Monopod didn't help

[kelack]

they're still out of focus. I'm just carp basically then :shake::shake:

Going to try and get a couple of the better ones in the gallery but I'm having problems with picasa, although the ones I took in the evening of the school dinners night came out better.

 

[digitalfailure]

Why don't you attack this a different way chuck.

Post a pic with the exif data and people will be able to suggest a course of action.

 

[kelack]

Cheers, will get them loaded into the gallery and post a couple here then

 

[Bob]

they're still out of focus. I'm just carp basically then
What makes you think your a fish then?
Bob

 

[kelack]

Can't even upload to the gallery now. My pics are about 160k and 640 pixels so under the regulatory size stuff. Oh I give up..... Got to go and cook dinner. Will have another go later. Picasa's not playing either

 

[kelack]

they're still out of focus. I'm just carp basically then
What makes you think your a fish then?
Bob

Didn't know if I could say crap or not & seen carp a few times so put that instead

:coat

 

[Keltic Ice Man]

now take a breath, and another, and tell us all about it.

What were you trying to do? What sort of light? What sort of speeds.

We've ALL been there (I'm still there most days) - so let it out.

Allan

 

[Bob]

Hi kelack glad you took my pun in the way it was meant Hope someone on here can help you
All the best Bob

 

[kelack]

Still can't get my photos on, and have shut 2 fingers and thumb in door tonight so typing left handed as right is in ice. Just having a bad weekend really

Jyst thought I should let you know I hadn't run away. Now am I being really thick. Ithought I would be able to post a link straight from my picasa web album.

 

[kelack]

Right I'll give this another go:

 

[kelack]

Argh a red cross.....

What am I doing wrong? :razz:

 

[kelack]

Camera: KONICA MINOLTA
Model: DYNAX 5D
ISO: 800
Exposure: 1/250 sec
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 300mm

 

[digitalfailure]

You should be able to.

I would suggest that you go to your picture and right click on it to find the image location properties, when the exact address is known, come to your thread and put the address between the [/ img] tags. BUT leave the space between the /and img out in the last tag.

Well done, you got the pic showing :thumbs:

Getting sharp images on moving subjects is difficult enough when you've been at it a few years, never mind just starting out.

What was the shutter speed on it?

 

[kelack]

The light was pretty good, not too sunny for that one

 

[kelack]

Oops - cheers, must have worked it out just as you posted!

 

[moomike]

Doh, just realised there was another load of replies before mine

1/250 sec is pushing it a bit though tbh, especially with rugby players - what is the max aperture you can get with your camera?

 

[kelack]

ISO: 800
Exposure: 1/320 sec
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 180mm

 

[kelack]

This one isn't too bad.....

ISO: 800
Exposure: 1/400 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 130mm

God this is painful with my left hand!

 

[kelack]

Bit sunnier now:

ISO: 1600
Exposure: 1/800 sec
Aperture: f/9.0
Focal Length: 150mm

 

[natjag]

I'd be brave enough to say that its mainly a focusing issue. As I can't even see a spot on the grass which is in focus.
Although the last one has bits in focus, just the light spoilt it and too much going on.

 

[kelack]

Here's a couple I took after the England match, the boys in the picture are all backs and thought they'd have a bit of fun trying to be forwards:

ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/500 sec
Aperture: f/9.0
Focal Length: 70mm

Think I cropped this one too much

ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/250 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 40mm

ISO: 320
Exposure: 1/500 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 130mm

 

[kelack]

Doh, just realised there was another load of replies before mine

1/250 sec is pushing it a bit though tbh, especially with rugby players - what is the max aperture you can get with your camera?

Not sure Now I feel dumb. And camera is round Dad's as he's borrowed it to take pics tomorrow. Too late to ring him. Sorry

 

[kelack]

This is one I took indoors...bit dark and out of focus too. See why I want to give up

ISO: 3200
Exposure: 1/80 sec
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 300mm

 

[kelack]

I'd be brave enough to say that its mainly a focusing issue. As I can't even see a spot on the grass which is in focus.
Although the last one has bits in focus, just the light spoilt it and too much going on.

That's my point exactly, nearly all of them I took are out of focus and as I can't blame my hand shake anymore as I used a monopod, it must be me. :shrug:

 

[kelack]

Getting sharp images on moving subjects is difficult enough when you've been at it a few years, never mind just starting out.

What was the shutter speed on it?

I'd like to say I've just started out but I've been taking the rugby pics for 4/5 years now

 

[kelack]

but here's a cheeky one of me & husband at the school dinners night.

and a drunken attempt at an arty farty shot (we were protecting our beers from the food fight)

 

[Canon Bob]

This may sound like a stupid question but how are you holding the camera?

Bob

 

[kelack]

I used my monopod for the first time so I gently had my hand under the lens, just supporting it and with my right hand keeping the camera stable and pressing the button gently (thanks to someone on here's, sorry I forget who, good advice)

 

[kelack]

For the indoor one, I had the long lens on and was right next to a window so I have a feeling I know why I went wrong there, b ut that was just me holding it

 

[dazzajl]

Monopods are strange creatures and until you get into a grove of working with one it can take far more away from your stability than it will give.

Just sticking the camera on top and resting the foot on the ground isn't going to do anything for you. That coupled with the fact that you probably relax a bit thinking that the pod is going to help can lead to you scratching your head at the end of the day looking at a bunch of lousy shots.

Hell, I know I've been there.

These days if I still use the little one legged beggar, it's only with a belt pouch to rest it in, so it can take the weight if I'm shooting pan shots with a heavy lens for hours and hours.

 

[Glen]

Back to basics....

Firslty what camera/lens options do you have, that way we will know how to point you in the right direction.

It seems if we can get your focus issue sorted out, ie which AF points are used, one shot/servo focus, we can then bring you gently along to the next step so to speak, regarding whaich mode you are using, iso settings etc....

 

[Jo]

Did you manually focus on your shots? and if so; has your camera got a little wheel or another setting that lets you set the view finders focus?

If so, it could be that you either need glasses, or the setting is slightly off, making them all out of focus. I *think* Janice had a problem similar a little while ago :shrug:

 

[natjag]

Have you got the camera on servo mode. Do you make sure that focus lock has been achieved. Some of the shots you've posted are in focus, others not. You just need to work on techique I think.

 

[kelack]

Back to basics....

Firslty what camera/lens options do you have, that way we will know how to point you in the right direction.

It seems if we can get your focus issue sorted out, ie which AF points are used, one shot/servo focus, we can then bring you gently along to the next step so to speak, regarding whaich mode you are using, iso settings etc....

Now I'm lost, I thought my exif data showed which mode & iso settings were used etc

 

[kelack]

Did you manually focus on your shots? and if so; has your camera got a little wheel or another setting that lets you set the view finders focus?

If so, it could be that you either need glasses, or the setting is slightly off, making them all out of focus. I *think* Janice had a problem similar a little while ago :shrug:

Used Auto focus, not confident enough for manual

and I already wear glasses, have done for 17 years

 

[kelack]

Have you got the camera on servo mode. Do you make sure that focus lock has been achieved. Some of the shots you've posted are in focus, others not. You just need to work on techique I think.

Mmmm, not quite sure what servo mode is and how do I know if focus lock has been achieved. Remember, I am complete amateur.

Think it might be time to read the instructions again!:rules:

 

[kelack]

Back to basics....

Firslty what camera/lens options do you have, that way we will know how to point you in the right direction.

Sorry, to answer your question, I have a Minolta Dynax 5D and I use a 28-300mm lens

 

[Byker28i]

Is it just me thinking the ISO settings are really high?

 

[Canon Bob]

Kelack,

Totally bored in a foreign hotel, I uploaded some of your images and had a really detailed look at them and then compared to similar crops of some of my own images.

It's clear that the larger the ratio between focal length and shutter speed then the better the shots look. Your worst shots have a ratio below 2 and your clearest shots have a ratio of 6 to 7.

This would imply that it's a shake issue and not focus. I add weight to this by the fact that on the shots with the lower ratios I can't determine where the focus is...nowhere at all.
Quicker shots exhibit correct (or close to correct) focus so I will assume that the camera IS focussing correctly.

This leads me to believe that you make an involuntary movement as you depress the shutter button....you probably didn't want to hear this opinion. I don't think you have the shakes, just that you move the camera at that moment.
I believe that your camera has a self timer? Try using it for a test. Set yourself up at 1/125 second with a quite wide zoom (about 60-65mm). Take a normal shot of something....your house (should have plenty of clear lines to look at). Then repeat the shot using the timer....ie, press the shutter and wait for the shot to be taken.

I suspect that you'll find that the timer shot comes out far better than the instant shot.

Give it a try and post the results.

Bob

PS...above all, don't give up...we'll sort this out even if I have to drive to Wrotham.

 

[PeteStewardson]

Looks like camera shake to me, and...

I used my monopod for the first time so I gently had my hand under the lens, just supporting it and with my right hand keeping the camera stable and pressing the button gently (thanks to someone on here's, sorry I forget who, good advice)

I think this isn't helping. With the camera on the monopod put your left hand on top of the lens not under it. The monopod should support the camera weight not your hands when using it as support. I'm assuming the lens doesn't have a tripod mount on it so don't put too much weight on the lens as you'll strain the lens mount.

Pete