Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Would these pics. have been sharper if I used a monopod?
Looking for suggestions and comments.

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TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

They look plenty sharp to me - nice captures! I think #1 & #3 are great shots.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I agree they're all sharp when using the download and clicking into the images and their details. There's no camera nor subject movement.

What there is is oddly placed focus. How are you setting your focus points. I don't have access Nikon equipment any longer so I cannot reference their terms directly. The blue player looks good overall, but do I see maybe his cleats are the sharpest? Are you using continuous focus and a single or small cluster of focus points? If no, you need to and keep that point / cluster on the main players face or mid chest. A monopod is not going to improve things based on these results.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

I am using single point focus, continuous focusing always on sports. What could be the matter? You are always so helpful.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

More pics.

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CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I'd look at the focus point if your software will show this in the image. Again using the image of the player in blue, the "plane of focus" appears to be at an angle with blue player's near foot and the white player's raised hand on that plane. But, where did the camera report the focus? Is the camera's report consistent with the observed results?

My EXIF viewer reports 70-200 f/2.8 but not specifically which lens. At f/5.6 for the first image, I would not expect this to be fine-tuning issue. Others may say 'yes' this is an opportunity. But, the combo could be just a little slow where a slightly deeper plane of focus / smaller aperture would compensate.

I went back through your topics and see the lens is a Nikon but the post I found was still vague on the exact details on the exact lens. The older the lens and therefore the older the VR implementation, the more frequent the suggestion to turn of VR where a fast shutterspeed can be used to compensate for camera shake (for faster focus acquisition by the combo). Maybe that's the next suggestion. I've used a D7100 and the Nikon 70-200 f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S VR. This combination is an excellent set-up for sports and most anything where the 70-200 is close enough.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Have you tried Back Button Focus?

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Thanks again for getting back to me on this focus subject. I will try focus d-9 instead of single. I believe the next set of samples were shot that way. Then try 6.3, 7.1 but want the bokeh.

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Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Yes that is all I shoot with. I wonder if I am taking my finger off the button.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

That could be a problem ... and hopefully that easily corrected as in not removing your finder from the focus button in continuous focus.

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

I find a monopod to be a clumsy tool for soccer, which is the favorite sport of my 6 grandkids. I simply shoot off-hand.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Thanks again, your always so helpful.

Japakomom Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier

Another thought - are you cropping the pictures? If you are cropping and the subject is not in the center where the focus is then you will have soft, out of focus pictures of the players not on the same plane as the focus point. Don't ask me how I know that :)

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Hi again. Soccer and tennis shots from yesterday. I think they are better. Suggestions and comments welcome.

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CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I'd say much better. They all have excellent focus overall and especially on the eyes / face of the primary subject. They would be excellent advertising for your lens.