Finally a 24-70mm F/2.8 but blurry photos...

[november]

Finally got the cash and purchased the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 G ED! I took some really nice, crisp photos but also a lot of blurry ones. I felt a bit disappointed and I know it is not the lens but me. I mean, there is only a lot of good reviews about this lens and I see a lot of photos in books and internet of the results.
So I noticed the lens is a bit heavy on my D80, heavier than I thought and heavier than all my other lenses, so that could be the problem. How do I handle this. Yep, steady grip. Outdoors the photos are pretty good, sometimes amazing good but indoors, low light conditions I have more blurry photos. I know it is a matter of learning too, first photos were not good but seems to get better.

[jdepould]

Samples? Need to know if it's motion blur or missed focus.

Sounds like camera shake, but just want to be certain. Biggest thing is to keep your elbows tucked in and roll your finger onto the shutter release. Don't slap it.

[autofocus]

Here's my best guess being that you do get good shots from time to time.
It's most probably a technique problem...here's the proper way to hold your camera, regardless of lens used, or whether shooting in portrait mode or landscape mode. Any other way will surely give you problems, especially with that big lens. Cradle the barrel of the lens in your left hand, with elbows locked into your body as below

[kirbinster]

Or are you shooting at f/2.8 and confusing lack of depth of field with blur.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by november

Outdoors the photos are pretty good, sometimes amazing good but indoors, low light conditions I have more blurry photos. I know it is a matter of learning too, first photos were not good but seems to get better.

Just because it's a faster lens it doesn't mean it will do well indoors if there isn't enough light.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by sk66

Just because it's a faster lens it doesn't mean it will do well indoors if there isn't enough light.

+1 Good point Steve, especially if the camera is calling for a slow shutter speed.

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by autofocus

Here's my best guess being that you do get good shots from time to time.
It's most probably a technique problem...here's the proper way to hold your camera, regardless of lens used, or whether shooting in portrait mode or landscape mode. Any other way will surely give you problems, especially with that big lens. Cradle the barrel of the lens in your left hand, with elbows locked into your body as below

Additionally, if you are shooting vertically (portrait), rotate the camera so the shutter release is pointing down, keeping your hands relatively close together.

[november]

Originally Posted by autofocus

+1 Good point Steve, especially if the camera is calling for a slow shutter speed.

Thanks for everyone's input. For sure it is camera shake. I really have to find a way (thanks for picture, Autofocus!) to hold still my camera. It is the heavy lens I am not used to (yet). I see the difference between camera shake and motion blur, especially yesterday I tried out the lens all day.
Also indoors it was the slow shutterspeed when trying f/2.8. I wanted to see the results with a wide open aperture but of course that gives a slow shutter speed to compensate. Using my flash gun results have definitely improved!
It is a totally different lens to handle, but learning and really loving it now!

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by november

Also indoors it was the slow shutterspeed when trying f/2.8. I wanted to see the results with a wide open aperture but of course that gives a slow shutter speed to compensate.

Wide open will give you the fastest possible shutter speed for a given ISO.