Frustration!

Rhealite

Senior Member
I everyone, I'm hoping you can help me with my issue. I have been using my D7000 for about 4 years now and I still feel frustrated with the quality I get sometimes. I have been shooting children's lifestyle photos and I love every minute of it. I will have a stellar session and go to upload the photos only to discover grainy shots and blur when there should be none. There is probably a thread discussing this but I thought this might be the easiest way to get some feedback.
 

DraganDL

Senior Member
There is no such (dedicated) thread - the problem is reported now and then, here and there by some users of some cameras (more or less, all known brand names and models e.g. Canon xxxD, Nikon Dxxxx, Olympus PEN xzy...). To get ANY help, it is a MUST for you to UPLOAD (attach to your post) specific, non-altered (not post processed) photos.
We are waiting (a bit frustrated:rolleyes:, but willing to help)...
 
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stmv

Senior Member
a fine lie of tuning the ISO/aperture/exposure for the shot to be of highest quality. I have shot a whole wedding with my D7000, and the quality was there.
 

Rhealite

Senior Member
Does this help?
 

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PapaST

Senior Member
Being a former D7000 owner the quality is there with this camera. Seeing some examples of your sessions along with EXIF data would go a long way in determining what the problem might be.
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
I need EXIF data as well to really help, but at first glance I'm seeing a bit of soft focus here. Some D7000's, mine included, had a tendency to back-focus a lot. Have you focus calibrated each of your lenses? Some can be more problematic than others, and zooms can be fine at one end and off at the other.

You could also have a bit of a movement problem. It's not windy in SF, is it? :)

Again, we need more information.
 

Englischdude

Senior Member
i second jakes backfocus suggestion. if i look closely under her chin there are strands of hair which I believe are on the other side of her face which are sharper than photographer's side.
 

Rhealite

Senior Member
I am not able to get to the photo info I pulled the pic off my iPad to submit as an idea for you to see.

I have never calibrated the lens. To be honest, I'm not sure how to do that. I am still using the stock lens that came with it. I am dying to get a 70-200 but I was trying to figure out the issues I was having before I spent the money. Also, I don't want to have to edit every shot I take. My goal, as I am sure is everyone's, is to get a great shot from the beginning.
 

Englischdude

Senior Member
if i want to make an initial rough check of my D7000 I use a crude but effective method, using a fast lens, centre focus point and shooting for example a tree in a grass field or a hi contrast object on gravel. The grass or gravel lets me easily see where the plane of focus is, if the centre of the plane of focus is behind the point I focused on when taking the shot, I have a back focus issue which I can correct using the AF fine tune feature of the D7000 (check the manual). if there really is an issue there with a particular lens, then its time to print a new focus chart and test things properly.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
That sounds easy enough!
It's a quick and dirty test. If *this* process indicates there's an issue then yeah, you'll want to sit down and do some further, more precise testing, but before you go to all that effort I thought this simple version might be a good starting point.

Good luck!

...
 

DraganDL

Senior Member
Yes, it IS helpful: I conclude, nothig is wrong with the camera. The line made by girl's chin is perfectly IN FOCUS, both eyes are within the DoF, and the rest is blurred just about how it is supposed to be in this case (I guess the shot was taken by kit lens 18-55mm, at 25-30mm, full aperture, close-up...).

corrected.jpg
 
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Also wanting to get it right in the camera is not the best way to get the best photo. Since you mentioned this I have to ask. Are you shooting in JPG Large Fine or RAW? IF jpg then make sure it the large Fine. Also you can adjust the sharpness when you shoot JPG.

But I have to agree with the others to check the backfocus first. It made a big difference on my D7000 but at the same time check the sharpness settings if you are shooting JPG. If you are shooting in RAW you will have to do some post processing on it to get the most out of the shot.
 

DraganDL

Senior Member
Like Don suggested: for jpgs (large+fine) straight out of camera, change the level of sharpness from "default" to "6" (one notch higher). And be aware of the fact that this lens (kit 18-55mm) is rather a soft one, especially at largest apertures (smallest numbers, that is 3.5 and 5.6).
 
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Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Like Don suggested: for jpgs (large+fine) straight out of camera, change the level of sharpness from "default" to "6" (one notch higher).
Just to clarify, the default "Sharpness" setting on every Nikon I've owned has been 2/9, possibly 3/9 I forget to be honest. It annoys me there's a "0" setting, too but whatever. I always suggest using either 5/9 or, possibly, 6/9 on the D7100; that's three or four ticks higher, not just one. Going higher that +6 seems counterproductive to my eye, but that's a judgement call/personal decision thing.

Again, I'm just clarifying it's not just one "tick", it's a few "ticks" on the Sharpness setting that is required.

...
 
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aced19

Senior Member
Also, I don't want to have to edit every shot I take. My goal, as I am sure is everyone's, is to get a great shot from the beginning.

Then sell your camera and get a point and shoot.
I don't mean to sound harsh not my intentions.
As I've posted in other threads.
Most people think because they own a nice camera their pictures are going to have that wow look and magically take outstanding photos every time they pick it up.
It's just not how it works. You have to learn how to use it.
The reason I say that, because I was one of those people.
Boy was I disappointed when I rushed home to view my pictures on the pc. I learned real quick it's not the camera.

Just like the picture you posted. It was a great shot from the beginning. But with the wind blowing it will mess with the auto focus at times. Depending on what setting you used for AF.

I just added unsharp mask on your picture. Took 2 seconds.
image.jpg

The D7000 does take soft pics at times. A simple unsharp mask will cure that.
Settings are
amount: 112%
radius: 0.9
threshold: 0
I do this to about 90% of my pictures.

I will take the photo down if you want me to. I just used it for a example.
 
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Rhealite

Senior Member
I didn't mean I expect to get the perfect shot every time. I just know to many people that rely on Photoshop. I know there will be a few times I will need to correct the color. I am just frustrated that the vision I had as I was shooting is not what was showing up. I think the calibration is what will help me.
 
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