Problem with manual focus on D3000

[Dæmonia]

Well, the title is pretty explicit... I just CAN'T make the focus right when doing it manually. The image in the viewfinder and the one taken by the camera are totally different. I've wasted tons of good shot because of this :-( I'm using a Nikon 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF Zoom (the old one, without integrated auto-focus). I got the same problem with my other lense (a Nikkor 18-105mm DX VR), but since I scarcely use it, I can't say if it's worse or equal. I love doing my focus manually, so this is a huge problem for me. Also, it's my first DSLR (I was using a very good bridge before that), so I'm wondering if it's only something I forgot to do or something like that.

Thanks for your explication

[OsmosisStudios]

At the eyepiece to the viewfinder you'll notice a little sliding piece. This adjusts a small lens inside the viewfinder which alters what YOU see in your viewfinder but not what the camera sees.

[Dæmonia]

Found it. If I move it, it makes the guide blurry. I'll play with it to see if it helps... I guess I'll have to do without the guides if it does. Thanks!

[nokiN]

It's called the diopter adjustment.

Your D3000 is not really designed to be good at manual focus. It is primarily designed to use auto focus lenses.

Manual focus cameras used to have a split focusing screen you could see in the viewfinder that aided manual focus. Also manual focus cameas had much larger (and brighter) viewfinders which also aided manual focus

However, there is an indicator in the D3000 viewfinder that can help, and it's in the lower left corner of the viewfinder. It is the in-focus indicator. with that and using the zoom feature of the back LCD, you should be able to manually focus.

Lastly, it is easier to start by focusing on something behind your intended focus point first and then moving the focus ring to bring focus to what you want to focus on..

[shiroutsuki]

sorry, what zoom feature of the back LCD??? I can't find it?
TY :3

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by shiroutsuki

sorry, what zoom feature of the back LCD??? I can't find it?
TY :3

nokiN misspoke: the D3000 doesn't have this feature as the D3000 doesn't have live view

[zona5101]

this might be a very good aid for what you wish to do...
Nikon D3000 D5000 Focusing Screen - KatzEye Optics

[sk66]

Originally Posted by zona5101

this might be a very good aid for what you wish to do...
Nikon D3000 D5000 Focusing Screen - KatzEye Optics

Why isn't there one for my D3?!
OP, are you using the focus indicator in the viewfinder to confirm focus?

[shiroutsuki]

D: awe... OK so I used the Dadjustment whatever, set my AF-S lenses to M, set my camera body to M and A, but my pictures are still terribly blurry $: I figured out that using the focus ring would help which is did by a tad, but my pictures were still really blurry. I'm seeing the little box whatever that I usually use in... non-manual mode to focus on specific things, but it doesn't seem to work... HELP PLEASE? D:

[Sterling]

I figured out that using the focus ring would help which is did by a tad...

A tad? The focus ring is the control that lets you focus! Look through the viewfinder and turn the focus ring until the view becomes sharp. To help you, there is a little green dot at the bottom left when looking through the viewfinder that will light up when you have your scene in focus.

Your camera was designed to use the autofocus system and it works surprisingly well. As you've found out, most lower priced dslrs have crappy manual focus systems. Luckily, that ability is rarely needed.