Lack of focus

[Nelkz]

Hello all,

Just a quick question really
I have a NikonD40 with kit lens, I seem to have problems with image sharpness on alot of my pics. I get lots of bluring even with autofocus enabled...any tips as to why this might be..?

Thanks in advance
Nelkz

[inkista]

Couple of things to check.

0. Do you know how to hold your camera? The majority of the weight should be supported by your left hand at all times.

1. Is your shutter speed fast enough to eliminate camera shake? The rule of thumb (for an unstabilized lens) is to use a shutter speed of 1/focal_length or faster. So, for a 300mm lens, you need to be at 1/300s or faster, for a 50mm lens, 1/50mm or faster. And no matter how short the lens, you're unlikely to be able to handhold much slower than 1/30s cleanly without VR. Camera shake blur will register as a kind of multiple image blur.

2. Is your shutter speed fast enough to eliminate subject motion blur? If your subject is moving quickly, you may need an even faster shutter speed to "freeze the action."

3. What aperture are you using? Do you have enough depth of field to get your subject completely in focus? Shooting wide open at your lens's maximum aperture not only gives you the narrowest depth of field, but also may make be using the lens at its softest. Most lenses tend to sharpen up when close down a stop or two from its maximum aperture.

4. Is your camera actually focusing where you want it to? Autofocus system sometimes lock onto the wrong thing within the frame--it's not as smart as you are. Check which AF point was used. Learn how to select AF points and what the different autofocus modes do.

5. Did you post-process the photo? dSLR cameras, by default, tend to keep processing to a minimum. P&S cameras cook all files the same way, usually by performing sharpening and a saturation boost. You can set a dSLR to do this for you in-camera. But it's actually better to do this in post-processing

[daft_biker]

There could be a few reasons for it depending on the situation and camera settings.

Does it give sharp pics of static subjects in bright light?

Do you start getting problems if the subject is moving or the light is less than perfect?

[kencaleno]

Are you using a tripod?

Have you set your dioptre correctly?: to do so:

Detach lens, (so you are adjusting focus on focus point, not image) - adjust dioptre (next to viewfinder) so focus points are sharply in focus. (easier against a white, or light background) Re-attach lens.


Ken

[Nelkz]

Thanks for the great response

@ kencaleno
I havnt done this since getting the camera, I will try it tonight

@ daft_biker
I find its my kids mainly ( and yes they do move alot, but i thought it would still be sharp if the shutter was fast enough?

@ inkista
thanks so much for those tips, I tend to use the P mode alot, I will try them all out tonight..I really appreciate your post

Thanks all for your input and help

Nelkz

[DCBarner]

3. What aperture are you using? Do you have enough depth of field to get your subject completely in focus? Shooting wide open at your lens's maximum aperture not only gives you the narrowest depth of field, but also may make be using the lens at its softest. Most lenses tend to sharpen up when close down a stop or two from its maximum aperture.

I had no idea this was true! Thank you. That explains a lot.

Dane