Auto focus D80 Nikon: I have just recently started to photograph birds. I have a D80 with Tamron 18-200 and Tamron 100-300 lens. I’m having trouble with focusing on birds and squirrell...

B O B Bob

I have just recently started to photograph birds. I have a D80 with Tamron 18-200 and Tamron 100-300 lens. I’m having trouble with focusing on birds and squirrell size subjects. Shutter speed is at 1000. At the same distance branches and leaves come into sharp focus but not the bird.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

B O B Bob wrote:

I have just recently started to photograph birds. I have a D80 with Tamron 18-200 and Tamron 100-300 lens. I’m having trouble with focusing on birds and squirrell size subjects. Shutter speed is at 1000. At the same distance branches and leaves come into sharp focus but not the bird.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks

What aperture are you using. Shutter speed has nothing to do with focus. It is the aperture that decides what is in focus, from point A to point B in your photograph. If you use an aperture of say, f16 more will be in focus than if you used an aperture of f2.8 or f4. A photo would help us to answer your question as well.

Dennis

B O B Bob

Forgot I’ve tried appetites of f32 f22 f16 f8and f5. I was thinking it was camera shake that’s why I mentioned the shutter speed. I’ve tried various ISOs also

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

B O B Bob wrote:

Forgot I’ve tried appetites of f32 f22 f16 f8and f5. I was thinking it was camera shake that’s why I mentioned the shutter speed. I’ve tried various ISOs also

Camera shake is one thing but out of focus is another; entirely different. At 1000 I don't think camera shake.

Dennis

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

B O B Bob wrote:

I have just recently started to photograph birds. I have a D80 with Tamron 18-200 and Tamron 100-300 lens. I’m having trouble with focusing on birds and squirrell size subjects. Shutter speed is at 1000. At the same distance branches and leaves come into sharp focus but not the bird.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks

Posting an example image and storing the original will likely save you a 1000 words in describing the issue and probably generate at least 100 less inaccurate guesses from your description of your problem ...

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

The AF is locking on greenery rather aviary elements is my guess, especially if the bird is farther away than the branches in focus.

Manual focus is the fix, AF is a great tool that aids in most shooting situations ... but in situations such as this old school is the way to go.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

B O B Bob wrote:

I have just recently started to photograph birds. I have a D80 with Tamron 18-200 and Tamron 100-300 lens. I’m having trouble with focusing on birds and squirrell size subjects. Shutter speed is at 1000. At the same distance branches and leaves come into sharp focus but not the bird.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks

Sounds like you need to be more precise, placing your focus point/points on your subject, saying branches and leaves come into focus, but not your subject, makes it clear that you're missing your target!

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Try using center point focus with the minimum size focus area. Try using live view instead of the viewfinder. Focus on the bird's head. Take the shot when the bird stops moving.

OneShotOne18

I know where your coming from. Although, I'm sorta new at it and my camera and lens show it..... Nikon D3300. I agree with a couple of answers you got. Center point focus and aperture setting. Keep at it and someday it's going to "click" for you.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

I had a d80 as my first serious dslr and had focusing issues with it. Solved by switching to manual focus.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

It would be silly to post a picture of what you have clearly described - an out-of-focus bird among in-focus branches and leaves. LWW has nailed it. You also might like to take a look at what your user’s manual has to say about situations where autofocus may not perform well.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

At a minimum, use spot focusing. And if your camera can do it, set up for Back Button Focus and learn how to use it with Continuos focusing mode. These will help.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

Resting birds and birds in flight (BIF) are two very different challenges for focus. Resting birds work best with either spot focus or manual focus because of all the leaves and twigs that can grab the focus. For BIF an auto focus mode is usually best as the camera can focus faster than you can.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

B O B Bob wrote:

I have just recently started to photograph birds. I have a D80 with Tamron 18-200 and Tamron 100-300 lens. I’m having trouble with focusing on birds and squirrell size subjects. Shutter speed is at 1000. At the same distance branches and leaves come into sharp focus but not the bird.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks

Learn to change the focus in your camera to just one focus point so that the bird or squirrel is the only thing in focus and not the surrounding leaves etc. ONE FOCUS POINT only!
Hold camera steady and don't press the shutter fast. Use steady pressure like shooting a gun to keep the camera still when it activates the shutter.
Keep your shutter speed at or above 1/1000th of a sec (you said you are already using 1/1000th so that's good) But fast than 1/1000 is better like 1/1600 to 1/2500

Also, keep in mind, you should get some pretty decent pictures of birds and other wildlife, but with your older equipment it's not going to be tack sharp like it can be with more expensive and more modern camera and lens. But it will certainly get you started. With 300mm you'll have to be more patient and try to sneak up to the subject and get a little closer than other people using 600mm lenses. Just try to be stealthy, slow, quiet and be patient. It takes practice.

ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

jeep_daddy wrote:

with your older equipment it's not going to be tack sharp like it can be with more expensive and more modern camera and lens.

I disagree with this. There is absolutely no reason why a Nikon D80 cannot produce images as sharp as any other camera. Good light is more important yes, this is what you should have stated. The OP has good lenses. I should know, I have a D80.