Nikon D3000 and 55-200mm? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

06/01/2013 10:15:35 PM · #1

I am new to all this. My problem is that my photos seem soft and out of focus. Is this normal at 200mm with this lens?

mariahdc

Canon EOS-50D

06/01/2013 10:43:33 PM · #2

Do you have an example of your photos, with EXIF info? That may help. You also could have a bad lens or it may need adjusting. I shoot with Canon but borrowed a friend's D7000 and 55-200 a few weeks ago one afternoon, so I know nothing about the D3000. Here are two shots taken at 200mm. I haven't done any processing - just resized.

Message edited by author 2013-06-01 22:43:40.

daisydavid

Canon EOS-5DS R

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

06/02/2013 01:17:30 AM · #3

I started with a D3000 and frequently had the same problem. You can set the camera up to get reasonable results but it really was the camera, the lens is ok, but if you post up a shot with the exif as

mariahdc rightly remarked, we can get a better idea what is going on. Try searching Flickr for examples of other D3000 users results with your combination.

This is one of my first shots here using a D3000 & 70-210mm f/4.0-5.6 I think at about 200mm, though the image was sharpened and processed in photoshop.

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/02/2013 03:40:41 AM · #4

The majority of issues people have in these circumstances are technique related. That said, the kit 55-200 lens isn't going to be the best way out at 200, either. It would be helpful to know the types of subjects you're having issues with as well, but as others have said, some examples would be best.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

06/02/2013 02:00:15 PM · #5

Yeah I figured it out. It is equipment. At dusk there just isn't enough light for the kit lenses. I thought that was the issue, but someone kept telling me it was me. I am very new to this and only have the camera because I bought it for my wife and she is good. I noticed her pictures were dark all the time, so I took this and bought her a canon with new lenses. I can get good exposure, but the light seems to cause a softness to the pictures. I am fixing to post up some pictures as soon as I figure that part out here.

Ok I see I have to be a paying member before I can post any pictures.

Message edited by author 2013-06-02 14:26:11.

spiritualspatula

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/02/2013 03:33:45 PM · #6

Originally posted by Jgraves1107:

You can always post to something like flickr and post a link here.

If you don't have enough light, this could also be attributed to technique, as shooting with a long lens and being steady enough to hold for longer exposure is an art in itself. You could also try support via a tripod, a monopod, a beanbag, or even just leaning against something and using it as a partial brace (I do this with trees all the time). So although a faster lens would help, there are other ways to counteract, as well.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

06/02/2013 05:11:53 PM · #7

This is my flickr photostream info /photos/87832475@N02/

If the subject is close, they turn out fine. At a distance is where my issues seem to be. I really don't want to use a tripod though. So would that be fixed with say a f/2.8 lens?

Damon

Nikon D750

06/02/2013 05:44:58 PM · #8

Hey Jefferey kind of a rule of thumb with lens is put a 1 over the the length your shooting at and that's the slowest you want your shutter speed to be for hand holding without a tripod. So for instance with a 200 mm the slowest you would want to shoot would be 1/200 sec, anything lower than that could create blurry images. The 2.8 will allow you to shoot in lower light but also reduces your depth of field.

dang typos

Message edited by author 2013-06-02 17:45:16.

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/02/2013 05:47:54 PM · #9

Originally posted by Jgraves1107:

If you're talking about the softness in a shot like this one, it's due to shutter speed. Your subject is moving quickly. You need to either increase your ISO or open up your aperture more. Will a 2.8 lens help this? Yes, because it will allow more light in. But you can also increase your shutter speed. As a general note, the more you try to shoot fast motion under low light conditions, the more money you will have to throw at things unless you begin to use flash.

What were your settings on that image?

The others didn't seem appreciably soft to me, but they also weren't full size.

C_Steve_G

Apple iPhone 12

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 35-135mm f/3.5-4.5

06/02/2013 09:01:59 PM · #10

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

...What were your settings on that image?

The others didn't seem appreciably soft to me, but they also weren't full size.

Make - NIKON CORPORATION
Model - NIKON D3000
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - ViewNX 1.4 W
DateTime - 2013:06:02 13:09:33
YCbCrPositioning - Centered
ReferenceBlackWhite - 0
ExifOffset - 274
ExposureTime - 1/400 seconds
FNumber - 5.60
ExposureProgram - Not defined
ISOSpeedRatings - 800
ExifVersion - 0220
DateTimeOriginal - 2013:05:30 18:50:06
DateTimeDigitized - 2013:05:30 18:50:06
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MaxApertureValue - F 5.66
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
LightSource - Auto
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 200 mm
UserComment -
SubsecTime - 50
SubsecTimeOriginal - 50
SubsecTimeDigitized - 50
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 3872
ExifImageHeight - 2592
InteroperabilityOffset - 888
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
FileSource - DSC - Digital still camera
SceneType - A directly photographed image
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
DigitalZoomRatio - 1 x
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 300 mm
SceneCaptureType - Standard
GainControl - Low gain up
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal
SubjectDistanceRange - Unknown

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Data version - 0120 (808530480)
ISO Setting - 800
Image Quality - RAW
White Balance - AUTO
Focus Mode - AF-A
White Balance Adjustment - 0
White Balance RB - 656
Exposure Adjustment - 786688
Thumbnail IFD offset - 3678
ISO 2 - 800
Lens type - 14
Lens - 892
Flash Used - Not fired
Bracketing - 1
Contrast Curve - 0
Noise Reduction - OFF
Total pictures - 4642
Editor version - ViewNX 1.4 W

Thumbnail: -
Compression - 6 (JPG)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - Inch
JpegIFOffset - 4800
JpegIFByteCount - 4389