swartfort Loc: Evansville, IN

My gut tells me that I was asking too much of my Nikon d3400 and 70-300 kit combo:

Rainy cold day and I was cooped up inside. I pulled open the window and waited for something of interest to appear. I really just wanted to use the challenging light to play with my camera and work with some Exposure Compensation, White Balance, ISO, and aperture combinations to see what happened. (pixels are free and I was blessed with some free time.) What I found was a really good learning experience, but also, maybe some limits on either my equipment or me. I think I got the shutter/aperture/ISO figured out from the experimentation, but with the small moving objects, even with BBF, I am having trouble getting "tack sharp" images. The focal point in the viewfinder covered the whole bird in the second shot, so getting to focus on the eyes was a dream at best. I suspect a couple of things: 1) objects too far away for AF to grab them properly with the limited lens used, 2) My vision is not what it should be and I don't edit/focus properly, and 3) With so few focus points (11 and only 1 cross focus) I am asking too much of the camera/lens combination.

Please share your thoughts. Am I a bit crazy (well yes), but would a d7200, a bigger faster lens, better resolution edit screen, better glasses etc. actually help with the situation, or just solve my GAS attack?
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about 40 feet

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about 100 feet

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about 45 feet

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about 120 feet

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rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

Were you using a tripod/monopod? It looks like motion blur or perhaps the lens is soft at the longer end or a combination of both. Except for the first image (1/80) your shutter speed should have been sufficient to freeze subject motion.

BebuLamar

Whatever the result it's the combination.

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

I can only compare the d5000 that I bought a few years ago and the D500 I now own. I like the tilt out monitor that both have. I found that the kit lenses that came with my d5000 were soft much of the time. Using the $850, purchased on sale, 18-300 Nikkor lens gave much better sharpness most of the time when I use a fast enough shutter, the appropriate focus mode, appropriate metering mode, the required aperture to control depth of field and high enough iso to make it all work.
That said a single spot focus works better for me on animals.
The D500 I now have has much more settings and possibilities than the D5000.

The D500 costs $1899.99 and the AF_S DX f/3.5-5.66 ED VR is $999.99 at this time. The d5300 with two kit lens costs $799.95. It is hard to think that the two setups will give the same results. I think in most cases the more money spent the less the equipment is the source of the frustration.
What ever the equipment it takes practice with different setups to determine what works best.

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

I have a 70D Canon and I definitely had to change mine to single spot focus as I was getting soft images alot of the time when I first got it. This way, the single focusing point is exactly where I want it. That could be your problem.

CO

In photo #3, it looks like there is motion blur. The bird looks like it's walking. A faster shutter speed may have helped. Also check your camera and lens combination for back focusing issues. The leaves on the ground just past the bird seem to be in the best focus.

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

I don't think it's the combination of camera & lens, maybe more of camera settings. Shooting critters at 1/80 of a sec. nothing must be moving.

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

I would definitely try again with a tripod to take motion blur out of the equation and of course with moving objects, get that shutter speed as fast as you can (1/1000 or higher). Maybe it is me but I think your shots are slightly better in focus in front of the subjects so consider calibrating your lens/camera combo to adjust for any front/back focusing when your using auto-focus. Maybe try a target inside to test your sharpness to eliminate as many variables as possible (camera shake, subject movement, wind, earthquakes, etc.)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, spending money can solve most problems - or at least get you better equipment.

These shots look fine. I usually use a single center focusing point, so I know what will be in focus, rather than letting the camera guess.

illininitt

Tack sharp? BBF? White Balance? Is that something like voodoo? I'd like to give you some advice: Like a car....put it on auto and forget about it! The delete button was made for people like you. Don't like the outcome....hit delete! God made auto for a reason. Life is too short to worry about BBF? or Sharp as a tack!

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

The simplest way to get tack sharp photos is to use high shutter speeds and predictive AF.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

DITTO!!!

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

Looks like a lack of basic understanding. Need to go back to the drawing board.

Jim Bob

It's a combination of poor technique and ineffective camera settings.

fourg1b2006 Loc: Long Island New York

I like how these came out...nice job.