New camera advice...

[DaveNewman]

thats just what it sounds like to me (struggle to focus) as much as i take my finger off the button, zoom out and back again etc still does it..

this is my dogs facebook album, whoever is on FB take a look, all taken with the 18-55 and 55-200 lens.

https://www.facebook.com/dave.newma...10152614090944806.1073741850.500614805&type=3

 

[Dxer]

Was all those pictures taken with the 55-200mm?

 

[SteveL54]

that camera is well out my budget....

my d3100, im having problems getting the right settings, ive taken advice from here, read website, took notes etc etc and i just cant get it right...

my latest was of my wife in a dressage comp, i was on the sports setting everything came out a blurr....

friday is very important to me, wedding ann and we are feeding live real tigers, so i need these shots 100%

Wait...WHAT?

 

[Marcel]

I strongly suggest that you read your camera's user manual again. There are different modes you can set your camera to to automatically give you the best results for the activity you're taking pictures of.

Be extremely attentive to the focusing section as it explains pretty well what can go wrong and when. Here's a extract from my Df user manual that could be helpful to you:

 

[Pretzel]

I strongly suggest that you read your camera's user manual again. There are different modes you can set your camera to to automatically give you the best results for the activity you're taking pictures of.

Be extremely attentive to the focusing section as it explains pretty well what can go wrong and when. Here's a extract from my Df user manual that could be helpful to you:

View attachment 162450

That pic is useless, @Marcel... it shows getting focus on a lion, but he's shooting pics of TIGERS, duh!

(full SNARK, tongue in cheek, dufus humor, bald idiot chuckling mode engaged)

 

[Dxer]

There is always one in ever crowd huh?

 

[jay_dean]

this is what im asking... like a boiler, checking over, cleaning out, servicing... does a camera like the nikons need this???

Nikon does offer a Service service. Some may view this as a bit of a money making placebo. C & P'd from Nikon;
"...service will vary according to the product being serviced but as a guide for a D-SLR camera; the main functionality of the camera is checked, the Autofocus system is checked, the metering is calibrated, the firmware is updated where necessary, the image sensor and mirror are inspected and cleaned and the camera receives an overall external clean.."

 

[Wolfeye]

Well, if the autofocus is working properly, blur is caused by one thing: motion (either by the subject or the camera). Assuming the lenses are image stabilized, in your limited time frame, here's what I'd do.

1. Set the camera to ISO 6400 if this is an indoor shoot, or 1600 outside
2. Make sure the camera is in S mode for shutter-preferred automatic exposure.
3. Set the shutter speed to 1/500 second
4. Do not use the flash

Your images will have some noise from the high ISO, but any blur caused by motion should be minimized. They may also be slightly dark if you're shooting in a dimly lit location, but it's better to have a dark image that you can tweak on the computer than a blurry one that you really can't do much with.

 

[Marcel]

That pic is useless, @Marcel... it shows getting focus on a lion, but he's shooting pics of TIGERS, duh!

(full SNARK, tongue in cheek, dufus humor, bald idiot chuckling mode engaged)

Ah shoot, just when I thought it was a tiger with long hair, kind of a hippie tiger.

 

[SteveL54]

Ah shoot, just when I thought it was a tiger with long hair, kind of a hippie tiger.

 

[singlerosa_RIP]

thats just what it sounds like to me (struggle to focus) as much as i take my finger off the button, zoom out and back again etc still does it..

this is my dogs facebook album, whoever is on FB take a look, all taken with the 18-55 and 55-200 lens.

https://www.facebook.com/dave.newma...10152614090944806.1073741850.500614805&type=3

Some of your photos look OK, while others are out of focus/blurry. Without seeing EXIF data (shutter speed, aperture and ISO), it's tough to trouble shoot.

 

[harleridr]

Try Magic Lantern Multimedia book and DVD on the 3100. I think you will find it a great help.
Harle

 

[aroy]

I own a D3100 and i really cant get use to all the settings, its a little complicated for me, so id like advise on the best camera to purchase for what i would use it for....

sports (cricket)
wildlife
fishing (still shots)
people
animals

id like some nice and compact which i can place on a tripod if required, good zoom (all built in)

TIA
dave

As others have suggested, conduct a series of test shots

SPORTS and WILDLIFE
. set the lens to AF
. Set VR ON
. Set the mode to "S"
. Set speed to 1/1000
. Set the ISO to 1600
. Shoot a lot of moving objects - birds, cars, joggers etc
Now analyse the shots for focus and exposure. If they are fine, then you have got the right settings

STILL and LANDSCAPE
. set the lens to AF
. Set VR ON
. Set the mode to "A"
. Set speed aperture to F/8
. Set the ISO to 100
. Shoot a lot of still objects - trees, buildings and landscape
Now analyse the shots for focus and exposure. If they are fine, then you have got the right settings

PEOPLE
. set the lens to AF
. Set VR ON
. Set the mode to "A"
. Set speed aperture to the minimum number (usually F/3.5 at the wide end and F/5.6 at the long end)
. Set the ISO to 100
. Shoot a lot of still objects - trees, buildings and landscape at close distance
Now analyse the shots for focus and exposure. If they are fine, then you have got the right settings
For portraits a faster lens - 35mm F1.8 DX, 85mm F1.8DX shot at f1.8 will give better images

If after conducting the tests, you find that shots are lacking - OOF, Blurr or wrong exposure, then see if your hands or camera are shaking while taking shots, if not, then the camera requires adjustments, so you will have to get it "Serviced"

 

[Horoscope Fish]

My advice:

1. Turn off VR. Turn it off and forget you have it for now. Nikon's Vibration Reduction is *NOT* a "set it and forget" function.
2. Shoot at a shutter speed that is at LEAST twice the focal length. For example: If you're shooting with a 50mm lens, use a shutter speed no slower than 1/100.
....