Not happy with current results\ Nikon D40X

[anasko]

Hi! I really hope you guys can give your professional advice to make me happier

My current equipment is:

Nikon D40X,
Sigma 18mm - 200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM
Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5 - 5.6G
and a couple of manual lenses, including Sigma macro

and have been getting rather poor results, except when the subjects are still.

My main subjects are my young children who are real energizers, they are always in motion. My pictures are never crispy and if indoors It seems that I am always a fraction of a second too late to take great shots because my camera is too slow.

Today I am all frustrated yet again because after spending a wonderful day on the beach taking a bunch of pictures I cannot be proud of a single shot. I will keep them, they would make great memories, but I could have just used one of my pocket cameras with the same results.

Question: Is it just me being a poor photographer and not utilizing the DSLR camera to its full potential? If so I will spend more time and energy perfecting my skills...
Or is it time to invest in a better camera\lenses? Like I said, children are my main subject, but I enjoy taking portraits of people, pets and occasional landscapes. I am willing to switch to Canon or stay with Nikon. Budget: under $2500 (preferable), though I could go higher if it is justifiable.

What would be your recommendations?

[oldwolf]

Here are my suggstions:

1. Post some examples of pictures you aren't happy with. That way we can try to figure out what can be done differently. You also need to tell us why you don't like the pictures. You might think it's overexposed while others might think it looks fine.

2. Learn to use the camera and learn about the exposure triangle. As much as I'd like to tell you Canon is better than Nikon because I shoot Canon, I won't because it's the person behind the camera and not what brand of camera that takes great pictures.

3. Being a fraction too late means the camera or the person behind the camera wasn't ready. When out having fun on with the family you should try to avoid having a camera stuck to your face. Enjoy being with your family and don't pressure yourself into taking pictures. Let it happen and one day you'll capture great moments.

[OsmosisStudios]

It might be time for some better lenses, especially if you find yourself shooting things that move a lot (or finding that you're having trouble with them.

Your 18-200, for instance, is f/6.3 at the long end, and that's sloooow. glacial. You might just need to practice panning and tracking too.

[anasko]

Fair enough. Here are some pics.
Flickr: anasko.gold's Photostream
What I don't
like about most of them there is no crispiness to lines, no
definition, no detail. I suspect in some cases it is simply because the subject
is out of focus but even when te focus is fine
any of my pics look nothing like pics I admire on Picasa web
albums feature page.
Like this one for instance
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Vy-7eR8cTpA/TH...ofit%40dc1.jpg


If experience is not the only issue what new lens would you recommend for me?

[karuna01]

Hi Anasko,

I own D40 with same 18-200mm& 18-55mm lens. I got great shots, can't understand why u aren't getting any. Sometimes with moving object , you need to move with the objects, or try the sports settings. I practice a lot before i get the settings correct.
I can only suggest to practice with various modes & see what you would like on final shot. As for the equipment, you have a good range of equipment already, better to enhance skills first.
I am attaching one of my better shots. "Good Shooting"

[karuna01]

Originally Posted by anasko

Hi! I really hope you guys can give your professional advice to make me happier

My current equipment is:

Nikon D40X,
Sigma 18mm - 200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM
Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5 - 5.6G
and a couple of manual lenses, including Sigma macro

and have been getting rather poor results, except when the subjects are still.

My main subjects are my young children who are real energizers, they are always in motion. My pictures are never crispy and if indoors It seems that I am always a fraction of a second too late to take great shots because my camera is too slow.

Today I am all frustrated yet again because after spending a wonderful day on the beach taking a bunch of pictures I cannot be proud of a single shot. I will keep them, they would make great memories, but I could have just used one of my pocket cameras with the same results.

Question: Is it just me being a poor photographer and not utilizing the DSLR camera to its full potential? If so I will spend more time and energy perfecting my skills...
Or is it time to invest in a better camera\lenses? Like I said, children are my main subject, but I enjoy taking portraits of people, pets and occasional landscapes. I am willing to switch to Canon or stay with Nikon. Budget: under $2500 (preferable), though I could go higher if it is justifiable.

What would be your recommendations?

I saw ur pics on Flickr , seems fine many, i really like some of the shots, make great memories. Perhaps u are actually looking for software to enhance your shots.

[OsmosisStudios]

I see nothing wrong with the images in your flickr stream. The image you link separately was shot using a very nice lens with a fast aperture.

Are you examining your images at 100%? If so, even with the best lenses you're going to see some softness, but it'll be worse with the 18-200 (its not as sharp as it could be). Are you sure your editing isn't to blame? You really should be using a sharpening method of some kind on all your images, or at least in-camera if youre shooting jpg.

[anasko]

Well, thank you I didn't expect good reviews. I suppose I am a little tough on myself but I wish I did have that "very nice" lens that you referred to. Which one do you think it is?

I am risking to sound dumb but I didn't realize I am supposed to edit every shot I take. I mean straitening and cropping is kind of obvious but making every image sharper... Is that what everybody else does, then? In this case the detail will still not show in my opinion

[OsmosisStudios]

I shoot RAW, but the majority still applies:

Import into RAW converter, do RAW edits. Straightening, colour, white balance, etc
Open in Photoshop
Sharpening
Save

There's a lot more to dSLR images than jsut the big sensor. You should be doing some editing, if only in camera. If you shoot JPG, you can adjust the sharpening and colour and so on before even shooting.

[SuperDan]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

I shoot RAW, but the majority still applies:


There's a lot more to dSLR images than jsut the big sensor. You should be doing some editing, if only in camera. If you shoot JPG, you can adjust the sharpening and colour and so on before even shooting.

Osmosis, have you gotten that shirt yet for the I SHOOT RAW?
ha.. but.. yes, Osmosis is correct...

Now in my opinion some of the pics are a little under exposed and dark, but on a few of them, i saw that you are set in auto everything...
I agree with alot of people here, its not just the camera... theres alot going on..

my main thing would be to learn your camera, learn some flash techniques (not your popup, unless you shoot in M)