Just cant get it

Nickler

Nickler

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Nikki
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Omg I must be so thick. I am having real problems with my 50 mm f/1.8. I just can not get to grips with it taking really blurry pics. 
 
I am guessing that you are focussing manually. It is a real pig nailing manual focus on crop sensor cameras with out changing the focusing screen, plus at a guess you are shooting f1.8 once you get down to f8 the small errors are usually not noticeable, it show up more the nearer you get to f1.8 due to the small DoF. HTH
 
Just a thought but have you got the diopter on the camera set for your eyesight because if you have not when you look manual mode and think the focus on subject is correct it will be off, I maybe wrong as I am no expert but JMO.
Russ
 
Nickler said:
Omg I must be so thick. I am having real problems with my 50 mm f/1.8. I just can not get to grips with it taking really blurry pics. 
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Nikki

Bob a couple of pictures up that you're not happy with and I'm sure people will be able to offer advice.
Try to make sure the EXIF is intact that way we can see what settings you used.

As others have said I struggled to begin with when shooting my son wide open, but with a bit of practice I managaed to get it sorted!

Good look the 50mm is a great lens, especially at the price!

Regards

Neil
 
As others have said - without seeing the images and the settings at which they were taken we can't offer much help.
 
When I got my Pentax 50mm 1.4 I was initially convinced I had a duffer. It took a while to work out that wide open, the depth of focus is absolutely tiny - measured in millimeters. I ended up taking pictures in the F8-13 range and suddenly I had a very sharp lens and the confidence in it to start opening it out.
 
russellsnr said:
Just a thought but have you got the diopter on the camera set for your eyesight because if you have not when you look manual mode and think the focus on subject is correct it will be off, I maybe wrong as I am no expert but JMO.
Russ
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Good point and there is a proper way to set this. Sometimes people focus the lenses on something and then adjust the diopter until the image seems sharpest, but that's not how it should ne done. You simply look at the on screen info through the view finder, focus point/meter etc. And adjust until that appears sharpest.

As mentioned manual focus is difficult on a crop sensor digital because they lack a focusing screen, full frame is easier because the are much brighter, they still lack the focus screen though. You can fit one but its expensive and I wouldn't do it unless you use a lot of manual focus.

Does your camera have an indicator in the view finder for when it achieves focus? You can often use that in manual focus to help, don't look straight at it, just be aware of it in your field of view as you focus, when it lights up bang you are on.
 
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Thanks everyone. So back to basics. Can I use my 50 mm lens in say portrait mode but still have to set focus manually. if not how do I do it.

If I got a 35 mm does that auto focus.

Sorry to be a pain
 
Nickler said:
Thanks everyone. So back to basics. Can I use my 50 mm lens in say portrait mode but still have to set focus manually. if not how do I do it.

If I got a 35 mm does that auto focus.

Sorry to be a pain
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It should AF fine if thats what you want?

For full manual, dont mess with the camera settings - set this to how you want and just flick the switch on the lens itself to MF. Is that what you meant?
 
I think I need to stick with auto focus at the moment but I can't do this with the 50 can I or am I getting it all wrong.
People all say how wonderful it is but I'm finding it so difficult.

If I got the 35 does that auto focus for instants if using portrait mode
 
What 50mm lens have you got?
 
Ok that has AF so are you finding using the AF at low apertures difficult or is the AF not working?
 
That lens won't autofocus with that camera as it doesn't have a focus motor. You'll need to manually focus the lens. The 35mm will autofocus on that body.
 
TCR4x4 said:
That lens won't autofocus with that camera as it doesn't have a focus motor. You'll need to manually focus the lens. The 35mm will autofocus on that body.
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Ah, says it all!

MF will be difficult at low apertures though, so a bit of practice using MF and you'll be fine!
 
Depends on a lot of things but typically 35mm would be considered too short, certainly for head shots.

On the other hand, if you want to take full length portraits in limited room then it would be ok.
 
I think I need to go back to basics and start again. I'm only a newbie and suppose I was expecting to know and take great pictures straight away. Doesn't work like that though does it
 
Nickler said:
I think I need to go back to basics and start again. I'm only a newbie and suppose I was expecting to know and take great pictures straight away. Doesn't work like that though does it
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well it will come in time ,on the plus side where you live there are so many photo oppourtunities and with digital you can practice as much as you want at no extra cost ...clock tower cameras may at times get secondhand lenses in that could suit your needs
 
My first experience of a 50mm was one from the 1970's on a D60. That meant no autofocus and no metering at all.

It was a great learning experience though so keep at it and you will crack it.

I found that I was focusing and it looked fine through the viewfinder, but blurry once on the PC. I have to get it so it looks just right, then nudge it back just a little :)

However, 35mm 1.8 will autofocus and for £160 is a cracking lens :)

I would suggest you lay a ruler on a table. Then using manual focus try and get different lengths in focus (10cm, 20cm etc) then see how much you were off by. Learn to adjust it and see how that helps.

Once you crack it = :D
 
Harvey_nikon said:
My first experience of a 50mm was one from the 1970's on a D60. That meant no autofocus and no metering at all.

It was a great learning experience though so keep at it and you will crack it.

I found that I was focusing and it looked fine through the viewfinder, but blurry once on the PC. I have to get it so it looks just right, then nudge it back just a little :)

However, 35mm 1.8 will autofocus and for £160 is a cracking lens :)

I would suggest you lay a ruler on a table. Then using manual focus try and get different lengths in focus (10cm, 20cm etc) then see how much you were off by. Learn to adjust it and see how that helps.

Once you crack it = :D
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Or just use the diopter adjustment so it looks in focus when it is...

Presumably you have a kit lens? use that and go out and shoot shoot shoot, then you'll get a better understanding of the camera and focal lengths.
 
Harvey_nikon said:
My first experience of a 50mm was one from the 1970's on a D60. That meant no autofocus and no metering at all.

I found that I was focusing and it looked fine through the viewfinder, but blurry once on the PC.
Click to expand...

Same here with the E series 50mm. One bit of advice I was given was to take 3 shots, 1 when you think you have focus the 2 more just tweaking the focus ring either side of the first shot.

Although this was with the D300 for metering it was still MF.


Week 9 Playby foggy4ever, on Flickr
 
Nawty said:
Or just use the diopter adjustment so it looks in focus when it is...

Presumably you have a kit lens? use that and go out and shoot shoot shoot, then you'll get a better understanding of the camera and focal lengths.
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I actually wouldn't recommend doing that with the diopter adjustment. You should adjust the diopter until the info like meters in the view finder is Sharp.

Manual focus on a crop sensor is difficult especially for a beginner. The person who mentioned that lens won't auto focus on that body is correct, you need at least a d90 to auto focus non AFS lenses BUT the focus lock light should still go on when the area under your focus point is Focused. You should see this light up in the viewfinder, keep am eye out for it and it will help you know when you are in focus.
 
I have to say I love talk photography. So much good advice and although I'm so new at this you never get treated like an idiot which I have done on another site. Thanks everyone. Although I'm finding it difficult you are all making it very pleasurable 
 
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