Getting a sharp picture on P1000

[FishyPix]

I am having the same problem - simply cannot get a sharp photograph out of this camera at the zoom end.

The telling observation for me is that in bright sunlight, no matter which AutoFocus setting or even Manual Focus, video taken of the same subject looks HD sharp whereas still photos are smeared.

But none of the suggestions here have worked:

Handheld, tripod or rock, the images are smeared. Using 250, 500 or 1000 shutter speed makes no difference. VR on or off also makes no difference. Using the timer also makes no difference.

How can the video be sharp but the photos smeared? How can there be example photos on multiple review sites showing full-zoom images that are pin sharp?

My conclusion is that I must have a faulty unit, purchased specifically for the holiday I am now on and unable to shoot my topic (Puffins).

 

[357mm]

I am having the same problem - simply cannot get a sharp photograph out of this camera at the zoom end.

The telling observation for me is that in bright sunlight, no matter which AutoFocus setting or even Manual Focus, video taken of the same subject looks HD sharp whereas still photos are smeared.

But none of the suggestions here have worked:

Handheld, tripod or rock, the images are smeared. Using 250, 500 or 1000 shutter speed makes no difference. VR on or off also makes no difference. Using the timer also makes no difference.

How can the video be sharp but the photos smeared? How can there be example photos on multiple review sites showing full-zoom images that are pin sharp?

My conclusion is that I must have a faulty unit, purchased specifically for the holiday I am now on and unable to shoot my topic (Puffins).

Since you're shooting puffins, give birdwatching mode a try and limit the tele end to 2000-2600mm.

I also used a small tripod that rested against my shoulder like a rifle stock at first(thanks to a tip on dpreview). That helped learn how to hold this camera steady at the long end.

--
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dodge_rock/

 

[P10004K]

I am having the same problem - simply cannot get a sharp photograph out of this camera at the zoom end.

The telling observation for me is that in bright sunlight, no matter which AutoFocus setting or even Manual Focus, video taken of the same subject looks HD sharp whereas still photos are smeared.

But none of the suggestions here have worked:

Handheld, tripod or rock, the images are smeared. Using 250, 500 or 1000 shutter speed makes no difference. VR on or off also makes no difference. Using the timer also makes no difference.

How can the video be sharp but the photos smeared? How can there be example photos on multiple review sites showing full-zoom images that are pin sharp?

My conclusion is that I must have a faulty unit, purchased specifically for the holiday I am now on and unable to shoot my topic (Puffins).

https://flic.kr/p/2egmVGq

https://www.flickr.com/photos/summersting/albums/72157701661054454/page1

--
Nikon Coolpix P1000 4K 125x Superzoom

 

[jshen808]

I have not noticed any significant lag between the button press and the picture being taken. Is that what you are talking about (and not the time taken to process the image after it has been taken)?

It is possible that the stabilization may be a factor - presumably the camera waits until the image is steady before taking the shot (if you have that unction activated), so that might cause a variable delay.

One thing to keep in mind, the act of pressing the button itself may shift the camera, especially at long focal lengths.

..Read the below two posted threads..

..if you're not getting similar results..

..then you will need to send your P1000 in for repairs..

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www.dpreview.com

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www.dpreview.com

..thanks for sharing & happy shooting..

..Cheers..

 

[jshen808]

..there's one more question I thought of..

..are you using a "lens filter" with your P1000(?)..

..the reason is, not all lens filters works the same..

..some lens filters may cause more image degradations..

..best to test the camera/lens without any lens filters..

..the lens filter I use for my P1000, is the Hoya HD3 UV lens filter, it works well, and it also works to protect the front lens element as well to reduce glares..

..looking forward to hear about updates on your P1000..

..thanks for sharing & happy shooting..

..Cheers..

 

[bluzman]

Good advice. I use a B+W 77mm XS-Pro Clear UV Haze filter on my P1000.

 

[jshen808]

Good advice. I use a B+W 77mm XS-Pro Clear UV Haze filter on my P1000.

..Thanks very much for sharing this!

..happy shooting,

..Cheers..

 

[FishyPix]

I am having the same problem - simply cannot get a sharp photograph out of this camera at the zoom end.

The telling observation for me is that in bright sunlight, no matter which AutoFocus setting or even Manual Focus, video taken of the same subject looks HD sharp whereas still photos are smeared.

But none of the suggestions here have worked:

Handheld, tripod or rock, the images are smeared. Using 250, 500 or 1000 shutter speed makes no difference. VR on or off also makes no difference. Using the timer also makes no difference.

How can the video be sharp but the photos smeared? How can there be example photos on multiple review sites showing full-zoom images that are pin sharp?

My conclusion is that I must have a faulty unit, purchased specifically for the holiday I am now on and unable to shoot my topic (Puffins).

Since you're shooting puffins, give birdwatching mode a try and limit the tele end to 2000-2600mm.

I also used a small tripod that rested against my shoulder like a rifle stock at first(thanks to a tip on dpreview). That helped learn how to hold this camera steady at the long end.

Thanks for your reply and link to your P1000 shots in flickr.

I have consulted a Nikon Rep in a local store with the camera in hand and plenty of time to run through all the settings and take lots of pictures. He confirms that both my unit and the unit in the store are both doing the same thing that is "not right" - images are smeared no matter how stable the camera is. This then is not a stability issue. It is not a tripod issue.

We both agree that neither of us can achieve anything like the sharpness of the images shown online, including those photos in your flickr, using my camera or the store camera in the box.

Furthermore, we can actually observe the camera 'fault' by using the LCD screen to view the shot about to be taken and then when the shot is taken, the resulting photograph then displayed (replacing the live view of the same scene) is immediately smeared - as though the glass is correctly resolving the scene but the image captured (then displayed) is wrong.

Something is wrong and we cant figure it out.

We suspect the VR mechanism is faulty and hope that a Firmware update is being quietly rolled out by Nikon which would fix it.

 

[FishyPix]

Yes, these are all the sorts of shots that my P1000 unit simply will not deliver and nobody seems to know why.

 

[FishyPix]

..there's one more question I thought of..

..are you using a "lens filter" with your P1000(?)..

..the reason is, not all lens filters works the same..

..some lens filters may cause more image degradations..

..best to test the camera/lens without any lens filters..

..the lens filter I use for my P1000, is the Hoya HD3 UV lens filter, it works well, and it also works to protect the front lens element as well to reduce glares..

..looking forward to hear about updates on your P1000..

..thanks for sharing & happy shooting..

..Cheers..

Yes the Nikon Rep also mentioned that the cheap UV filter I had on (for the reasons you mention) may add to the issue and it's removal has slightly improved the shots but not enough to compare to everyone elses online test examples.

 

[Stan in NH]

Why not return the camera to Nikon for a warranty repair? It sounds like a defect in the camera, regardless of whether or not other cameras have the same issue or not.

I am having the same problem - simply cannot get a sharp photograph out of this camera at the zoom end.

The telling observation for me is that in bright sunlight, no matter which AutoFocus setting or even Manual Focus, video taken of the same subject looks HD sharp whereas still photos are smeared.

But none of the suggestions here have worked:

Handheld, tripod or rock, the images are smeared. Using 250, 500 or 1000 shutter speed makes no difference. VR on or off also makes no difference. Using the timer also makes no difference.

How can the video be sharp but the photos smeared? How can there be example photos on multiple review sites showing full-zoom images that are pin sharp?

My conclusion is that I must have a faulty unit, purchased specifically for the holiday I am now on and unable to shoot my topic (Puffins).

Since you're shooting puffins, give birdwatching mode a try and limit the tele end to 2000-2600mm.

I also used a small tripod that rested against my shoulder like a rifle stock at first(thanks to a tip on dpreview). That helped learn how to hold this camera steady at the long end.

Thanks for your reply and link to your P1000 shots in flickr.

I have consulted a Nikon Rep in a local store with the camera in hand and plenty of time to run through all the settings and take lots of pictures. He confirms that both my unit and the unit in the store are both doing the same thing that is "not right" - images are smeared no matter how stable the camera is. This then is not a stability issue. It is not a tripod issue.

We both agree that neither of us can achieve anything like the sharpness of the images shown online, including those photos in your flickr, using my camera or the store camera in the box.

Furthermore, we can actually observe the camera 'fault' by using the LCD screen to view the shot about to be taken and then when the shot is taken, the resulting photograph then displayed (replacing the live view of the same scene) is immediately smeared - as though the glass is correctly resolving the scene but the image captured (then displayed) is wrong.

Something is wrong and we cant figure it out.

We suspect the VR mechanism is faulty and hope that a Firmware update is being quietly rolled out by Nikon which would fix it.

 

[P10004K]

..there's one more question I thought of..

..are you using a "lens filter" with your P1000(?)..

..the reason is, not all lens filters works the same..

..some lens filters may cause more image degradations..

..best to test the camera/lens without any lens filters..

..the lens filter I use for my P1000, is the Hoya HD3 UV lens filter, it works well, and it also works to protect the front lens element as well to reduce glares..

..looking forward to hear about updates on your P1000..

..thanks for sharing & happy shooting..

..Cheers..

Yes the Nikon Rep also mentioned that the cheap UV filter I had on (for the reasons you mention) may add to the issue and it's removal has slightly improved the shots but not enough to compare to everyone elses online test examples.

I don't use any filters on my P1000.

1700mm eqiv. :

--
Nikon Coolpix P1000 4K 125x Superzoom

 

[jshen808]

..there's one more question I thought of..

..are you using a "lens filter" with your P1000(?)..

..the reason is, not all lens filters works the same..

..some lens filters may cause more image degradations..

..best to test the camera/lens without any lens filters..

..the lens filter I use for my P1000, is the Hoya HD3 UV lens filter, it works well, and it also works to protect the front lens element as well to reduce glares..

..looking forward to hear about updates on your P1000..

..thanks for sharing & happy shooting..

..Cheers..

Yes the Nikon Rep also mentioned that the cheap UV filter I had on (for the reasons you mention) may add to the issue and it's removal has slightly improved the shots but not enough to compare to everyone elses online test examples.

..Glad to hear back from you!

..but sorry to hear about the troubling news of your P1000..

..if can, best to do an exchange for another P1000 camera..

..if cannot do an exchange, then can send to Nikon Repairs..

(see the below link.. to get started, click on "schedule a repair")

Cameras and photography equipment from Nikon

Find high quality cameras and photography accessories at Nikon

www.nikonusa.com

..because the repair will most likely require replacement of part(s), it can take at least 3 weeks, to many months, depending the number of part(s) is needed..

..once you get a replacement or repaired P1000 camera in your hands..

..read through the below two postings, to make sure your P1000 is in good proper working order..

Loading…

www.dpreview.com

Loading…

www.dpreview.com

..even though many do not use lens filters, and I can understand the "why's"..

..for me, and all my many superzoom cameras, they all are fitted with the Hoya HD3 UV lens filter, and they all work well on them.. the "protection" the lens filter(s) give me, is a peace of mind, to protect the front element of the camera(s) lens(es)..

..but as been mentioned, some "cheaper" & "less quality" lens filters can cause undesirable effects on the image quality..

..best wishes with your P1000, there's always "next time" & "next year" for things, and it may take nearly a year just to get good (learning) at using the P1000 "all-in-one" camera..

..thanks for sharing & happy shooting..

..Cheers..