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 08/01/2006 09:36:46 PM · #1
I am not sure what I am doing wrong, but since I got my DSLR, I find it hard to take sharp photos. Is it because I take most in low light situations, with no tripod and a slower shutter speed? I am starting to feel like giving up. If you take a look at
and
the images are very soft. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I feel like my Kodak was so much more "forgiving" when taking photos. I am using a 50MM 1/8 Nikon lens.

Thanks

PS
The images have been run through the unsharpen mask already.
 08/01/2006 09:43:33 PM · #2
I have had similar problems with the 50mm -- I'm assuming its user error on my part, given the rave reviews it gets here. What where the settings (ISO, shutter speed, aperture)? Shooting in low light will result in a slower shutter speed which may lead to blurring. Another guess is if your aperture is wide open (e.g. 1.8) you're going to have a very short DOF. If the dog leans back (or you do) it could move you out of the focus point. I've tried it with a moving child and its quite a challenge.

Also, what where your USM settings?
 08/01/2006 09:48:58 PM · #3
USM - I am not sure what my settings were.
I also hear great things about this lens as well.
1/20 1.8 F stop ISO 200 Manual
 08/01/2006 09:55:11 PM · #4
1/20 hand held? Unless you can turn into stone there's no way you aren't going to get a little blur.

Oh, tips:

- use a tripod or monopod
- find something to act as support - a railing, a ledge, the top of a fishtank, anything
- jack the ISO up so you can get somewhere around 1/125
- failing all else, drop big money on a F1.2 lense ;)

Message edited by author 2006-08-01 21:56:51.
 08/01/2006 10:00:37 PM · #5
They actually look pretty good considering they're 1/20 without a tripod. If you have to take the shots indoors, I'd suggest upping the iso, speeding up the shutterspeed, and trying to shoot near a large window with lots of sunshine. I think you'll be a lot happier with the results.
 08/01/2006 10:01:21 PM · #6
Thank you all! :-)
 08/01/2006 10:02:24 PM · #7
Ok, your shutter speed is probably too low -- IIRC the speed should be at least 1/focal length, so you are at less than half what you can handhold safely (1/50 sec, unless you're really steady). Since you can't open your aperture up any more, you need either more light or a higher ISO and maybe both. I do notice in your first picture that your dog's neck seems to be the most in focus, so that gives you an idea of how short your DOF is. His nose is completely out of focus, but his neck or eyes look closer to being in focus -- we're talking literally inches here. If you can get enough light in there, try stopping the lens down a stop or two. This might also help the sharpness of the lens as well, if I recall other conversations around here correctly.
 08/01/2006 10:07:19 PM · #8
Actually they are fairly sharp especially considering the slow shutter speed...the catch is that you are using a very shallow DOF with the aperture at f1.8. Because of the very large aperture only a small portion is actually in focus and making it look very unsharp. You'll have to close down until you can get at least from the nose to the eyes sharp. Of course, this will require either more light and/or a faster ISO.

ETA...the tripod as suggested will definitely help, the f1.4 will only make DOF shallower making the problem appear worse.

Message edited by author 2006-08-01 22:25:35.
 08/01/2006 10:24:45 PM · #9
Originally posted by Karalew:
Is it because I take most in low light situations, with no tripod and a slower shutter speed?


Yes.

And also the aperture is far too open. I am guessing under f3.5, but as others said, for 1/20 that's probably the best you will ever get handholding, and it's seriously not bad considering.

-Hideo
 08/01/2006 10:27:55 PM · #10
Oh, one more thing, try upping your ISO to 400 or 800 and using the flash. I've found that w/ the 50mm the D50 does a pretty good job of balancing the ambient light with the flash, and has given me some surprisingly good results at times.
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