BE KIND

You're very welcome. I think we're done here.

Harry P Loc: United Kingdom

I made this post for assistance on why my photo was blurry not for users to argue about issues, im going to say that I am concluding this post now as I have received info from people on the problem I posted about. Thank you very much for all your help! This post is now concluded

BE KIND

Thanks Harry!

Abo

at 15 minutes and 30 seconds this video may explain your problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGKr9N2GUjg

BurghByrd Loc: Pittsburgh

You might take a look at your focus priority selection. It's under custom settings (pencil icon) item a which provides for the priority to be on either focus before shutter release or shutter release over focus. It's possible the camera is releaseing the shutter before the subject is in focus.

marty wild Loc: England

On rapid fire use the back button and tracking focus. If you’re on spot focusing you will need to ramp up your shutter speed at minimum of 2 stops if you hardware can handle the poor weather situation, also tweak the ISO a little. You can clean up the noise in post process AI. To break down your question, your shot of the helicopter is no longer in the position where you achieved focus. Basically your shot is not out of focus it’s double vision. Hay Hay this is my opinion only, I’m no pro

profbowman Loc: Harrisonburg, VA, USA

Unless saving the world is so embedded in your beomg because your whole life has been spent being a teacher/professor. --Richard

BE KIND

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photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State

1. The photo is pretty strongly cropped 1200x714
2. Topaz Sharpen's stabilization mode yields much greater improvement than does it's focus or sharpen modes
3 Image stabilization can be easily defeated by poor shooting technique. ie camera improperly braced, jabbing at the shutter etc.
4. 600 mm lens x 1.5 crop factor is equivalent to a 900 mm full frame angle of view multiplying the camera movement problem;
1/320 second on 900 mm equivalent lens is marginal even with the best image stabilization if shooting technique is not very
good.
5. In my experience, soft images( or poor exposure) are much more likely to be caused by my errors than the camera's especially
when the problem is sporadic.

IN summary: for the reasons above My best GUESS is that camera movement is the culprit in this individual exposure.

BTW: I seem to be seeing a pilotless aircraft. Am I Missing something?

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

What you are perceiving as the seat back rest, is in fact the tan flight suit of the pilot. Same as the weapons officer/navigator in the top back.

Vernon Gibson Loc: Madison, AL

I am impressed. The difference is amazing!

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

At that focal length hand held, I’d say camera shake. Mono pod would go a long way to correct this.

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

With that lens handheld, mashing the shutter release like you were smooshing a particularly ugly bug can produce unsharp images, which is what I think happened here, even with image stabilization. Also, a bit underexposed, which is why Auto ISO is a goodness! I have produced blurry photeaux at 1/1000 sec., if I get in a hurry and forget basic camera handling. Steady on there, brace when you can, elbows in, and cradle that lens! It's like in Football.."Go back to the basics, and Execute!"
Don't let anyone tell you different...Aircraft are hard...and helicopter rotors are the worst, if you don't want your aircraft to appear like a bug pinned to a display card. I get good winged thing propeller blur at 1/125-1/400 sec., Helicopter rotors, 1/100-1/250 sec. is good, depending if you want "full circle" for the tail rotor. Depends how much blur you like. Just a little is good enough to show "life" in the photo. Do some experimentation, and standardize. Write down what you like, or you'll forget! (Don't ask!) As far as the Rule of Thumb for lenses, even with VR...minimum shutter speed=1/focal length,adding for "crop factor"+- is a good thing to remember, and has worked well for more than 3/4 of a Century. Good luck!

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

Good suggestion, DanielB!

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

Your D5100 is a very capable camera...but if your lens was shot at 600mm, and, I believe the 5100 is a DX camera, that will give an equivalent view of 900mm! VERY subject to unsharpness. At that, you did well to get the photo as sharp as you did! Under those circumstances, a monopod would help. I know...they are clumsy, difficult to use under some conditions, inconvenient to carry, but useful on the days you can tame it!
There is a very useful term left over from my film newspaper days..."acceptable sharpness". That means enough clarity to communicate well whatever the photo it is about. Not "finger-cutting" sharpness, which is always nice, but was not always obtainable with Tri-X film and sometimes miserable shooting conditions. The same can be said of the marvelous digital cameras we have today. Shoot, evaluate, repeat...write down what works, and one day you will say "I GOT it!"