Paranoid DSLR Newbie

albertdong

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Hi Folks, I was looking for some constructive views.

I bought a Nikon D7000 3 months ago, my first proper DSLR.

I've read a lot about focusing "issues" with the D7000 and people struggling to get sharp images with the camera.

So as a newbie DSLR user I've been assuming that my poor results with the camera to date are down to bad technique. But I do have a paranoid niggle that the camera itself might be at fault ( see point above about some bad press on the camera ).

I'm just back from a week away on holiday and I took a lot of pictures.

I was looking for views on some of the shots I've taken in a variety of situations, are they as good as can be expected with the D7000 + 18-105mm kit lens or is there room for improvement ( and if so what would you suggest ? ).

I'm mainly concerned with the sharpness of the images, especially with those taken using tripod. All of these were done using a remote shutter release / MUP so I was hoping to minimise as much as possible any camera shake.

Photo 1 - handheld, f10, 1/500sec, ISO 200


Highland Cow by dougmmackay, on Flickr

Photo 2 - tripod, f10, 1/6400, ISO 1250


Firth of Clyde by dougmmackay, on Flickr

Photo 3 - tripod, f10, 1/250, ISO 100


Machrie Bay by dougmmackay, on Flickr

Photo 4 - tripod, f22, 1/4, ISO 100


Whiting Bay - Pier by dougmmackay, on Flickr

Photo 5 - handheld, f5.3, 1/60, ISO 800


Melissa by dougmmackay, on Flickr
 
as already said, they dont look too bad at all, if anything number 3 maybe suffering from some "haze" which is making it look soft, and number 5 is slightly under exposed?.
 
I've read a lot about focusing "issues" with the D7000 and people struggling to get sharp images with the camera.

They look ok to me..
Ive just brought a d7000 and havent had any focus or sharpness problems?
In fact your post is the first ive read about this issue?
 
Thanks folks...I think I'm a bit guilty of pixel peeping and expecting super sharpness at 100% and just looking for problems.

Jamo - if you pop "D7000 back focus" into google you'll find plenty of articles about the issue. But I urge you not to though - if you're happy with yours and getting great results then it might just plant the seed.

I think mine is fine - just my technique and knowledge is lacking :-)
 
Photos look ok to me but never shoot as high as f/22 on a crop. You'll introduce diffraction which will soften the image. By f/11 on a crop the whole frame should be in the focal field.
 
Like those already posting, I don't see any obvious focus problems here.

When using the tripod do you remember to turn VR off?
 
The landscapes need some contrast, as they are biut washed out, and the last one is pretty underexposed, which goves a soft impression, but I dont think there are any faults with the camera or lens.
 
The landscapes need some contrast, as they are biut washed out, and the last one is pretty underexposed, which goves a soft impression, but I dont think there are any faults with the camera or lens.

Thanks for that Tom, I was just wondering about the contrast ( or lack of ) in the landscape shots.

Is the only way to add this during post processing or is there something I should have been doing when taking the shots themselves to add more contrast to the image??
 
albertdong said:
Thanks for that Tom, I was just wondering about the contrast ( or lack of ) in the landscape shots.

Is the only way to add this during post processing or is there something I should have been doing when taking the shots themselves to add more contrast to the image??

If you shoot in jpg, you can add some in the picture style inside the camera, otherwise just add a little in PP.
 
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