50mm HELP!!!

J

jesshopes

Senior Member
I am at my wits end. I have a AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D. I've had it for several years. I've been told it's a great lens...some photogs have said it's (technically) the best one I have. I have researched the lens. I have used it in Aperture and Program mode. I've changed every setting possible. I CAN NOT get good images with this lens. They are blurry. Almost without exception. If I use the flash (ick) than I can get sharper images. Even outside in daylight the images are often blurry.

What am I missing?!?! Is it me? Has anyone else had trouble like this? So many people say that the 50mm is their favorite lens. I hate mine!

​
 
D

Dave_W

The Dude
What camera are you using? I've had to fine tune all my lenses in order to get them crispy sharp. And if your camera does not have this capability you can send both lens and body to Nikon and they can sync the two for you, assuming your camera is still under warranty it will be free (I think...)
 
J

jesshopes

Senior Member
I am currently using a D80. Definitely not under warranty. I'm seriously considering upgrading to the d7100. I wasn't sure if the lens would work better with a different body or not.
 
ohkphoto

ohkphoto

Snow White
jesshopes said:
I am at my wits end. I have a AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D. I've had it for several years. I've been told it's a great lens...some photogs have said it's (technically) the best one I have. I have researched the lens. I have used it in Aperture and Program mode. I've changed every setting possible. I CAN NOT get good images with this lens. They are blurry. Almost without exception. If I use the flash (ick) than I can get sharper images. Even outside in daylight the images are often blurry.

What am I missing?!?! Is it me? Has anyone else had trouble like this? So many people say that the 50mm is their favorite lens. I hate mine!

​
Click to expand...


If you post an image with the exif data someone might be able to pinpoint your problem. There are just too many possibilities.

This is a fabulous lens and you shouldn't be having this kind of trouble. If you get blurry photos even in daylight but the images are not blurry with a flash, it sounds like motion blur, or possible your camera's focusing mechanism is off . Just offering "guesses". . is this problem only with this lens? What kind of photos do you get with another lens?
 
W

WayneF

Senior Member
jesshopes said:
I've changed every setting possible. I CAN NOT get good images with this lens. They are blurry. Almost without exception. If I use the flash (ick) than I can get sharper images. Even outside in daylight the images are often blurry.
​
Click to expand...

Are you sure AF is working?

B&H specs for that lens says:
Note! Autofocus is not supported by D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100, D5200 cameras--lens may be used with manual focus only. Be sure to check your camera's lens-compatibility information before selecting a new lens.




If otherwise, then first thing, GET IT OUT OF AF/C mode. AF/C mode will trip the shutter without regard to if it had time to focus first (second or third frame might be better). And make sure it is not in Manual focus mode.

AF/S mode will focus first, and will only trip the shutter if it actually reaches focus first.
 
Last edited:
D

Dave_W

The Dude
WayneF said:
Are you sure AF is working? First thing, GET IT OUT OF AF/C mode. AF/C mode will trip the shutter without regard to if it had time to focus first (second or third frame might be better).

AF/S mode will focus first, and will only trip the shutter if it actually reaches focus.
Click to expand...

I think the shutter release setting can be changed for each AF mode.
 
D

Dave_W

The Dude
To the OP, it's not uncommon to have to sync your lens to your camera body but if you're considering upgrading to a D7100 you could use this "focus problem" as a rational to purchase a new camera....if you know what I mean. :rolleyes:
 
J

jesshopes

Senior Member
WayneF said:
Are you sure AF is working?

B&H specs for that lens says:
Note! Autofocus is not supported by D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100, D5200 cameras--lens may be used with manual focus only. Be sure to check your camera's lens-compatibility information before selecting a new lens.




If otherwise, then first thing, GET IT OUT OF AF/C mode. AF/C mode will trip the shutter without regard to if it had time to focus first (second or third frame might be better). And make sure it is not in Manual focus mode.

AF/S mode will focus first, and will only trip the shutter if it actually reaches focus first.
Click to expand...

I don't have significant issues with my other lenses. I assume that AF wouldn't work for any of them if there was an issue.
 
J

jesshopes

Senior Member
ohkphoto said:
If you post an image with the exif data someone might be able to pinpoint your problem. There are just too many possibilities.

This is a fabulous lens and you shouldn't be having this kind of trouble. If you get blurry photos even in daylight but the images are not blurry with a flash, it sounds like motion blur, or possible your camera's focusing mechanism is off . Just offering "guesses". . is this problem only with this lens? What kind of photos do you get with another lens?
Click to expand...

How do I post an image with that info? I get pretty good images with my other lenses. Sometimes incredibly sharp, sometimes not as sharp as I would like. Nothing nearly as bad as I get with the 50mm
 
AC016

AC016

Senior Member
I have a D80 as well and I used to have the same lens as you. When I first started to use it, I also got blurry pictures, but I found out that I just was not cranking up the shutter speed enough. Since the lens has no VR, any sort of camera shake will appear in your photos if you are not careful, hence the need to have faster shutter speed = cut down on the blurry pictures. I can not see it being an issue of whether you have it in AF-C or AF-S or AF-A. It should work fine in all AF modes, just like any other lens. I think the one crucial bit of info that would be helpful to all of us, is what was your shutter speed?
 
J

jesshopes

Senior Member
AC016 said:
I have a D80 as well and I used to have the same lens as you. When I first started to use it, I also got blurry pictures, but I found out that I just was not cranking up the shutter speed enough. Since the lens has no VR, any sort of camera shake will appear in your photos if you are not careful, hence the need to have faster shutter speed = cut down on the blurry pictures. I can not see it being an issue of whether you have it in AF-C or AF-S or AF-A. It should work fine in all AF modes, just like any other lens. I think the one crucial bit of info that would be helpful to all of us, is what was your shutter speed?
Click to expand...

I feel like I have set the shutter speed at every possible option. I don't get consistently sharp images regardless. I'll try some more practice shots this afternoon, though, with the shutter speed super fast and see if it helps.

​Thanks
 
W

WayneF

Senior Member
What camera? If a model like D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100, D5200, then you require an AF-S lens, which this D lens is not (meaning, it will not AF on those camera models).

Is your AF working? Focus on something near, and half press shutter, and watch it come into focus in the viewfinder. Then aim at something distant, and repeat. Do you see it focus? Is your AF working?

​
 
Last edited:
AC016

AC016

Senior Member
Just to go back to AF modes. If you are shooting moving subjects, use AF-C. If you are shooting still subjects, use AF-S. This will make a difference. This would be the only caveat when it comes to AF modes.
 
W

WayneF

Senior Member
And if you do use AF-C mode, then learn to hold half press for a half second first, so you won't wonder why some of your shots are simply not in focus. :)
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
jesshopes said:
How do I post an image with that info? I get pretty good images with my other lenses. Sometimes incredibly sharp, sometimes not as sharp as I would like. Nothing nearly as bad as I get with the 50mm
Click to expand...


Guidelines to adding a photo to your post.

1. Resize photo to 1000px on the long side. VERY imoportant
2. Resolution set to 72px

These guidelines will be good for viewing on a computer but will not be good for printing. This will help safeguard your copyright.







​
 
D

Dave_W

The Dude
WayneF said:
And if you do use AF-C mode, then learn to hold half press for a half second first, so you won't wonder why some of your shots are simply not in focus. :)
Click to expand...

Wayne, you can change this function so that the shutter release requires a focus first for both AF-C and AF-S.
 
B

Blade Canyon

Senior Member
ohkphoto said:
If you get blurry photos even in daylight but the images are not blurry with a flash, it sounds like motion blur...
Click to expand...

Without seeing any sample photos, I bet ohkphoto is right. The flash duration is shorter than 1/1000th of a second (as fast as 1/20,000th of a second on some flashes). That's freezing the action even if the shutter is open longer, and that's what the OP is seeing.

A 50mm lens is short and light, and that makes it much easier to shake the camera than shooting with, say, a 28-85mm zoom set at 50mm. The latter would be heavier and, because of the longer sight radius, less jiggly.
 
Top