Just got a D5200. Cannot seem to get REALLY sharp images.

[A Japanese Dream]

Hey guys,

I just picked up a D5200 with the 18-55mm Lens kit and have been shooting with it. I live in Tokyo so I have endless photos that I can take but when I take shots from really high up in buildings looking down into the city I cannot seem to get the entire shot in focus. The buildings in the foreground are in focus but for example in the shot I have attached to this post you can see the buildings in the rear and tokyo tower are all.... muddy looking.

If could be a setting in the cam or it could be shaky photography.

Any suggestions? ideas?







Thanks in advance and Im VERY happy to have upgraded back into the DSLR world.

--
- Dave

 

[Escape]

What aperture and speed did you use in this photo? You may need to use smaller aperture and longer exposure to get everything in focus.

 

[mgd43]

Were you using a tripod? There is no exposure data but I can see from the car's light streaks that it was a long exposure. If it was on a tripod, you should turn off the VR. Did you? Was it windy? It can get very windy on a tall building and that can cause some camera movement even on a tripod.

If there was some camera movement the building farther away could blur more because as the camera sways the objects farther away will appear to swing over a wider arc.

 

[A Japanese Dream]

[PhotoME]

PhotoME version: 0.8ß2 (Build 891)

[Overview]

File name: C:\Users\dgibson\Dropbox\DSC_0374.NEF

File type: Nikon Camera RAW

File size: 25,453.3 KB

Creation date: 2014/01/22 17:44

Last modification: 2014/01/22 17:44

Make: NIKON CORPORATION (http://www.nikon.com)

Camera: NIKON D5200

Software: Ver.1.01

Dimension: 6036 x 4020 px (24.3 MP, 3:2)

Focal length: 34 mm (equiv. 34 mm)

Aperture: F5

Exposure time: 2.5"

ISO speed rating: 320/26°

Program: Shutter priority

Metering Mode: Pattern

White Balance: Auto

Flash: Flash did not fire

 

[A Japanese Dream]

Were you using a tripod? There is no exposure data but I can see from the car's light streaks that it was a long exposure. If it was on a tripod, you should turn off the VR. Did you? Was it windy? It can get very windy on a tall building and that can cause some camera movement even on a tripod.

If there was some camera movement the building farther away could blur more because as the camera sways the objects farther away will appear to swing over a wider arc.

VR was turned on. I am still new so I just heard that if I am doing anything that has the camera mounted or on a tripod.. turn VR OFF.

 

[mgd43]

Were you using a tripod? There is no exposure data but I can see from the car's light streaks that it was a long exposure. If it was on a tripod, you should turn off the VR. Did you? Was it windy? It can get very windy on a tall building and that can cause some camera movement even on a tripod.

If there was some camera movement the building farther away could blur more because as the camera sways the objects farther away will appear to swing over a wider arc.

VR was turned on. I am still new so I just heard that if I am doing anything that has the camera mounted or on a tripod.. turn VR OFF.

--
- Dave

I hope that does the trick. Good luck!

 

[Mako2011]

Were you using a tripod? There is no exposure data but I can see from the car's light streaks that it was a long exposure. If it was on a tripod, you should turn off the VR. Did you? Was it windy? It can get very windy on a tall building and that can cause some camera movement even on a tripod.

If there was some camera movement the building farther away could blur more because as the camera sways the objects farther away will appear to swing over a wider arc.

VR was turned on. I am still new so I just heard that if I am doing anything that has the camera mounted or on a tripod.. turn VR OFF.

 

[Patco]

Were you using a tripod? There is no exposure data but I can see from the car's light streaks that it was a long exposure. If it was on a tripod, you should turn off the VR. Did you? Was it windy? It can get very windy on a tall building and that can cause some camera movement even on a tripod.

If there was some camera movement the building farther away could blur more because as the camera sways the objects farther away will appear to swing over a wider arc.

VR was turned on. I am still new so I just heard that if I am doing anything that has the camera mounted or on a tripod.. turn VR OFF.

 

[AksCT]

[PhotoME]

PhotoME version: 0.8ß2 (Build 891)

[Overview]

File name: C:\Users\dgibson\Dropbox\DSC_0374.NEF

File type: Nikon Camera RAW

File size: 25,453.3 KB

Creation date: 2014/01/22 17:44

Last modification: 2014/01/22 17:44

Make: NIKON CORPORATION (http://www.nikon.com)

Camera: NIKON D5200

Software: Ver.1.01

Dimension: 6036 x 4020 px (24.3 MP, 3:2)

Focal length: 34 mm (equiv. 34 mm)

Aperture: F5

Exposure time: 2.5"

ISO speed rating: 320/26°

Program: Shutter priority

Metering Mode: Pattern

White Balance: Auto

Flash: Flash did not fire

 

[mosswings]

couple of suggestions:

1. This is Tokyo. Lots of smog and other atmospheric effects that will make distant objects look soft. Unless it was windy. Night shots are usually clearer than day shots, but if you've ever seen a shot of LA looking down into the basin from a high vantage point on a smoggy day you'll know what I mean.

2. Viewfinder AF or LiveView? If you're photographing still lifes/landscapes and your camera is tripod mounted, use LiveView AF. Guaranteed to give the most precise focus if the light is sufficient. If there happens to be something slightly off with your lens or Viewfinder AF, this will get around it.

3. Use a remote shutter release (ML-3) and shutter delay if your camera has the option. On lower end Nikon bodies the mirror cycles for each exposure even if you're in LiveView (I'm not sure what the D5200 does), which can introduce some vibration. Remote shutter release gets your vibration-inducing hand away from the camera body, and shutter delay allows any vibrations stemming from the motion of the mirror to die away before the shutter curtain actuates. With very bright lights in the scene, it may be possible that if there is some shaking going on the brightest may be recorded before the shaking has a chance to die down. This can lead to blurring or softness.

4. How stable is your tripod, really? If it has a hanging hook, hang your camera bag or other weight from it. Make sure that the tripod's center column is NOT extended - the most stable configuration of the tripod is with the camera right down on top of the leg spider. And your equipment mount needs to be at least 3x heavier than your equipment for optimal damping of camera motion and external influences, like wind.

5. Consider f8 and base ISO, aperture priority. f8 gives more depth of field and moves the lens more into its sweet spot, base ISO ensures the best quality capture, and aperture priority establishes manual control over the most important shooting parameter, aperture, and lets shutter speed go where it needs to. Shutter priority in this case will only dial down the aperture to its widest for the focal length, which is not what you want.

6. Turn off VR if you're on a tripod, yes, but I wouldn't blame all your troubles on forgetting to. You've got some more serious problems in this shot than I would ordinarily blame VR for.

7. Are you using a filter (UV, Haze, etc.) on the lens? Take it off. If it's a cheap filter, it can introduce distortions and aberrations. Of course, make sure that the lens elements are clean (front and back).

 

[Mako2011]

Were you using a tripod? There is no exposure data but I can see from the car's light streaks that it was a long exposure. If it was on a tripod, you should turn off the VR. Did you? Was it windy? It can get very windy on a tall building and that can cause some camera movement even on a tripod.

If there was some camera movement the building farther away could blur more because as the camera sways the objects farther away will appear to swing over a wider arc.

VR was turned on. I am still new so I just heard that if I am doing anything that has the camera mounted or on a tripod.. turn VR OFF.

 

[Captain O]

I have taken on board the notes about the VR... I too have had it switched on with a tripod, but would that just result in the whole image blurring? If so, then I appear to have other problems. I'm actually really disappointed in the quality from the move to a DSLR... nothing seems to have pin point focus whether I manually focus on liveview or AF, and I'm wondering if I am doing something so fundamentally wrong, or I have lens/camera issues.

The main trouble appears to be especially apparent on the left side of pictures, as you can see below. Though nothing is really in focus.

The pictures are all taken with the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens.

The first was hand held at f/10, 1/100 second, ISO 100, 18mm, VR on.

This second one was taken at f/11, 20 seconds, ISO 100, 26mm, with a sturdy tripod (no wind), VR on.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Mako2011]

I have taken on board the notes about the VR... I too have had it switched on with a tripod, but would that just result in the whole image blurring? If so, then I appear to have other problems. I'm actually really disappointed in the quality from the move to a DSLR... nothing seems to have pin point focus whether I manually focus on liveview or AF, and I'm wondering if I am doing something so fundamentally wrong, or I have lens/camera issues.

The main trouble appears to be especially apparent on the left side of pictures, as you can see below. Though nothing is really in focus.

The pictures are all taken with the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens.

The first was hand held at f/10, 1/100 second, ISO 100, 18mm, VR on.

This second one was taken at f/11, 20 seconds, ISO 100, 26mm, with a sturdy tripod (no wind), VR on.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!!

Looking at both images, I think you have a lens issue. It looks like the lens has a de-centered lens element as the left side really does seem out of focus at those focal lengths. Setup a flat newspaper on a wall to check. Use close to the same settings aperture and focal length. Shoot faster than 1/250s and in liveview to insure perfect focus. See if the left side is a little off. Compare with VR on and off as a faulty VR unit can cause this also.

--
My opinions are my own and not those of DPR or its administration. They carry no 'special' value (except to me and Lacie of course)

 

[LouCioccio]

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www.nikonusa.com

Tripod no VR see link above.

Lou Cioccio

 

[Steve Bingham]

Shooting raw on the D5200 will always require some unsharp mask for ultimate sharpness.

 

[Captain O]

Hi Mako,

The light in the UK is shocking at the moment, so had to bounce a flash to get faster shots. Still used a tripod, with zoomed in manual focus on LV. Here are the results...

Bizarrely, on these it seems to be more of an issue on the right hand side... I can't win! :-(


VR OFF




VR OFF

 

[HASAN SM]

2 things simply. If i understand right.

1- Know the sweet spot of lens.

2- Employ hyper focal length.

 

[yonsarh]

kit lens w/18-55 VR II seems pretty good

 

[Mako2011]

Hi Mako,

The light in the UK is shocking at the moment, so had to bounce a flash to get faster shots. Still used a tripod, with zoomed in manual focus on LV. Here are the results...

Bizarrely, on these it seems to be more of an issue on the right hand side... I can't win! :-(


VR OFF


VR OFF

At f11 we can't tell if the lens is front or back focusing but it does look very slightly decentered. Not too bad maybe. Don.t forget that many lens will be soft the farther you get from center. The 18-55 is a kit lens and not expected to be perfectly sharp across the frame. In this case seems a little much though at f11. Maybe just a poor sample?

--
My opinions are my own and not those of DPR or its administration. They carry no 'special' value (except to me and Lacie of course)

 

[Mako2011]

kit lens w/18-55 VR II seems pretty good

All looks fine but those scenes don't really contain much detail away from center and are very blurry due to subject motion and DOF choices. Great shots but you would never notice an issue with focus if there was one.

--
My opinions are my own and not those of DPR or its administration. They carry no 'special' value (except to me and Lacie of course)