I Am Just About Tearing My Hair Out!

[Kirislin]

I dont see what I could've done wrong this time. I went to photograph the raptors at the sanctuary yesterday. I was seated and comfortable, had the camera steady. I had the centre point focus only. When I got them onto my computer some were focused and some weren't. Heres an example of one of the failures. You can see it is clearly out of focus on the bird but the grass in the foreground is in focus. I checked the shooting info and it shows I had the focus point on the bird, just above its wing, where that little straight line is in the feathers, so why oh why has it focused on the grass.

for your info

TV 1/800

AV 5.6

ISO 200

focal length 300mm

Edited December 6, 2008 by Kirislin

[Luke W]

Is that the full, uncropped frame?

[Kirislin]

Yes, just as it was in the camera, no sharpening or colour adjustment.

[chezzyr]

OT - is that the bird that cracks the fake egg open?

Are you using your 'kit lens' for this?

[Kirislin]

Yes and yes Chezzyr

Edited December 6, 2008 by Kirislin

[chezzyr]

Why are you shooting right to 300mm? I am sure I have suggested before either

to you or others on this forum to try images not right at the extreme end

eg try 250 or 280/290 not 300mm. Because some lenses go 'soft' at the

extreme ends. I think Luke has said something similar also.

eta: I know sometimes one isnt 'thinking' about technicalities when presented

with subjects like birds in flight/action, you just want to get the image, but

Id suggest trying some shots at different focal lengths.

Have you done any of that testing I suggested ages ago?

Edited December 6, 2008 by chezzyr

[Kirislin]

I wanted to get as close as I could, plus it's not that it cant focus, the grass is focussed, that's what I dont understand. some pics worked out though heres one taken only seconds after the first and I think it's OK, well near enough for my fuzzy eyes.

Edited December 6, 2008 by Kirislin

[chezzyr]

Both images also look sharpest in their bottom right hand corners to me, just

an observation

[Kirislin]

eta: I know sometimes one isnt 'thinking' about technicalities when presented

with subjects like birds in flight/action, you just want to get the image, but

Id suggest trying some shots at different focal lengths.

Have you done any of that testing I suggested ages ago?

Yes I did Chezzyr and it has helped me to understand how the lens works. I only did it with one lens though.

[Kirislin]

Both images also look sharpest in their bottom right hand corners to me, just

an observation

well does that suggest a problem with the camera cause that's what I've been wondering?

Edited December 6, 2008 by Kirislin

[chezzyr]

top one her (?) head is turned away so not in line with the wing anyway

and with an aperture of only 5.6 you are going to get the image fading

out. I wonder if f8 or f11 would have been better, you could have

afforded a slower shutter speed because the bird is just on the ground

walking/standing?

[chezzyr]

Anyway, my suggestion (homework for you lol) is to try testing THIS lens

out at the various focal lengths and apertures etc (various combos)

because then you will be able to ascertain the best settings to work with

for that particular lens and it may well help you know if its a lens problem?

[Kirislin]

I wanted the bird to stand out from the background so that's why I tried the lowest fstop it would allow, see, I was thinking about it, whether or not I was right.

I might go back tomorrow I'm a Fotz member so I can go whenever. I will try what you've suggested Chezzyr.

Edited December 6, 2008 by Kirislin

[Luke W]

You say some were focused some weren't.

My guess...

Autofocus isn't perfect.

The camera isn't designed to get the subject perfectly in focus. All it's designed to do is get the subject close enough to 'in focus' so that a 6x9" print viewed at 10", looks sharp enough. For a lens with a maximum aperture of 2.8 or less, the autofocus will achieve 'sharp enough' for a 18x12 at 10".

With a little extra sharpening on your bird, it passes.

[Kirislin]

gotta go, I'll check back later, thanks everyone for you advice and suggestions!

[chezzyr]

See atleast you are thinking

And not just taking images, giving up and throwing camera in bin

I haven't been to Healesville for a long time.

[Kirislin]

See atleast you are thinking

And not just taking images, giving up and throwing camera in bin

I haven't been to Healesville for a long time.

so, how about a visit and some one on one training? I will provide some very pretty whippets for you to photograph

[chezzyr]

Keep chipping away and you won't need me for training

But the idea of photographing some Whippets is tempting

Sighthounds are such elegant looking dogs

[rubiton]

I would also up the speed to 1/1000th and the ISO up to 400. Plus trying F8 as the aperture and as has also been suggested not going quite to the 300m extreme of the lens. Even my huge 100-400mm can be slightly soft at the extreme zoom but this can also be because the very very slightest movement of your hands when taking the pic can affect the result.

Also is the bird moving and do you have the focus set on AI Servo or One shot? This can make a HUGE difference (or equiv if its not a Canon camera).

ONe last question - did you hold your breathe when you took the photo/s tha didnt work?

[Aubrey]

For my 2c I would also up the apeture to f8 or f11, even higher to f16 at a 280mm length.

My 55-200 is a little weak at 200 so stop it at 180 because it softens, but for the long distance shots I tend to put the apeture up high so that there is more detail in case I crop it.

If there is enough light, and slow movement, a 1/200 sec and higher apeture to get the meter reading right would have got a great picture.

Check out focal lengths at certain apetures and distances as this will explain. There are all kinds of matrixes explaining that your focal distance may only be a few centimeters at distances at the lower focus.

You are on the right track though, so keep asking questions, people will try and help.

Andrew