blue tits, help please with shot

nibb 100

nibb 100

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David
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took this to try out my new Nikon 300 f4/ 1.4 TC,

why aren't they both in focus? is it motion blur? the rest of the shot looks roughly in focus :help:

004-4.jpg
 
With long focal lengths you get a small depth of field, even at fairly small apertures.

You'll need to use a higher f number.
 
There is exif data.

Your shot was taken at F5.6, 1/640 at ISO 3200. Don't forget the TC will lose you one stop and lose you light.

The depth of field at f5.6 is very small so the bird on the right is nearly in focus and proabably your point of focus.

Why 3200 ISO ?

that will add grain to your picture and make it look soft anyway.

What was the lighting and weather like, where you shooting through a window maybe ?
 
Nawty said:
With long focal lengths you get a small depth of field, even at fairly large apertures.

You'll need to use a higher f number.
Click to expand...

Its difficult to say if you have missed the focus point or there is some camera shake. As said above you have used a small f number which accounts for the shallow DoF, 5.6 at 1/640" ISO 3200 and 420mm focal length. Its most likely a combination of things, a higher speed wouldnt hurt at that FL, and check where your AF point is in your camera software.

Edit: Sorry, ChrisH beat me to it :)
 
Shallow depth of field (focus) at f5.6 on the 300mm, stop down to f8 and your depth of field will increase.

As you get closer to the subject depth of field decreases, as you move away depth of field will increase :thumbs:

The longer the focal length of the lens the shallower the depth of field.

It does not help that your subject is backlit, try and get the sun behind you, ideally coming over a shoulder. This will really help get a crisper image.
 
Here is an example with the same lens, with a 1.7TC probably closer to the subject than your shot.

The birds flank, eye and left foot are in focus, the birds right foot is not, the end of it's tail is starting to get blurred, and this was at f7.1.

 
to be fair it was shot through a window on a dull day, the camera was set on shutter priority and auto ISO,

really I should have had it on manual, next time I'll try that and bear in mind your thoughts,

what a silly billy :cuckoo:
 
I am not sure that many glaziers fit optical quality windows, so that will not have helped your cause. As others have said, the shallow depth of field is also working against you.
 
nibb 100 said:
to be fair it was shot through a window on a dull day, the camera was set on shutter priority and auto ISO,

really I should have had it on manual, next time I'll try that and bear in mind your thoughts,

what a silly billy :cuckoo:
Click to expand...

I can sympathise, we get lots of squirrels in our garden, and when I try and open the window to get a shot, they've gone!
 
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