Faulty Lens?

ianfulcher

ianfulcher

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Ian Fulcher
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Still very new to this so please bear with me. Bought a Nikon D90 in November with standard kit lens and I am most impressed. Bought a Nikon 50mm 1.8 AF-D lens from Jessops just before Christmas and the results are, well....Poor!

Could it be a faulty lens? The pics below show up the problem best. The second is a screen capture from the Nikon software which shows where the camera focussed.

Your views would be appreciated:

DSC_0156.jpg


Untitled-1-1.jpg
 
If your shooting at very low apature say f1.8 you will get that kind of shot, try taking the same shot but at f5 and it should give you more Depth of field and bring more of the picture into focus.
 
ianfulcher said:
Still very new to this so please bear with me. Bought a Nikon D90 in November with standard kit lens and I am most impressed. Bought a Nikon 50mm 1.8 AF-D lens from Jessops just before Christmas and the results are, well....Poor!

Could it be a faulty lens? The pics below show up the problem best. The second is a screen capture from the Nikon software which shows where the camera focussed.

Your views would be appreciated:
Click to expand...

The focus point don't show where the camera focused, just what AF sensors where active when you took the shot. Think about this for a bit, it'll make sense.

Try this again, with the camera on a tripod, using the center AF point only. Don't let the camera use multiple AF points.
 
Did you focus (half depress the shutter button) and then recompose the shot? This could cause the camera to remember the initial focus and cause what you see here.

My advice would be to try a few more test shots, preferably with a tripod to ensure you keep the same composition and take photos using the various focus points on your camera but selecting one at a time checking it focuses on each (there are 11 on the D90 so maybe just try a few). An apperture value of F1.8 would explain the shallow depth of field you are getting but not the mismatch in AF point and image that you see here.

If you're still not happy/convinced, you could pop into Jessops with your camera and try out another 50mm to see how it compares, keeping the test shots on your SD card for further analysis and comparison.

I'd be surprised if it turns out to actually be the lens as it's focusing cleanly and sharply on one area of the subject but stranger things have happened!

Let us know how you get on :)
 
Crikey..talk about a quick response. Thanks so much guys. Appreciate it.

Will take on all you suggest.
 
Thanks for your help. Shot below taken on a tripod as suggested. Do you think that the lens is OK?

#1. 50mm F/1.8D
Aperture: F/4. Shutter Speed:1/400s ISO 200
DSC_0329.jpg



#2. 50mm F/1.8D
Aperture: F/1.8. Shutter Speed: 1/1000s ISO 200
DSC_0334.jpg
 
Probably about right I'd say - the 50mm f/1.8 needs stopping down before it gets really good.
 
Yep, it looks fine! The smaller the f-number, the less of the picture will be in focus. So at f/4, most of the controller is sharp, at f/1.8, very little is. Apart from the 50mm 1.8, you have to pay big money for the effect to be this pronounced. Have a play with it, you can get some fantastic results!
 
I'm considering getting a Nikon 50mm f1.8. Can anyone tell me if this is the best lens to get. I know it's only about £80 in Jessops so you can't really go wrong for that kind of money but I'd rather spend more on the right lens if it is going to give me better results.

I basically want sharp pictures with good brokeh performance and the wide apature for low light shots when I need it.
 
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