jguessrn

I have taken 35 millimeter photographs since 1968 shooting mostly Kodachrome and fujichrome slides. About 6 years ago I decided to make the switch to digital . I have regretted it since. I originally bought a Canon Rebel which serviced fairly well a point and shoot. as my focus was elsewhere I wasn't real serious just recording events. Somebody liked my Canon more than I did or it grew legs and walked off so I decided I would replace it with something more serious that I could manipulate the camera and the images. After talking to my camera guy he assured me the Nikon D 3200 would fit the bill so I bought one. to say I was disappointed is being mild. I have had the camera for 3 years now and I think that I'm fairly familiar with the menu and the manipulation of the lenses and the camera. I will start this conversation with the focus of the camera. I shoot Birds and I shoot macro mostly flowers so I set the camera up with fairly small f stops and slow shutter speeds and shoot with a tripod and electronic release. I used live Focus and zoom in on my focus point. on my screen it looks sharp. the finished image looks more like a cloudy piece of mud no matter what I do with the image I have tried different computers to see if the screens were the problem and the images are just not Sharp. the stamen in the flowers are not Sharp.. I focus on the bird's eye and the eye is fairly sharp although it looks dull but when looking at the head there is no definite definition to the feathers. the overall effect of the picture is like I'm shooting through a mild fog. I have thought for a while now that my camera guy was BSing me and the Nikon D 3200 is nothing more than a glorified point and shoot. I have thought about buying a new camera but as I'm retired on it fixed budget I'm leery to do that so I would like to get a little input as to things to try or to scrap the camera thank you

BebuLamar

How do your images from the D3200 compared to the ones you took with your 35mm camera? 3 years ago I think the D3200 is already an old model and one at the bottom of the Nikon DSLR's. It's really in the same class as your Rebel. Still I don't think the problem is with the camera. Although you use tripod but birds and flowers don't stay still so you could have motion blur by using slow shutter speeds.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I'm willing to bet your images would be the same with any camera. Post some photos with exif and let us try to help.

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

If your digital results are not what you expected, it's time to take a good look, i.e. test your equipment to find out if it is the camera, the lens or the photographer that is at fault. Take some test shots and post them here. Maybe we can come up with something you can use to get better results.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

You should have bought the D3300 instead of the D3200. Both cameras have been discontinued. Also, it is a better performer. You can also get a firmware for the D3300 to use Nikon AF-P lenses. I don't think the D3200 has that capability? The 24 megapixels crop sensor Nikon D3300, is a better DSLR than its successor, the D3400. But, I'm certain that a skilled photographer, could do wonders with your D3200. As any other DSLR. You may need to practice, until you have that camera's features understood. The ones important to you.

Charles P Loc: Southern Central NY State

What lens are you using? I have a D3200 that I bought back in '15 when they were closing them out. Mine is sharp with a sharp lens, but I will say that the live view leaves something to be desired. Post an image or two and check the store original box, and I'm sure the fine folks here will try to help you out.

Shutterbug57

What lenses are you using?

uhaas2009

My first camera was a manuel Minolta and later I got the digital canon rebel 300D. The first worsted was for me the autofocus. I did not focus right or better I had to learn how to used it and digital is more sensitive if the shutter speed is to slow.
The screen on the camera is not alway grade ether. The older camera like the Nikon 90D I would always zoom in the pics on the screen just to make sure it is sharp, when I use the Nikon D3400 I don't have this problem anymore because I see exactly on camera screen.
What I did was I would use none moveable objects and it's better if the object is a bit bigger, easier to focus. Nikon have the "green Dot" when you look through the viewfinder what indicates the sharpness.
Some Lenses are not the best in sharpness and or some camera bodys are not the best in focusing ether. I have a older kid plastic Lens what is sharp as heck and lot easy to focus vs. older 2.8f glass lens and it looks weird on a 810 with a silver plastic lens....lol.....again use the green dot.....Happy shooting and sorry for my english

therwol Loc: USA

Post some photos. This doesn't sound right. Let us see what you're talking about.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I'll put in the 3rd request, assuming this post is a serious request for help. Many of us can provide practical and actionable suggestions. But, we need to see actual images directly from the camera where you've stored the original as an attachment.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I have a d3200. it takes wonderful pictures. Sounds like a lens or operator problem to me.

donald4u Loc: California

I was in your boat. From the film days to a digital when my grand sons told me to come out of the past to present. So I got a Nikon D40 with a Tamron 18-270 lens. I shot everything with it. Air shows, car shows. People and pets. Great results. I fell and broke it and I am currently with the Nikon D5100 with a Tamron 16-300 mm. As I said great results. Check out Steve Perry or Tony Northop on why pictures don't come out sharp.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

In the link below, there are 215,500 examples of how good (mostly) a camera the D3200 is. I am going to suggest that there are other factors that are producing unsatisfactory images.

https://www.flickr.com/groups/d3200/pool/with/30786407533/

But we would be able to tell unless you post a few samples of what you are referring to, with the "store original" checkbox ticked.

Keeping in mind that the D3200 is an entry-level camera, it is still quite capable of producing stunning images.

tdozier3 Loc: Northern Illinois

I have a D3200 and have no problems with it. In fact, I love this camera. I shoot RAW format and post process with Corel Aftershot Pro 3.Here are some shots that were taken free hand and with a tripod and remote.

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Duane Hanley Loc: Milwaukee Wisconsin

I was and still am a film guy at heart. I still use my Nikon f3hp every once in a while. My first digital camera was the Nikon L120. From there I purchased the Nikon P600. Then I up grated to the D3400. Just because you have a very expensive camera doesn't mean you pictures will be great. I've sold Hasselblad and leica to basic beginners who thought there money could buy them great images, but they were wrong. My wife with her point & shoot camera can create a ton of better images. Practice is what is needed. Knowledge of camera basics and learning composition is what is needed. All entry level cameras can produce spectacular images, trust me