Issues with Out of Focus

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Redtail55

Senior Member
Hey does anybody with a D3200 have issues with their camera and out of focus pictures ? For instance I can take 4 to 5 shots from the same spot and the same subject and the same settings and end up with 1-2 shots in focus and the rest out of focus. It's driving me mental and I don't understand why .Here's some Blackbird shots I took .
. DSC_3879.jpgDSC_3880.jpgDSC_3881.jpgDSC_3882.jpgDSC_3883.jpg
As you can see only one of these shots I was able to use the others are out of focus.Is it me or is there something wrong with my camera ?
Thanks
 
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Lawrence

Senior Member
I would say if you have one in focus it isn't the camera.
What focus mode are you using?
Both your shutter speed and ISO are fast so no problem there.
 
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Redtail55

Senior Member
I was using AF-S for these pictures and using the back button focusing method , I've used AF-C in the recent past for moving birds and have had the same out of focus issue. I try to use the center focus point and aim it right at the bird's head .
 
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Redtail55

Senior Member
I have plenty of great " in focus " shots from this camera but I also have a ton of "out of focus" shots too that I've deleted . Just don"t know why .
 
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SteveH

Senior Member
Do you re-focus between each shot? With a small, distant targets like a bird it is easy to miss your target and focus on something close on the horizontal axis, that is actually a lot further behind the bird... For example a very slight movement to the right could have you focussing on the sky behind the bird?

Your forth shot looks like you focused on the cable the bird was perched on - It's difficult to hold the camera steady with high zoom, especially when shooting upwards - Do you have a monopod? These can be very helpful in such situations.
 
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mikew_RIP

Senior Member
If you download to your pc via view nx which should have come with the camera you can select show focus point,if you are taking a sequence of shots, long lens, hand held you will find your focus point has moved for different shots,this would be the first thing to eliminate.
 
BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Is it a lack of focus or is it minor camera movement? You're shooting at 1/2500, so I suspect it's not movement, but having solid technique is important all the time. Watch where your hand grips the glass and see if it can be slightly interfering with the focus (there's a Sigma lens that I have where the zoom and focus rings are reversed from Nikon standard and I'm always accidentally touching the focus ring). Any minor movement of the focus ring will cause this until the camera readjusts, so it could have something to do with that, so check your technique. Check your focus priority as well to see if it's on lock or shutter release. Generally I keep it on lock for AF-S and shutter for AF-C.

Just guesses.
 
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Redtail55

Senior Member
BackdoorHippie said:
Is it a lack of focus or is it minor camera movement? You're shooting at 1/2500, so I suspect it's not movement, but having solid technique is important all the time. Watch where your hand grips the glass and see if it can be slightly interfering with the focus (there's a Sigma lens that I have where the zoom and focus rings are reversed from Nikon standard and I'm always accidentally touching the focus ring). Any minor movement of the focus ring will cause this until the camera readjusts, so it could have something to do with that, so check your technique. Check your focus priority as well to see if it's on lock or shutter release. Generally I keep it on lock for AF-S and shutter for AF-C.

Just guesses.
Click to expand...

Not sure I have a setting for focus priority on the D3200 ,where would I find that ? Like I mentioned I have plenty of good in focus shots so I must be doing something right some of the time
here's one I took the other day .DSC_3991.jpg
 
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Redtail55

Senior Member
Ok so I don't specifically have an option for Focus Priority setting, but here's how I have my menu buttons set; AE/AL- set for AF-ON ,Shutterrelease button AE-L -ON
 
D

Dave_W

The Dude
Redtail55 said:
Ok so I don't specifically have an option for Focus Priority setting, but here's how I have my menu buttons set; AE/AL- set for AF-ON ,Shutterrelease button AE-L -ON
Click to expand...

I suspect you have one. Look in the menu section under "costum settings" (or something like that) section A
 
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marce

Senior Member
I got taught to focus on the birds chest, bigger target and about the same plane as the head, an easier target to aim for.
Also if possible I like to use a smaller aperture t give me more of fighting chance
 
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