I know this topic has been bounced around in forums but now I am experiencing it.....
I have had my D2X since March and suddeenly am getting soft focused images particularly noticeable in portraits. Here is an example shot this evening and this degree of unsharpness has been consistent in my last couple of portrait sessions. I have reset all menu settings in the D2X and still get the same results. Anyone else noticed a change over time in D2X images ?
If it was out beyond 50mm then I would say you gotta rule out camera shake or subject movement first and do a test with the AF on but shooting from a tripod
In looking at your EXIF data, this appears to have been shot at 1/40sec - f/3 at 65mm..... I would say that likely it was not on a tripod thus causing the "softness" ... I experienced this same thing for the first few frames I shot with my D2X too!! the camera is VERY precise and requires that your exposure be dead on for the desired result.....
Hope that puts your mind at ease... The GOOD news is the camera is likely fine.
A good way to make sure that this is not a focus issue is to manually focus portraits. If you can't/don't want to do that, it is at least a good idea to take the focus function away from the shutter button and put it only on the AF-ON button. This way you can get her eyes in focus in the viewfinder, and when you press the shutter, the camera will not even have the possibility of re-focusing.
I am not saying you have a problem with the camera or you don't, but with proper technique, you can't get a portrait like this out of focus...even with a camera that is not perfect.
mlife wrote:
In looking at your EXIF data, this appears to have been shot at 1/40sec - f/3 at 65mm...
Mlife is correct - exif indicates you are expecting too much from your personal body! The 65mm is the equivalent of 95mm on a normal film 35mm camera. Very few people are able to get consistent results at 1/40 second. You would normally expect that a 1/100 second exposure would be reasonable for "mostly sharp" shots at this focal length.
Better choose higher ISO... and purchase a noise reducer ... if you don't like digital noise.
Couple of portraits here using a better technique. Pumped up the shutter and ISO to 200 and now see better sharpness and detail. No tripod but tried harder to breath out and shoot.
Thanks for the comments, the D2X is a much more complex camera than the D1X no doubt.
The last two shots are better, but not that sharp IMHO. Why don't you test it with a tripod so you know for sure. Handheld shots are not the best way to test for sharpness!
Couple of new shots from this evening. I concentrated on keeping things steady here. Arca-Swiss on a Manfrotto Carbon Fiber, also raised the ISO higher than my norm under these conditions. Seem more sharp to me.
