Have I got a lens problem?

bdslr

bdslr

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Brian
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Not sure if this is the right place, but I think this is equipment related... I could REALLY use the collective help of this great group...

I was in the studio the other evening - most of the photos look like they missed focus (and I'm not that much of a noob).

The worst of them look like this - one is the crop in to the others...

DSC_0011-2 by bdslr11, on Flickr

DSC_0011 by bdslr11, on Flickr

I swapped the lens for a different one in the middle of the session to do some beauty shots and bingo - those are great.

On the fuzzy/blurred shots there is nothing in focus and some evidence the light trail you can see above.

This - as most of the shots - was taken at 1/100th, F10 using a 18-55 VR lens - hand held. VR on - long end of the focal range.

At the moment I'm suspecting the lens, but wanted to check what others think.

Appreciate your time.
 
looks like vibration movement.. hendheld ( unless youve got the major shakes ) at 1/100th with an 18-55 shouldnt cause that unless theres a fault with the VR which creates tiny vibrations.
only other thing i can think of is bad communictaion between camera and lens causing it to incorrectly read the shutter speed or a sticking aperture blade.
certainly if the other shots came out fine it all points to a problem with the lens.
 
I'ts nothing to do with focus or the lens it is technique issue. The blur is caused by camera shake. If you are using continuous lighting 1/100th sec is on the low side to be hand holding. What is the lighting setup in your studio?
 
That's camera movement plain and simple which is amazing at that shutter speed, I'd don't really do studio/portiture but what were your flash/lighting settings...if your not able to hand hold at 1/100th even at 55mm(80ish mm) I'm wondering if the flash duration is too long if possible @Garry Edwards will likely be able to put me right on that but I'm wondering if the flash is physically on/firing long enough to show your movement

Initial solution would be to sit the camera on a tripod with a cable realise for firing it
 
according to exif shot at 43mm.. at 1/100th.. with VR on unless it seems a bit extreme to be camera shake because if you look at the image its not blurred so much as ghosted . you can see 3 sets of eyes which seems rather odd for normal camera shake and if the shots came out fine when switching lenses then if its camera shake /flash issue they would be blurred too
 
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I would expect less camera shake than that without VR, never mind with - my guess is a screwed VR unit.
 
Thanks all. It's not continuous lighting. Rather flash heads on a professional studio
Guess I'm worried about the lens. But thankfully it is the kit lens so not too pricey as these things go
Just a wasted session in a studio and model fees. :(
Thanks again
 
I could well be a mile out here, but could it be vr left on and used on a tripod?
 
Try turning vr off and also with a pod. If that sorts it the vr motors are faulty. If other lenses are fine then your hand shake shouldn't be an issue. Did you change any settings when you swapped lenses?
 
If it is camera shake, then boy your in a bad way :). I can hold a camera steadier than that and I shake like a Morris Minor on a cobbled street. Further test shots needed I think to be certain but it does seem as though it's a VR problem.
 
Thanks all for your help so far
Looks like it is defo the lens - I tried it last night and struggled to get a sharp picture.

In the same studio/same flash/trigger/model/camera - but putting an 85mm on (to prove I can hand hold :) ) this is a crop from the eye of a head shot

DSC_0120 by bdslr11, on Flickr

Thank you all
 
I would also get into the habit of checking 'focus' after a few shots (even though this isn't a focus issue) on the back LCD screen as this will alert you to any potential problems.
 
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