Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
Username  

  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1      
2
       3       end
  

Archive 2017 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?

  
 
ckcarr
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


Try posting over in the photo critique board. The more I look I see technique issues, lens issues, and body issues. They can help you make the best with what you have. If it was me I'd also go to the sports forum and find surf shots you admire and study the camera settings, time of day, etc. etc.

These have no color, no contrast, and seem to be taken on auto mode / mid day.



Sep 18, 2017 at 04:26 AM
Christian H
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


Jersey Shore? Shooting after 4 pm with the sun behind you alone should improve your shots by 1000%! In those conditions (sun, high contrast) the entry level body's slow AF processor may even be adequate, but what you're trying to do here (backlight, flat light) would seem to require a more capable AF system. Pick up a used D7200 and try that. (Avoid the D7100 at all costs - the AF system is horrible.)

Christian



Sep 18, 2017 at 05:37 AM
steve807
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


Hey, my D7100 focuses great !


Sep 20, 2017 at 10:39 AM
Craig Gillette
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


newjerseysurf wrote:
sorry, metadata on the latest surfing photo is as such:

ISO 3200
300MM
F/9
1/1600



While I think eliminating the variables (like tripod based fixed subject tests, etc.) there may be some issues with this one. ISO 3200 could be soft (noisy) on it's own, f9 may be a bit past the sharpest aperture and there are reports that the lens loses some sharpness as you get to 300mm. (testing/reviews may help here in checking these out for your particular combo, I have the D7200 and the 70-300 vr and with the D200, I got in the habit of keeping it a little short of 300mm. I haven't done any critical testing with it on my somewhat new now D7200.)



Sep 20, 2017 at 11:45 PM
runamuck
Offline
• • • • • •
[X]
p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


I did a quick 1 minute edit. Reduced the light, increased contrast and sharpened







Sep 21, 2017 at 12:01 AM
lorac
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


If focus was on surfer, still soft for the 70-300mmVR. OP needs to test for static object sharpness, remove him or herself from the equation and find out that camera body + that lens capability. Easy enough to do, then go from there. The D3200 surely is not one of the best action cameras, but surfers aren't all that fast so as not to allow for sharp images with proper tracking technique. That's IF the equipment checks out.


Sep 21, 2017 at 02:35 AM
Candjbell
Offline

Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


ISO 3200? Surely not, I use my 70-300 on fast action soccer and don't have any issues. But I'm using d610, I used to use it on d7100 and no issues there either.


Sep 22, 2017 at 10:00 PM
runamuck
Offline
• • • • • •
[X]
p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


Buy a nice lens from Amazon. Use it for 2 days and return it. Compare photos. If they are stillo bad it is most likely the camera. If pictures are better with the new lens, that means the 70-300 is defective.


Sep 22, 2017 at 10:38 PM
morris
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


Download and zoomed in on the last image. Focus is in front of your subject. His hand is sharp, his head is slightly off. Look at the water zoomed in and you can see where focus is.

Looking one image further back, it is focused behind your subject.

I don't know what focus mode you are using, I suspect the issue is that you either need to understand the focus modes and setup of your camera better or you simply need practice tracking moving subjects.

I hope this helps

Morris




Sep 23, 2017 at 10:29 AM
newjerseysurf
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


so the feedback is mostly keep working on technique as the lens shouldn't be the issue?


Sep 26, 2017 at 05:59 PM
SSISteve
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


The images are definitely not very good. Have they been cropped much? I used to have that lens and thought it was very good and should deliver better results than this.


Sep 26, 2017 at 06:34 PM
newjerseysurf
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


SSISteve wrote:
The images are definitely not very good. Have they been cropped much? I used to have that lens and thought it was very good and should deliver better results than this.


not cropped at all



Sep 26, 2017 at 07:52 PM
newjerseysurf
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


SSISteve wrote:
The images are definitely not very good. Have they been cropped much? I used to have that lens and thought it was very good and should deliver better results than this.


not cropped at all



Sep 26, 2017 at 07:52 PM
runamuck
Offline
• • • • • •
[X]
p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


If you have only one lens and one camera you cannot cross check lens and camera. There is NO way we can tell if it is the lens or camera without cross checking. Either file a warranty claim with Nikon for the lens or somehow obtain another lens for testing. At this point I would send the lens in for calibration and hope it is a lens problem.


Sep 26, 2017 at 08:27 PM
CanadaMark
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


newjerseysurf wrote:
so the feedback is mostly keep working on technique as the lens shouldn't be the issue?


What you need to do is a controlled test. Get everything on a tripod and compare PDAF (viewfinder focus) to CDAF (Live view focus) with that lens at various distances and compare the images. CDAF should match PDAF or close to it. Are they sharp to your liking? Do they display any of the issues you see in the surfing shots? That is step one in my opinion. You need to rule out lens/body issues before you move onto something else or you might end up wasting a lot of time.



Sep 27, 2017 at 09:58 AM
newjerseysurf
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


CanadaMark wrote:
What you need to do is a controlled test. Get everything on a tripod and compare PDAF (viewfinder focus) to CDAF (Live view focus) with that lens at various distances and compare the images. CDAF should match PDAF or close to it. Are they sharp to your liking? Do they display any of the issues you see in the surfing shots? That is step one in my opinion. You need to rule out lens/body issues before you move onto something else or you might end up wasting a lot of time.


thank you. i will get some shots off a tripod this weekend.

any tips on exactly what to shoot to give the board the best idea?



Sep 27, 2017 at 08:04 PM
CanadaMark
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


newjerseysurf wrote:
thank you. i will get some shots off a tripod this weekend.

any tips on exactly what to shoot to give the board the best idea?


You just need a good AF target, something with high contrast, perpendicular to the camera. You can print lots of free ones off the web, or you can just use something with good black/white contrast for the best result.



Sep 28, 2017 at 09:32 AM
newjerseysurf
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


ok so i haven't had a chance to do the AF test. but i did just order a tripod - so soon it will be done.

here's another photo from tonight. not touched up at all so you can see what it looks like right out of the camera. it was getting dark so ISO is high and it's a bit underexposed. but, again, my concern is on the sharpness of the subject.

https://i.imgur.com/smODxPc.jpg


here is the data:

ISO 1600
185mm
f/5.0
1/640 sec.

any thoughts?

any better?

i tried to bring the lens in a bit and avoid shooting much > 200mm - the high ISO is just a fact of life to get that shutter speed.

thanks!



Sep 28, 2017 at 07:20 PM
SSISteve
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


Not sure what the issue is but for me the image is just not very good. That lens is capable of much better pics.


Sep 28, 2017 at 07:44 PM
ckcarr
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.2 #20 · p.2 #20 · Is it the camera (D3200) the lens (Nikkor 70-300) or me?


With very basic post processing I can see his fingers, toes, and nose...

I'm guessing, that using the tripod, panning carefully at a lower shutter speed may help. Along with a lot of practice, which may mean several thousand frames...







Sep 28, 2017 at 07:55 PM
1      
2
       3       end




FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1      
2
       3       end
    
 

You are not logged in. Login or Register

Username       Or Reset password



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.