Praying Mantis...or Alien?

[photog1107]

I am trying desparately to figure out why my images are not crystal clear. This was a shot of a praying mantis up on my roof line just below the gutter. I used a tripod, pointed the camera up, but every time i pressed the shutter I could sense a tiny bit of camera shake.. Does that seem to be the problem? I thought 1/200 would take care of any motion. Or am I simply trying to get too much detail out of my 300 mm lens? (I was about 25 feet away.) Any feedback or advice would be great--thanks!:

[martha36]

Very cool composition! What aperature were you shooting at? And are you auto-focusing? I tend to manual focus because I'm never convinced that auto focus is as sharp as I want it.

[photog1107]

I did manual focus... that was the best I could get. That is what is so frustrating, and I am wondering if that is the best I can do, given a 300mm focal length and being 25 feet away. I'd love some guidance on that. Thanks for the compliment on composition. It was nice he turned his head toward me to smile!

It was shot at f/5.6 and 100 ISO.

[photog1107]

Am trying to post this as a link, rather than an attachment...

[martha36]

Maybe that is the problem, then. I've had really good luck with my 200mm, but when I use it for macro stuff, I am usually as close as I can be to focus.

[martha36]

Oh, and when I manual focus, I usually fire off a zillion shots - at least as many as i can get before whatever it is I'm shooting flies away. And IF I'm lucky, one is sharp as a tack!

[photog1107]

I hear you... thanks for the feedback. He was up near my roof, so I was stuck on the ground this time!

[arlon]

300mm at 25ft and 1/200s is a tuff shot. I'm amazed you did that well. I can't see exif data so I don't know what aperture you used. My guess is that's part of the issue. Also what 300mm did you use? All 300's are not created equal. If that was a consumer zoom like a 70-300 Nikon G lens and shot wide open, go pat yourself on the back! If that was fixed 300mm f2.8 shot at f4 from a tripod with a D3X, you need to work on youer manual focus some more.. More details and I'll try to give you as honest and constructive of an opinion as I can.. (-:}

Be sure to refocus completely between each shot!

[photog1107]

It was a Canon 75-300 IS (yes, I guess that is a consumer lens, not a pro lens), and shot at f/5.6, which was wide open. Help me understand how apeture played a role. I understand DOF, but how would a wide aperture affect focus in general?

Thanks very much.