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Need your input on winter bluebird photo

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BrianC

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Location
MI, US
Shooting through OPEN window with camera resting on window sill...
K200D
DA 55-300 @ 260mm
1/100 f.8
vivitar flash
3:45 pm overcast
The bird is about 10 feet away

I know the shutter speed is slow but shouldn't I get sharper results than this with braced camera? It seems even on sunny days with higher shutter speeds I don't get sharp images of birds.

I'm not sure if it is OOF or camera shake as nothing seems to be in focus.

Can you tell what the problem is?

thanks,

I took many pictures today and this is about good as it got.....some were shot at fiaster shutter speed.

full size image here
http://www.pbase.com/conksout/image/120864560/original



--
Brian
 
I am resting the camera on the window sill and tried both SR on & off....no way better than the other.

Maybe tomorrow will bring sunshine (but I doubt it) and I can try faster speeds.

Thanks,

--
Brian
 
As suggested above, try manual focus

boost your ISO and/or increase your shutter speed (generally need at least 1/focal length)
consider remote shutter release (is that an option on K200D?)
use a tripod instead of just resting on a sill

have you used that lens before with much better/sharper results?

H
--
Hal in the Blue Ridge Mountains
(North Carolina, USA)
 
I am not a birder by any means, but I do take lots of photos like the one you're taking, where I might be using slow shutter speeds and with the camera braced against a sub-optimal item.

There are two key things you need to be looking out for here. First, you need to make sure that your finger pressing the shutter isn't causing the body to shake. The easiest fix is to use the 2-second timer. A better solution would be to use a remote release (which DOES work with the K200D).

The second thing is to make sure that the windowsill you're using isn't interfering with the lens' ability to autofocus. If any part of that focusing ring is touching the windowsill, then any time you move the camera, you're changing the focus (due to the friction between the windowsill and the focusing ring). So make sure that either just the tip of the lens or none of the lens is touching the windowsill.

Good luck and keep trying!
--
Keitha McCall

Pentaxian and Snapshot Shooter since April 2007
http://flickr.com/photos/aravis121/
http://www.ascenicworld.com
 
Did you try any shots with mirror lock up? a.k.a. 2 second Timer

You could try a beanbag on the windowsill. or plastic bag half full of sand or rice or even beans.

BrianC wrote:
...
BrianC said:
I'm not sure if it is OOF or camera shake as nothing seems to be in focus.

Can you tell what the problem is?
Click to expand...
 
K McCall said:
There are two key things you need to be looking out for here. First, you need to make sure that your finger pressing the shutter isn't causing the body to shake. The easiest fix is to use the 2-second timer. A better solution would be to use a remote release (which DOES work with the K200D).
Click to expand...
I do have a remote and use it in warmer weather. These are quick shots leaning over the sink with the window slightly open stuffed with towels to help block out the cold.

I think tomorrow I will try the timer for better results, even though 2 seconds is a LONG time when trying to shoot birds at and around the feeders.
K McCall said:
The second thing is to make sure that the windowsill you're using isn't interfering with the lens' ability to autofocus. If any part of that focusing ring is touching the windowsill, then any time you move the camera, you're changing the focus (due to the friction between the windowsill and the focusing ring). So make sure that either just the tip of the lens or none of the lens is touching the windowsill.
Click to expand...
I noticed the AF sometimes changing but then I did move the camera so it was resting on the body.

As I look back at my beginning dslr days with the K100D and DA 50-200 I noticed many very sharp photos at full zoom and I was a total beginner.

My concern is focus problems with the lens....

When I see other birding photos posted at 500mm handheld I almost can't believe what I see after my results.

Thanks for your comments and I'll see what I can do tomorrow!

--
Brian
 
halcb said:
As suggested above, try manual focus
Click to expand...
Have tried it...
halcb said:
boost your ISO and/or increase your shutter speed (generally need at least > 1/focal length)
Click to expand...
Some of the photos were taken at iso 800 with not much better results
halcb said:
consider remote shutter release (is that an option on K200D?)
use a tripod instead of just resting on a sill
Click to expand...
I do have a shutter release but am in an akward position to use a tripod
halcb said:
have you used that lens before with much better/sharper results?
Click to expand...
Most of my shots are usually handheld with this setup........and most are from a kayak

Thanks

--
Brian
 
You'll figure it out, Brian -- good luck and keep posting here.

I learn so much from viewing others' posts and photos. Keitha McCall's advice, in particular, seems spot on.
thanks,
H
--
Hal in the Blue Ridge Mountains
(North Carolina, USA)
 
This one is somewhat better....you can see the chin feathers and what looks to be a hair on it's back.



--
Brian
 
The ring of the birdbath behind the bluebird seems to be in very good focus. It's possible that's what the focus sensor locked in on or you have a slight back focus problem with that lens. The second shot looks great - the focus is spot on.
 
LKeithR said:
I haven't seen anyone mention spot focus. It's often the best way to get decent sharpness of a small subject in a large frame...
Click to expand...
You are referring to center focus, right?

If so, it's the only way I ever have the camera set..
--
Brian
 
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