85 mm lens

[kimspics]

I just got the d700 to have as an addition to my d300. My problem is when I use the 85mm lens, the pics come out not in focus and not shrp on the eyes. I have been struggling with this on my 50 mm as well. It is not the camera, but do any of you have any advice for me. I take alot of newborn and children's pics. I use my 24-70 98% of the time with good results, but I have this expensive 85 mm and I just don't know how to use it to get my pics sharp !!!! thanks

[TheEagleSpirit]

I am not familiar with the d300 but have a d90 and d7000 which I use a nikon 85mm f3.5 VR with macro. It does a great job for me on both cameras. My cameras are not full frame cameras which may or not make a difference. I also use a tamron 17-50mm f2.8 VR with great results.
Check your camera guide to see what lenses are compatable with your camera to start and match what it says about the lenses you are refering to.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by kimspics

I just got the d700 to have as an addition to my d300. My problem is when I use the 85mm lens, the pics come out not in focus and not shrp on the eyes. I have been struggling with this on my 50 mm as well. It is not the camera, but do any of you have any advice for me. I take alot of newborn and children's pics. I use my 24-70 98% of the time with good results, but I have this expensive 85 mm and I just don't know how to use it to get my pics sharp !!!! thanks

1) how are you focusing? by selecting the point, or using the center point and recomposing, or letting the camera choose the point in auto mode?
2) is your camera set to single shot focus, or continuous?
3) is it happening on all shots, or just select tight, or distant shots?
4) are you always shooting in it's widest aperture setting?

[LoveDSLR]

Assuming you're using the 85 & 50 wide open @ f/1.4, it could be human error or lenses are back-focusing or front focusing. We need more information.

Since the D700 is similar to my D3, I'll assume that it has lens fine tuning as well. You can use it to calibrate your lenses.

If it is human error then you have to practice on focusing with a shallow DOF. I don't have the Nikon 85 f/1.4 but I have no issue shooting with my calibrated Canon 85 f/1.2 L II @ f/1.2.

For example, I shift my body instead of the camera when I use the 'focus & recompose' technique to maintain the same shooting distance.

[kirbinster]

If two lenses are doing the same thing it is either operator error or the camera - not likely both lenses have a problem. Please give us more details. Is this only when the lenses are wide open or all the time. The lenses may be both backfocusing or front focusing. Both of your cameras allow you to tune each lens for the camera, that might help. Give us some actual examples of the problem and I'll bet we can walk you through a fix.