Tips on How to use a Wide Angle Lens

N

NikonShutterBug

Senior Member
Good morning Nikonites, I recently purchased a Nikon 20mm 1.8G lens, my camera is the Nikon D7100. I am getting mixed results. Most pics are not sharp, but about 15% are tack sharp. The subjects are still, mainly city and street pics using a tripod. Also I am using spot focus, and many different f stops. I feel since I am getting some pics tack sharp the problem is ME, not the lens. I would appreciate any advice or tips on camera settings and or the proper usage of a wide angle lens.? Thanks so much.



I also have, below, with very good Tack Sharp results. I love primes.


85mm 1.8G
50mm 1.8G
35mm 1.8G
and now
20mm 1.8G
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
NikonShutterBug said:
Good morning Nikonites, I recently purchased a Nikon 20mm 1.8G lens, my camera is the Nikon D7100. I am getting mixed results. Most pics are not sharp, but about 15% are tack sharp. The subjects are still, mainly city and street pics using a tripod. Also I am using spot focus, and many different f stops. I feel since I am getting some pics tack sharp the problem is ME, not the lens. I would appreciate any advice or tips on camera settings and or the proper usage of a wide angle lens.? Thanks so much.
Click to expand...
If you could post a few of the shots you're not happy with, that might help us pin down any Operator Error issues.

...
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
What I suspect since I've had this happen to me is that the lens has a curved focus field. I used to use a central focus point and then reframe, but I did notice that some of my shots were not sharp. So I changed my method and moved my focus point in order to avoid having to reframe. This gave me less out of focus shots. It's more pronounced with my 55 1.2 but I think it might happen with a 20 1.8. I think it's called "lens field curvature" or something like that.

Hope this can help a bit.
 
Z

Zeke_M

Senior Member
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I'm no wizard with my wide angle lens.
The 20mm f2 is an FX lens. On a DX camera wouldn't the lens act more like a 30mm prime lens instead of a 20mm wide angle?
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
NikonShutterBug said:
Marcel, how far off center would you recommend starting? Would left, right, up or down make a difference? I'll play with this suggestion.
Click to expand...
I recommend using a single point focus that you would position right where you want the focus to be.

For your second shot, I think your shutter speed is too slow for a person that seems to be moving. It doesn't take much movement to spoil a shot with a DX sensor. I'd say the same for your 1st shot, open the aperture a bit or raise the iso but try to keep your shutter speed above 1/100 when hand held. In your first shot, the focus looks all right, but the light is very flat which could make you believe the shot isn't sharp enough. Try to give it a bit of contrast and sharpening in post and it should be fine.

Beware of trying to look at all your pics at 100% on the monitor. It can fool you. Have some prints made and you'll be surprised since the prints made at 100% would probably be too large to hang in your dining room.

Enjoy your Nikon.
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Zeke_M said:
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I'm no wizard with my wide angle lens.
The 20mm f2 is an FX lens. On a DX camera wouldn't the lens act more like a 30mm prime lens instead of a 20mm wide angle?
Click to expand...
The field of view on a DX would look like the field of view of a 30 mm on a FX, but the lens still has all characteristics of a 20mm.
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
A couple of questions
Are you shooting in RAW or JPEG?
What post processing are you using?
Have you fine-tuned the lens for the D7100? This feature is not available on your D5300.
Do you use Auto ISO and minimum shutter speed?
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Zeke_M said:
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. ... On a DX camera wouldn't the lens act more like a 30mm prime lens instead of a 20mm wide angle?
Click to expand...
Marcel said:
The field of view on a DX would look like the field of view of a 30 mm on a FX, but the lens still has all characteristics of a 20mm.
Click to expand...
Id' like to point out Marcel is making a critical distinction here; one I do not think is always properly understood.

As he points out, the FIELD OF VIEW would be the same when compared to a 30mm lens on an FX body. The lens itself is NOT acting any differently. Crop-factor, if there is one, stems from the size of the sensor the lens is working with but it has NOTHING to do with the lens itself.
....
 
Z

Zeke_M

Senior Member
Horoscope Fish said:
Id' like to point out Marcel is making a critical distinction here; one I do not think is always properly understood.

As he points out, the FIELD OF VIEW would be the same when compared to a 30mm lens on an FX body. The lens itself is NOT acting any differently. Crop-factor, if there is one, stems from the size of the sensor the lens is working with but it has NOTHING to do with the lens itself.
....
Click to expand...

If I have any more questions I'll start a thread.
Thanks All

I return you to your regularly scheduled thread.
 
N

NikonShutterBug

Senior Member
I am aware of the crop factor. I'm looking at the D750. I want to get into a full sensor. Might very well be my next camera.

A couple of questions
Are you shooting in RAW or JPEG? Mainly RAW
What post processing are you using? LightRoom 6 and Photoshop7
Have you fine-tuned the lens for the D7100? This feature is not available on your D5300. Yes, I have done this to all my primes
Do you use Auto ISO and minimum shutter speed? Do you mean ISO sensitivity, its on Off
 
Top