Soft images

[ams99]

Hi guys, i could really use some assistance from those of you who understand this complex art of photography. I really enjoy trying to do fight with my camera and love football so i currently mix the two passions and take photos at my local non league club for the matchday programme.

However, although my kit is basic (i have the Nikon D5000 with 55-200mm kit lens) i feel my images have been deteriorating and lacking in sharpness.

Generally i shoot in shutter priority between 1/640th and 1/1000th with Auto ISO. I have the focus mode set on dynamic. I have a couple of questions if i may.

1. Having gone through my collection to date i feel my images have become more "soft" since moving away from AF-A to AF-C. Is there any logical reason for this or is it simply down to poor technique on my part?

2. Quite often when viewing in ViewNX i tend to find a fairly high percentage of shots with the focus point on the grass behind the player. I know it's a daft question but how can i improve the accuracy of my focussing?

** I shoot standing up, hand held from behind a fence **. Obviously this will give you an indication of my limitations

 

[Siberdib]

One problem you have is using 'Dynamic'. Moving from AF-D to AF-C is the correct thing to do. With dynamic, your camera is continuously looking to lock focus and will potentially lock on anything that moves. Stick your camera to single focus point in the centre and this will ensure that anything that crossers the centre will be in focus, once locked. You will see a big improvement.

 

[ams99]

Thank you for that Richard. For some bizarre reason i incorrectly assumed that using single focus point would mean that once focus was locked it wouldn't track the subject. Doh.

Just walked around the house and sure enough it re-focuses as i move.

I will try that this weekend and see if i can get some improvement.

Once again, thank you

 

[ams99]

Once again thanks Richard.

My efforts from the FA Cup 4th round qualifier were certainly sharper using single focus point.

One more question if i may. With poor light this afternoon i was struggling to get correctly exposed images. I was in manual mode and knocked the shutter speed down to to 1/640th with aperture wide open (kit lens).

With the ISO set on auto i had to increase the max to 3200 to get an image i could see. However, the net result is a noisy image.

The question i have is: Is it better to have an underexposed image or a noisy one? Naturally the ideal would be a correctly exposed one but sadly i was fighting with my kit against the elements

 

[Siberdib]

Unfortunately as you mentioned your kit lens is the problem. The way I see it is it is best to get the image in any way you can then not getting it at all. A noisy photo actually showing the action is better then one that is underexposed and therefore difficult to see.