New lens advice

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October21

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32
Name
Kate
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Hi all, I have a Nikon D3200 and have used the kit lens for just over a year, practising and getting used to how everything works. A couple of weeks ago I treated myself to a 50mm 1.8G lens. I wanted a nice blurry background for photos of my 1 year old and some really sharp images of her eyes and the little curls of her hair. After doing some research it seemed this lens would do this. Thing is, I'm struggling to get really sharp images, and it stops focusing when I get too near so I can't get really close up shots. Where am I going wrong? Do I need a different lens or just to practice more? Thanks in advance for any help or tips!
 
Try posting or linking a couple of shots Kate- it'll be easier to spot the issue.
 
Minimum focus distance for the 50mm f/1.8g is 45cm and you really need to be shooting at at least 1/80 second now (minimum) as the 50mm doesn't have VR.
 
Nope. You don't need a new lens although i would have suggested the 35mm f1.8g DX lens.

Couple of tips:
  • If your child is constantly on the move then make sure you have a decent shutter speed. 1/80 is a good starting point but that only really compensates for your movement such as camera shake. If the kid is moving then you'll need a little faster to freeze their motion.
  • Don't get so close. As above, 45cm is pretty close. This makes it harder for the camera and the depth of field decreases which means attaining critical sharp focus becomes really difficult.
  • Don't shoot wide open. Close your aperture a few clicks. A lens rarely performs best at its widest aperture. F2-2.8 will make the lens sharper and your depth of field will increase a little. This gives you more leeway for movement of the subject.
  • Use AF-C. This will track the subject, constantly adjusting focus so that the subject remains sharp.
  • Try 'CH' mode. This will fire off a few shots whilst the shutter is pressed. Chances are 1 of the group of shots will be in focus.

Hope that has helped you a little.

David.
 
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I can't post my shots, it's coming up with an error uploading them for some reason. But I guess from the comments you have it spot on. I'm mostly shooting at f1.8 and always slower than 1/80. I will continue to practice with this lens then. I have had a few good shots of stationery things, I'm just struggling with the wriggly 1 year old, so hopefully the tips will help, they seem to make sense. Still not sure how I get a closer up shot though at 45cm distance. If I want something like a detailed image of an eye, is that possible with this lens?

Thanks for the help all.

Ps. Just out of interest minnnt, why would you have recommended the 35mm lens?
 
The 50mm f1.8 will not focus on anything closer than about 45cm (minimum focus distance), to get closer than this you will either need a dedicated Macro lens, or you could pick up some cheap Macro Extension rings (from the likes of eBay) that will allow closer focusing
 
It's only really macro lenses or 'micro nikkor' in nikon parlance that allow for extreme closeups.
 
Ok, thanks. I'm keen to keep practising with the f1.8 lens but I would like to get a bit closer occasionally.

I have £100 I can spend but obviously I don't feel like spending money if I don't have to! I was looking at the Tamron 70-300mm F4/5.6 DI LD Macro (Sony). Will that do it? Anything better in the price range you would recommend?

I feel like I got to know the kit lens pretty well but now I'm a bit bewildered by all the choice and knowing what I need to achieve the results I want.
 
Don't buy any other lenses until you learn more things. Knowledge is key. The Tamron lens you mention isn't a proper macro lens. It will focus pretty close and give a reproduction rate of 1:2. You also mention you have a D3200. I'm not sure if the Tamron has a built in focus motor or if it requires the body to have one. If it's the latter then it won't autofocus on your body. You also have 'Sony' in brackets... Make sure you get the Nikon mount version... ;)

I suggested the 35mm lens rather than the 50mm because it will give a closer field of view to what the eye sees and it is an absolute beauty of a lens. 50mm on your crop sensor body actually gives an equivalent field of view of 75mm which is a bit 'meh' imo. Obviously everyone is different though so if the 50mm lens works for you then stick with it. (y)
 
I had a feeling the advice might be to not buy another lens yet. ;) I agree I shouldn't rush out and get another, I guess I'm just eager to see the results I want and I need the right lens to do it. I'm enjoying the new one though so no rush.

Ah yes, I didn't notice I'd linked the wrong mount-whoops! Sounds like maybe the lens isn't what I want anyway then. Hmm. Maybe I'll look into a macro extension ring instead.

Wish I'd posted and asked for advice on the 50mm before I bought it. Ho hum.

Thanks for the info, it's been very helpful. :)
 
Some good advice here, especially about not jumping for another lens yet.

I've just experimented with my kit lens and at 55mm and at closest focus an object about 6 - 7cm wide fills the frame. This is obviously larger than a child's eye, but if you were taking a shot of both eyes it should be fine, or you could crop the image a little. Though I have say the camera to subject distance was a little under 30cm, which is could be a bit intimidating for a child and as David has mentioned there are problems with being very close.

However, I think, as mentioned above and as you alluded to in your second post ("I have had a few good shots of stationery things"), the problem is more with the subject. Getting good shots of an active, moving child is not easy.

Just keep at it.

Dave
 
Oh yes, that is exactly what I'm after! I can't upload the ones I wanted to, but I can upload this one which kind of shows what I mean about the image not being sharp and looking kind of flat. Hopefully someone wont mind pointing out where I'm going wrong.
 

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Nice one Kate, you're well on the way! You could get a little bit tighter and remember the golden rule with photographing anything that's alive; focus on the eyes because that's where the soul is.
 
Yes, lighting wasn't great here, it was a bit of a grey day, but then I have this issue even on a nice day. I always try to focus on the eyes, but they come out not quite in focus. Maybe I just need to work on that, I don't know. I didn't have the problem focusing with the kit lens though. Hmm.
 
Wow, ok, nice to see what can be done with the lens when you know what you're doing! I don't believe I do, my Grandad has about 30 Canons but not a Nikon. I think I'll get the 12 year old to stand still for a bit and let me take some shots and see if I can nail it with a less wriggly subject. ;)
 
I have the D3200 also ( learning quickly ) , i get decent bokeh with the kit lens IF the conditions are ok (still)

Meet Stuart..
Stuart_zpsjzgarozp.jpg



I am looking at a 35mm 1.8 DX and have put it on my Santa list :)
 
October21 said:
Wow, ok, nice to see what can be done with the lens when you know what you're doing! I don't believe I do, my Grandad has about 30 Canons but not a Nikon. I think I'll get the 12 year old to stand still for a bit and let me take some shots and see if I can nail it with a less wriggly subject. ;)
Click to expand...

Just out of interest where are you based someone on here maybe local and able to help with trying the lens on a different body?
 
Leicestershire. We have a local photography group so I could contact them and see if they would oblige-but I'd feel a bit silly if it's user error. Will practice more first. Had no luck getting a really clear shot of my eldest yesterday even with the settings suggested but will have another go later. :)
 
Ah a bit far for me if your were closer I would have been happy to meet and try it on mine. Contact them I'm sure there would be someone there who could help. And don't worry if its user error you learn form your mistakes
 
What's flat is the light. Light helps everything. It's a case of bringing everything together. Keep practicing your technique and skills. Watch a few youtube videos etc.

How are you post processing these shots and are you shooting Jpeg or RAW?
 
Ok cool. They just feel ever so slightly blurry, maybe I'm confusing out of focus for bad lighting.

Reading through this forum and getting advice from people that know what they're doing is actually a huge help. I've been winging it on my own hoping that messing with the settings and trying stuff out for myself will get me through. I'll try youtube too.

I was shooting in jpeg but will try raw and have a go editing. :)
 
I'm not very steady and I sometimes find, whilst I get used to a lens and it's handling I shoot at a faster shutter speed. You could try upping your shutter speed to 1/640, 1/800 etc.... and then start bringing it back down when you get more used to the lens. You could also look to stopping the lens down a little, say f4 or f5.6. Good light, as been mentioned will help with these settings and alter one thing at a time as you will see if theres any improvement.

Have a little practise with the above settings and see how you get on.


Edit: Forgot to add, don't be afraid of upping your ISO to go with the above settings as they will be darker, it's better to have a sharp image with some noise rather than un-sharp one without noise.
 
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Meh, it's ok. Lots to improve on but at least it shows the lens isn't dud and I can work on it. Thanks all. :)
 
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