Focus question for the experts
Aug 15, 2013 07:58:59 #
I was taking pictures of the moon last night and noticed the following. My setup was a very stable Bogen tripod, d5100 w/70-300 VR (vr was off), manual focus and wired shutter release. I focused the moon in live view, zoomed in and it was tack sharp. I then waited about 10 seconds to let the camera settle down and took the picture. The resulting image wasn't quite as sharp as the image I saw in the live view. Any thoughts as to why it wouldn't be as sharp? There was no wind last night either. The only thing I can think of is that it was from the mirror moving when I took the picture. I haven't tried one with locking the mirror up.
Aug 15, 2013 08:02:14 #
Try locking the mirror up if you can, or set the camera for a 2-10 second delay after pressing the button so it can focus, bring the mirror up and then shoot after the physical motion has stopped.
Aug 15, 2013 08:03:56 #
Wahawk wrote:
Try locking the mirror up if you can, or set the camera for a 2-10 second delay after pressing the button so it can focus, bring the mirror up and then shoot after the physical motion has stopped.
Thanks, I basically did that by using manual focus and wating 10 seconds before I released the shutter with the wired shutter release. I will try locking the mirror up, that is the only other thing I can think of.
Aug 15, 2013 08:04:46 #
Aug 15, 2013 08:05:59 #
Aug 15, 2013 08:07:15 #
PhotoGator
Loc: Florida
You need to exit live view and Image Stabilization. When the camera is on a tripod, they will cause image blur.
Aug 15, 2013 08:08:26 #
PhotoGator wrote:
You need to exit live view and Image Stabilization. When the camera is on a tripod, they will cause image blur.
Image stabilization was off, but I was still in live view. Will try taking the picture with live view off. Thanks
Aug 15, 2013 08:10:25 #
PhotoGator
Loc: Florida
You need to have long enough exposure which will allow the Moon light to properly be registered by the sensor.
Aug 15, 2013 08:10:33 #
Greg Brandt wrote:
I was taking pictures of the moon last night and n... (show quote)
It looks like the D5100 doesn't have mirror lockup for taking pictures, only for sensor cleaning. It does have an exposure delay mode, where the shutter release is activated 1 second after the mirror is flipped up. Maybe that will do the trick.
Aug 15, 2013 08:34:38 #
Aug 15, 2013 08:35:17 #
The moon is constantly moving across the sky. Doesn't seem like 10 seconds between focus and exposure would be enough to throw it out of focus. If the actual exposure was several seconds, that may cause a blur from the moon moving slightly. What was the exposure time?
Aug 15, 2013 08:38:41 #
PhotoGator wrote:
Besides the camera, did you have your lens set to Manual?
Yes, I was shooting in manual mode
Aug 15, 2013 08:38:58 #
Dewar wrote:
The moon is constantly moving across the sky. Doesn't seem like 10 seconds between focus and exposure would be enough to throw it out of focus. If the actual exposure was several seconds, that may cause a blur from the moon moving slightly. What was the exposure time?
1/125
Aug 15, 2013 08:45:51 #
Greg Brandt wrote:
I was taking pictures of the moon last night and n... (show quote)
If you are using LiveView then the mirror is already up. Try taking it off the tripod, up the ASA to 800 or so and shoot hand held with no delay with the lens resting on a pillow or small bean bag. Shoot at 1/500th or so.
Aug 15, 2013 08:52:21 #
Terra Australis wrote:
If you are using LiveView then the mirror is already up. Try taking it off the tripod, up the ASA to 800 or so and shoot hand held with no delay with the lens resting on a pillow or small bean bag. Shoot at 1/500th or so.
Thanks, will experiment with that technique also. I have had success with VR on and hand held, thought I could do better with a tripod.
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