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Focusing with Nikon D3100 / Nikor 55 - 200 DX
Apr 16, 2014 09:54:02 #
sletter wrote:
Certainly possible I suppose. Although I would appreciate it if you could help me determine what the source was. As I said, it was tripod mounted and as I didn't say I used my remote (wireless) release. My guess, I didn't lock the mirror up?
And the tripod was leveled on a paved road.
Oh one more thing, the moon was moving from the lower left side (easterly direction) to the upper right side.
And the tripod was leveled on a paved road.
Oh one more thing, the moon was moving from the lower left side (easterly direction) to the upper right side.
I also used my tripod without my remote shutter.
My moon also traversed from left to right in my viewfinder and my live view. Fastest shutter I could use was about 1/200th. Anything longer produced star trails.
I need a new tripod, something that locks a position in without having to twist a knob. Also, with my tripod extended to let me use the viewfinder and live view in the lcd ended up with shakes (minor) after pushing the shutter. So I had to use a 10 second delay in shutter action. Unknown before but it seems my tripod isn't too good when extended.
For focusing, I am ready to buy the Katz focus screen and have them put it in for me because 71 1/2 year old eyes aren't what they used to be.
Sarge69
Apr 16, 2014 10:02:54 #
MW wrote:
Did you remember to turn off VR?
Ok, so I never had a lens with stabilization before. Can you explain why I shut it off? (I didn't). My previous experience was 25 years ago with a film SLR. I assume this has to do with the shake Gene51 noticed?
Apr 16, 2014 10:07:12 #
sletter wrote:
Ok, so I never had a lens with stabilization before. Can you explain why I shut it off? (I didn't). My previous experience was 25 years ago with a film SLR. I assume this has to do with the shake Gene51 noticed?
Sometimes the VR mechanism tries to stabilize during a longish exposure when in fact their is no camera movement. Sounds wierd but it has happened to me. The device works fine so long as there is some camera movement but I guess that when there is none it gets confused.
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Apr 16, 2014 10:33:39 #
Ok. And with tripod mount, etc. there is no motion so no need for stabilization. Good to know, thanks!
Apr 16, 2014 15:08:39 #
Thanks for posting the photo! I have the same lens and the D5200, its big brother. I have had some focusing problems, but have gotten some sharp ones too. I remember looking at the moon through my fathers telescope when I was a kid, a mirror reflector of the "Newtonian" design. It would fill the view finder, but actually had visible movement in the viewfinder, it you took your eye off it to talk, and looked back, it was no longer centered in the viewfinder. That, coupled with the VR on while on tripod, and the manual focusing problems probably all contributed to the blur. Sometimes I think it is a soft lens, but I have gotten some amazing sharp portraits with it. It's depth of field is very touchy too. I think the best solution is the suggestion to use live view and zoom in for focusing... it may help to set up the back button focusing feature so it locks in, if you are still trying autofocus (like on an off center object). Although the zooming in method is in itself purposed more for manual focus. I like to try different possibilities.
sletter wrote:
That's something I do miss, the split viewfinder. It makes focusing much easier but I think there are drawbacks with longer lenses if I remember right (it's been 25 years since I had my 35mm). I'm going to try the live view trick first.
And here is one of the pix I took. Should have used the Sigma 150 - 500 but I wanted something fast to set up.
And here is one of the pix I took. Should have used the Sigma 150 - 500 but I wanted something fast to set up.
Apr 16, 2014 15:34:40 #
I have a question about "live view". How to you see to focus. On my D3200 Live View the moon is so bright it is washed out and I can't see any detail to focus on?
Apr 16, 2014 15:38:35 #
SpaceCowboy369 wrote:
I have a question about "live view". How to you see to focus. On my D3200 Live View the moon is so bright it is washed out and I can't see any detail to focus on?
If the moon was washed out in live view, then the exposure would be as well.
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Apr 16, 2014 15:50:16 #
The moon is in constant motion in the sky due to the rotation of the earth. The more the magnification the faster it appears to move. Assuming you manual focused to infinity, a 5 second exposure may have caught the motion of the moon, causing the exposure to appear blurred. Astrophotographers generally shoot video through a telescope then stack about a minute's worth of images (about 1800 frames at 30fps) to bring out all the detail. Even a single frame of video might show more detail than a time exposure because of this motion.
Apr 16, 2014 17:26:09 #
On my D7000 in live view I can use the close-up button on the left side to zoom in in live view. You can also adjust and set ISO/Apeture/ settings in 'Live Mode'
That is a great feature.
Sarge69
That is a great feature.
Sarge69
Apr 16, 2014 19:51:04 #
Not true Gene51. The picture was fine. Just a Live View issue. I was able to sort of focus through the view finder. I will see it I can adjust the Live View parameter as sarge69 suggested. Thanks input.
Apr 16, 2014 23:38:18 #
Look at the circular edge to find the sharpest focus and hope the sensor picks up the details...Maybe try bracketing to get an underexposure if normal is washed out. I am now wondering if using a negative number on exposure compensation would help. Using a high f stop like 10-16 might help avoid washing out too, sometimes I notice a higher f stop makes the picture darker. The aperture is smaller, reducing the light.
SpaceCowboy369 wrote:
I have a question about "live view". How to you see to focus. On my D3200 Live View the moon is so bright it is washed out and I can't see any detail to focus on?
Apr 16, 2014 23:47:43 #
Hey George,
The actual picture is nicely exposed. I just can't see any details, when viewing the moon, in "Live View". I just have a big white blob. I have to focus through the view finder and that is hard to see when looking at the moon. sarge 69 mention that his d7100 allow him to adjust the iso of the Live View. I don't see that option on the D3200.
The actual picture is nicely exposed. I just can't see any details, when viewing the moon, in "Live View". I just have a big white blob. I have to focus through the view finder and that is hard to see when looking at the moon. sarge 69 mention that his d7100 allow him to adjust the iso of the Live View. I don't see that option on the D3200.
Apr 17, 2014 00:38:46 #
Nikon D3100, manual settings: iso100, f4, 1/640 sec exposure. Hand held with Nikkor Q 200mm f4.0 manual film lens. Used photoshop to add a high pass filter and crop and double the image size from 539 to 1000 pixels square.
Apr 17, 2014 01:23:51 #
joer wrote:
Spot metering on the moon works well too. If you are like me the camera sees better than I do.
I used spot metering for the moon too. My exposure was 2.59 seconds, ISO 500, f5.6, and auto focus was on because I trust the camera more than I do myself. This was on a tripod if course. I also used mirror lock.
Apr 17, 2014 05:05:39 #
SpaceCowboy369 wrote:
Not true Gene51. The picture was fine. Just a Live View issue. I was able to sort of focus through the view finder. I will see it I can adjust the Live View parameter as sarge69 suggested. Thanks input.
My mistake- I should not have assumed that the live view on the D7100 functioned the same as on a D7000.
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