Why are my photos blurry: I am looking for any help or suggestions. I have a Nikon D7000 and can't take photos that are in focus. I am using 50mm 1.8 lens, Aperature Priority, Matrix...

seahorsey Loc: Ocala, FL

I am looking for any help or suggestions. I have a Nikon D7000 and can't take photos that are in focus. I am using 50mm 1.8 lens, Aperature Priority, Matrix Metering, ISO 100 to 300, aperature at 1.8 to 4.0, AF-C, no flash, shooting in daylight, the "golden hour", JPEG, using select focus and putting it on the eye. I can take 400 photos and am lucky to get 3 that are in focus...I am holding the camera as still as possible. Please tell me its not that difficult to get a clear shot. I have tried various settings, I am shooting an 18 month old, so yes, she does move, but she is usually sitting or standing. Thank you for any suggestions and hopefully solutions. I even tried a tripod and it didn't seem to help. Hoping the photos load.
1st pic: 3763-125 shutter, ISO 200, Aperature-3.2=50 mm lens
2nd pic: 1/11 2956:250 shutter, ISO 160, Ap 3.5-35 mm lens
3rd pic: 1/12 3284: 60 shutter, ISO 200, AP 2.8 50mm lens

I already tried posting this and including the photos, but it didn't seem to go thru...

Hoss Loc: Near Pittsburgh, Pa

When attaching photos do not hit preview!!! Hit send! It is also best to check the store original box so we can enlarge them and look at the mete data.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

seahorsey wrote:

I am looking for any help or suggestions. I have a... (show quote)

A search of the web will provide you with many resources for learning how to produce sharp digital photos. A fairly comprehensive one can be found at:
http://photographylife.com/how-to-take-sharp-photos

Your lenses are sharpest at ~f/8, not at f/2.8 to f/3.5. Another problem is if you are using AF your camera may not be focusing accurately. Google how to check and adjust your camera's AF focus. Look at your photos at 200% to see where the sharpest focus occurs. It may not be where you aimed.

As far as posting photos on this forum the two common mistakes are using "preview" which kills your upload and using the wrong file type (use JPEG). Also, wait for your photos to upload as it may take a while subject to file size and your bandwidth (ISP speed).

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I am not sure if this helps or hurts, but I came across it earlier and thought I would pass it on
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/49243/nikon-d5200-39-point-autofocus-system-problem-not-sharp-d7000-error

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

No pics, but with the settings you have noted and the lens you are using, your DOF will be extremely small. Its easy to have photos that look out of focus in this instance, especially with a moving subject.
Your camera has excellent low noise at higher ISO's. Try ISO 800 indoors and shoot at F7.1 or F8 in aperture priority mode and see if that helps.

MtnMan Loc: ID

seahorsey wrote:

I am looking for any help or suggestions. I have a... (show quote)

Be sure you are set on spot focus. You need to be in AF-S mode and have the spot only showing above the letters in the green LCD. Assure setting a1 is set to "On".

Then watch to see you have the focus light lit in the viewfinder (the little green light lower left) before you release.

What MT shooter said also...plus try flash.

2dogz

Sounds like you haven't got your AF set up properly and the camera is choosing where to focus instead of you. In your Custom Setting Menu select (a) Autofocus, then go to a1 AF-C priority selection and click Release OK. Then go to a2 AF-S priority selection, then Release and click OK. You should then be able to move the focus spot with the selector wheel to where you want it, depending on how many focus spots you've chosen.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

Am I reading your settings right, your trying to take a picture of a toddler with a shutter speed of 1/11 and 1/12? if so that is one of the problems, toddlers are too fast for that slow of a shutter speed.

Are you hand holding as well? If so the shutter speed is also to slow for that, 1/60 is the recommend slowest shutter speed for hand held.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

Annie_Girl wrote:

Am I reading your settings right, your trying to take a picture of a toddler with a shutter speed of 1/11 and 1/12? if so that is one of the problems, toddlers are too fast for that slow of a shutter speed.

Are you hand holding as well? If so the shutter speed is also to slow for that, 1/60 is the recommend slowest shutter speed for hand held.

Annie Girl, I think you are reading the dates, not his shutter speeds: 1/125/, 1/250 & 1/60 :wink:

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

Hoss wrote:

When attaching photos do not hit preview!!! Hit send! It is also best to check the store original box so we can enlarge them and look at the mete data.

And on top of that be patient! It takes a while to upload a picture, especially if you checked "store original" and can look like the browser is stuck on stupid, but it is doing things.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

robert-photos wrote:

Annie_Girl wrote:

Am I reading your settings right, your trying to take a picture of a toddler with a shutter speed of 1/11 and 1/12? if so that is one of the problems, toddlers are too fast for that slow of a shutter speed.

Are you hand holding as well? If so the shutter speed is also to slow for that, 1/60 is the recommend slowest shutter speed for hand held.

Annie Girl, I think you are reading the dates, not his shutter speeds: 1/125/, 1/250 & 1/60 :wink:

Ahhhhh the way it is written is confusing (to me) but it doesn't take much to confuse me, lmao. OP can you post the photos?

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

Even with a shutter speed of 1/250, your shutter speed is to slow for a toddler especially with no flash. With a toddler up your speed to 1/500.

1/60 is the max you might be able to go hand holding if your subject is still, I can hand hold at 1/15 but only if I am taking a picture of an adult who can stand just as still as I can, kids forget it.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

seahorsey wrote:

I am looking for any help or suggestions. I have a... (show quote)

What does full auto render?

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

Annie_Girl wrote:

quote=robert-photos quote=Annie_Girl Am I readin... (show quote)

Hmmmmm.m.m...

I just looked at the OP's profile and posts. The OP purchased a D7000 before Christmas of 2011, posted the same inquiry about focus in July of 2012 and received mostly similar feedback and responses as in this thread.

The OP wants to take pictures of his/her ~16 month granddaughter.

Based on the OP's posts (and not to be mean) I suggest the OP read the D7000 manual and take a basic digital photography course to learn photography. I'm sure in Florida there are some live courses available.

Other than the massive free info available on the web there are also many excellent course/instructions which can be purchased. I suggest:

http://howtophotographyourlife.com/product/?utm_source=Tip+of+the+Day+-+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=f45c9efd4c-MONDAY&utm_medium=email

http://www.phototips.biz/p/photography-101-downloadable-class.html

The keys to taking excellent photos are education and practice. There is no substitute.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

robert-photos wrote:

quote=Annie_Girl quote=robert-photos quote=Anni... (show quote)

LOL! Nice...