I use my cameras totally Manual and use the single focus choosing to move my focus point especially over the 'eye' .I use a sigma 70mm 2.8.. a Nikon 50mm 1.4 a 70-300 vr and the kit lens 18-105, When I review my images back I am thinking wow these arn't good at all, I have spent the last week practicing different settings . I put them all through NX2 zooming into 1.0 and found where the 'focus' point was on most images were not sharp,, but somewhere else in the image was sharp,, The kit lense was worst and the 50mm 1.4 was rubbish,even at f8. Only a few of the images I would be happy with,,, When I take images about 15ft away nothing at all was sharp,, all images were very soft, and I found even at iso 800 the noise was terrible, I appreciate the camera is amazing, but I feel my camera is Back 'focusing'. I so hope this is the case . I am taking it back to Jessops on Monday, Has any members got any input on what the problem may be please, Like I say I have used the D90 for year or so and it gives me very good images,,,thanks again..Jimmy

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

First of all you state you have just bought it, I doubt you have taken 500 "photographs" you may have "shot" 500 but there is a difference between getting a new camera, learning it, spending time with it and "taking photographs", and getting a new camera and taking a load of shots and expecting them to be great from the first.

We all have to learn new lenses bodies, flash etc.

I shot with a 60D and still do, bought 2 D7000s and it took me time to be happy with the results, I shot with a Sigma 120-400 on the Canon, it took me three weeks to adjust to also using the 150-500.

Time, patience, practice.

What does a poor workman blame ..........

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Nikon D7000 iso 3200

jimmix7 Loc: England

So why is the focus point in the images when put through NX2 not showing as 'sharp' and the sharpness is shown elsewhere,, I have used the D90 for well over a year so I do know how to use a camera,, Jessops even said themselves ..''it sounds as though it is back focusing'', , Is that user error,,???? And in a week I have taken 500+ Portraite shots,, obviously this is practice to get to know the camera,, after 500 shots I think I should know if it is giving me good 'infocus' shots !!

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

I assume you have turned off all but the centre focus point, I have never used any more, see my site.

When I shoot motocross I pre focus, set the ap. I need to get what I want in focus and switch to manual as here

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

When I need to follow a subject I use just the centre focus point (forget back focus, god) keep the shutter half pressed and the centre point on the subject and release when it's where you want it

This and all the powerboat shots were at 500mm tracked for 300 yards till they were where I wanted them

jimmix7 Loc: England

Yes I have ,, so only one point comes on and I move it to where I want it with the toggle switch, I did use a tripod, and a radio trigger and asked the subject to sit very very still..(it was all in practice to get the best possible focus), don't get me wrong not all images were soft,, probably 70-80%, I will go back to Jessops on Monday and show them the images, Thanks again for your feedback..
Jimmy

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

That's entirely possible. My Canon's all needed adjustment to focus at the correct point with every lens I've had...and I've had a LOT of lenses.

I'd suggest putting up a target and putting your camera on a tripod or something similar or even taping it down to the kitchen table, and doing an AF fine tune first.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Where are you other than in blasted hiding

jimmix7 Loc: England

JR1 I think you have picked me up wrong,, I am not using the backfocus ,, I am shooting portrait, therefore I dont want to move the camera,, the camera is locked on a tripod,, a single focus point is locked on the eye,, and I fire with a radio trigger,, If that eye is not sharp this must mean the camera choses to focus on another part ot the image,, I'm sure this is called 'back focus'...
Jimmy

jimmix7 Loc: England

I don't know why my profile shows I am in hiding.. I'm in England, , and why are you getting nasty for,,, I only asked a question,, I anin't 'hiding' at all !!
Jimmy

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

So you need to focus on the eye or whatever and re compose keeping that focus

as yet you have not posted any samples

jimmix7 Loc: England

It don't matter,, I've allready told you,, the D7100 has 51 focus points,, I choose 1 and move it to wherever I want on the eye without 'recomposing' that's one of the good things I like about the D7100,, you don't have to recompose as 'much' with more focus points, If the focus point is shown in NX2 over the eye,, then the eye should be sharp,, thanks for your feedback but you are confusing this question,,, thanks ,,
Jimmy

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I get what you're saying, and choosing the focus point is better than focus-recompose at shallow depths of field...so it probably is the case that you need to micro-adjust the AF to each lens...

Not a huge deal...but slightly time consuming.

jimmix7 Loc: England

Thanks for your comment,, I have been told this but I am not confident in doing this task.. I will ask at Jessops,,,Thanks rpavich,,,
Jimmy