paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

Use proper photo technique. ISO 400, sufficient shutter speed, depth of field, focus point, tripod, remote release, proper stance for holding camera, hold your breath, shoot at a decent resolution in the camera, don't worry about how many images you can cram on an SD card buy another card they are cheap. Proper use of shutter release button. clean the lenses, remove cheap filters, buy good glass,
There are many factors and any one can throw off the image.

randik

I don't have an AF-S option under a1...I only have AF-C priority selection with the choices being release or focus. and for # of focus points my choices are 39 or 11.

Dutzie Loc: I'd like to know

The next time steady your camera on a fixed object. You might be moving involentarily when you hit the button...

CO

I didn't know exactly which modes the D5300 has. You would want to set the AF-C priority selection option to Focus. It will not take the photo until it achieves proper focus. I know that you can select 39 or 11 focus points but you can select just the center focus point also. I just looked it up on Nikon's website for the D5300. That's great if the scene is cluttered and you want to pin point focus on a particular subject.

Pearlbell

Had difficulties with my D3100. Problems with focusing and nothing on the "mode" dial would work. Ended up calling Nikon help line and a very knowledgeable and nice person talked me through a resetting procedure. If you choose to do so have your camera handy and also the lens you are using. They will want numbers off these pieces.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

Maybe it's just a simple adjustment of the diopter. That can make a difference.

randik

Thank you all. I will call Nikon upon my return and load the CD. Also, a tutorial probably wouldn't hurt 😆

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

Randik, another thing to remember is that the more focus points you have active, the longer the camera will take to achieve accurate focus. It analyzes each one, and is fairly fast, but you may notice a discernible lag between 9 or 11 and 39 points, and it definitely increases the chances of it picking a point you don't want.

bbrown5154 Loc: Baltimore, MD

Double check and make sure your not letting the camera select whats in focus.

My recommendation is to start with AF-S.
Also I know this is stupid but make sure your stabilization is set.

Here's a link that should help...

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-change-the-focus-mode-setting-on-your-nikon.html

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Diopter adjustment affects only the user's view of the focusing screen, it does not affect the image at the focal plane.

sportspixguy Loc: Madison, WI

Make sure you are set for single shot AF. If you are on continuous autofocus as if trying to shoot a moving target, the camera may take the picture without being in focus. Try again at AF-S and might have solved the problem.

tomcat

Randik, I looked at your 2nd image here. The first one had the people walking into your image and I did not like the composition. What I see is this:
1. With your autofocus settings, the camera bag of the man in the center appears to be in focus, as well as some of the leaves in the tree. So the camera appears to be focusing, but not on your main area of interest. It appears to be focusing on the closest-subject-priority (i.e. one of those 11 points you mentioned), which is not the buildings and the folks sitting outside them. This is why the image appears blurry because your main area of interest is indeed, not in focus.
2. Set the camera autofocus mode to AF-S, single servo focus and move the focus target point (the square) to the center of the viewfinder. This will stop the camera from using the 11 or 39 points to determine what to focus on. With this center setting, you can point the camera at what you think is the main focus area, press the shutter down half-way to lock focus and hold the shutter down, while you recompose your subject/image

mcmm Loc: Kansas

Thanks Bill for the link. I have downloaded it to my phone and think it will really be helpful.