first maual outing

[Jo.T]

hi all
Just starting to work with the manual settings on my camera would luv some pointers
I have a nikon D40X lense 18-55mm taken on Aperture Priority 1/15 sec - F/29

[eydyen9392]

i like the concept... but it looks blurry...

[Henry Wilt]

Before I start I will just say that I am only just starting to use the creative modes on my camera and like you am still learning so take my critique with a pinch of salt if you will.

I like the composition but I think it lacks sharpness. I think that is probably camera shake rather than missed focus as you are using a very slow shutter speed. As you are using Aperture mode, is there any reason why you used such small aperture? I would have probably tried using somewhere around f/11 - f/16 which would have enabled me to use a faster shutter speed probably 1/125 and keep the ISO at 100.

Good luck with the manual settings, I look forward to seeing your next shots.

[Yorkie]

Hi Jo,

Looks like our friends have got it spot on. I don't know how much you understand about apertures and their relationship to exposure times but even on the sunny day you enjoyed f29 is likely to need a longer exposure than you could hand-hold, even if you were an old hand rather than a newbie.

A tripod - or even resting the camera on something solid - would have helped.

More fundamentally, you maybe need to think about what you're trying to achieve with your photo. What was meant to be the focus of the picture? Did you choose f29 to get everything sharp? Or were you just trying it out to see what happened?

I'm guessing the latter so just keep practising. Try taking a series of shots with different combinations of aperture and exposure then look at them to see what effect it has on the picture you get. If you focus on the same spot in each picture that will help your understanding of what's happening to sharpness in front of and behind the point of focus.

Hope this helps.

Yorkie
Yorkiepix - Welcome home

[windrider86]

Please be sure to get familiar with the guidelines that are posted at the top of each section. Within they contain vital information that you'll need to include information in your posts in the critique section.
If you could please take a peek and then edit your post accordingly it would be very much appreciated. Let me know if you need any help!

[Elmo]

As stated above your image appears fuzzy, as others have stated that is likely due to slow shutter speed. A good rule for shutter speed for hand holding is minimum shutter speed = 1/Focal length of lens.

Also as stated above one reason for using such a small lens opening (Large f number) is to increase Depth of field ( area os acceptable focus). I might suggest using an online DOF calculator to get a idea of how DOF works with various f stops an focal lengths.

However another issue comes into play it is called Diffraction Limit. This is an issue with digital cameras which causes a lens to appear less sharp after it passes a certain f stop. For most small sensor digital cameras the start becoming an issue around f:8 to f:11. the apparent sharpness decreases the higher the number gets after this point. This is not a big sharpness issue for lots of folks but IMHO it is better to keep f stops at a number smaller than f 11 where possible.

Keep at it it will all come together with practice.

[Yorkie]

Dear Windrider86,

Could you please clarify who your message is for (e.g. me, Jo.t or some other poster)?

Thanks

Yorkie
Yorkiepix - Welcome home

[Jo.T]

Thanks All
nice to get some feed back where i went wrong, have done a lot of reading and starting to work out what im doing. This was a quick stop and i didnt take the time to play with the settings or get the tripod out will not do that again, learning fast that you have to make the most of what is in front of you now as you may never get the same setting again. Later in the day i did take the time with a sunset to play with all the ISO settings and sutter speed ect which i will put up in another post for some feed back. Love this site keep up the great work guys
cheers Jo

[windrider86]

Hi Yorkie,

The message was intended for the orginal post. txs

Originally Posted by Yorkie

Dear Windrider86,

Could you please clarify who your message is for (e.g. me, Jo.t or some other poster)?

Thanks

Yorkie
Yorkiepix - Welcome home