I must be doing something wrong .. How do you guys do it? Every day I look at the pictures that are uploaded. Everyone has such close, detailed shots of birds, butterflies...

pinkycat Loc: The Garden State

How do you guys do it? Every day I look at the pictures that are uploaded. Everyone has such close, detailed shots of birds, butterflies, grasshoppers. I have my zoom to 300mm and my 24-150L. I'm getting some clear pictures, but not razor sharp and when I crop, I lose it. Somebody let me in on the secret ... PLEASE!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Spot focus, good light, low ISO, tripod and practice.

pinkycat Loc: The Garden State

All good points. Let me show you what I mean. Yesterday I sat in the backyard, mounted my camera on my tripod and lined it up to focus on the bird feeder. All I had to do was push a button. Here are my results. I am not very happy with either of them. I'm concerned about lighting, but my main issue is the focus. What do you think? And I want to get really, really close. I have a T3 and was using a 75-300mm lens. ISO 500, 1/200, f 4.5.
I intended to ask a general question, but maybe this belongs in Photo Analysis.

pappy0352 Loc: Oregon

Well first of all if you are using spot metering and putting your focus point the feeder then that is what will be in focus and the rest my very well be out of focus. If you want the feeder and the bird in focus I personally would use partial metering and focus on the birds eye. Since you are using a tri pod and have time to take the shot I would auto focus holding the shutter button only 1/2 way. Once you are in focus switch over to manual focus. This will lock in your focus then take the shot. I would also turn of IS if you have it.

Just my idea.

Pappy

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

pinkycat wrote:

All good points. Let me show you what I mean. Ye... (show quote)

Look closely at our photos for what is most in focus - the feeder, not the bird. Page 52 and 62 of your manual may help.

pinkycat Loc: The Garden State

I understand what you are saying. But, in order to get the birds, butterflies, whatever, I need to be a distance away or they'll take off. I totally get the focus on the eye thing, but that takes time. I'm sorry to seem so dense, but I love to shoot outside and I only have a couple of what I would call 5-star shots.

pappy0352 Loc: Oregon

pinkycat wrote:

I understand what you are saying. But, in order to get the birds, butterflies, whatever, I need to be a distance away or they'll take off. I totally get the focus on the eye thing, but that takes time. I'm sorry to seem so dense, but I love to shoot outside and I only have a couple of what I would call 5-star shots.

If you are outside and it is daylight I would shoot at an ISO of 100 or 200.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

First thing you need to do is buy a Nikon!

LOL, sorry, I couldn't help myself.
One thing you need to do is increase your depth of field. F4.5 at 300mm gives you a VERY shallow depth of field and while the feeded will be in focus, the bird will not. Use F8 to F11 and shoot them in nice, bright light, the light is your best friend when it comes to taking sharp images.

gdwsr Loc: Northern California

I agree with MT Shooter plus make sure in IS is turned off. But I am wondering why you have to shoot at ISO 500 to get 1/200 at an open aperture. Do you have filters on? Maybe your in heavy shadow? At any rate I would do what ever it takes to get a small aperture.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

How close were you to the feeder? If it is not to far you might try a flash. If the Sun isn't helping you.
Erv

pinkycat Loc: The Garden State

All I had on was a UV Filter. The lighting was good as it was 5:00 - 8:00 pm. I was probably a slightly more than a car length away. I did have the IS on. Why would you take the IS off? Do you mean take it off when it's on the tripod or handheld? Handheld might be tricky. Not so steady, you know. I also could use my monopod with the shoulder brace. What do you think?

gdwsr Loc: Northern California

Take it off when it is on the tripod; leave it on when hand held. I believe the lack of movement confuses the stability sensor, i.e., it doesn't know what to stabilize so it just picks something I guess. Your manual probably mentions this. Give it a try.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

pinkycat wrote:

All I had on was a UV Filter. The lighting was good as it was 5:00 - 8:00 pm. I was probably a slightly more than a car length away. I did have the IS on. Why would you take the IS off? Do you mean take it off when it's on the tripod or handheld? Handheld might be tricky. Not so steady, you know. I also could use my monopod with the shoulder brace. What do you think?

Yes, if you have the camera on a tripod turn IS off. If you have it on and the camera is steady it could potentially be looking for camera shake and not finding any could cause some shake that would result in your shot being out of focus. You can thank those who have already replied for this information because I learned it from them. Not knowing a lot about filters I will let the others explain that so I don't mess it up.

scott61

No matter how good the lens is, you need to make sure you have a high quality filter as well. I was loosing many great shots of eagles; each slightly out of focus, because of a cheap circular polarizing filter.
One other thing to maybe try is a remote shutter release and use your mirror lockup, if you have one. (this would be in your menu settings.)
Yet, I agree with everyone else that mentioned your depth of field being so shallow. At the distance you stated, and the amount of zoom you are using, your DOF won't be much more than 1 inch!!!
You can google search DOF calculator and it will bring up several free ones. All you do is enter camera model, lens zoom and f/stop. Then the calculator tells you your DOF. I was totally shocked when I learned how small it was on that same telephoto zoom you use. (I have the same on a 5D)
Hope you work this out.

travlnman46 Loc: Yakima WA

pinkycat wrote:

All good points. Let me show you what I mean. Ye... (show quote)

Hi pinkycat: When you say all you have to do is push a button. Was the button the cameras button or a shutter release button? If you are using the cameras button some of you blur could be caused by camera movement.