10 replies to this topic

[meganhaderphotography]

I have a D3200 and after spending the day photographing Bald Eagles, I checked my photos on my computer only to find out they're all too blurry to use.  It was a super bright and sunny day so using Liveview wasn't possible and I could have sworn looking through the viewfinder that everything was in focus.  I know it isn't a camera or lens problem because I have taken other photos recently that come out completely in focus.  I honestly have trouble with how small the viewfinder is and because it is so small I think I'm unable to see if everything is in focus.  I wear contacts and so my eyesight isn't perfect anyways.  I'm just so frustrated to have spent 3 hours in my car and 2 hours photographing birds only to come home and find out it was for nothing.  What does everyone else do when they can't use Liveview to check the focus of your camera?  Is there an adapter that actually works that would make things easier for me to see?

[Bengan]

Perhaps you could provide a little more information. Which lens are you using? Camera settings, such as shutter speed, autofocus mode, etc. Perhaps even post one or two examples.

[Merco_61]

The D3200 has a pentamirror instead of the pentaprism used in the d7xxx and above. This makes for a depth of field in the finder that is deeper than what is captured on the sensor.

What was your focal length and shutter speed?

 

There are lots of hoods and loupes for using the display in bright sun. Here is a link: https://www.bhphotov...68/N/3777857691

[meganhaderphotography]

I'd upload a couple but with the dimensions that they are full sized, they won't upload because the file size is too big.  I was using a Tamron 150-600mm lens on my D3200 mounted on a tripod for stability.  f/6.3, 1/2000 sec due to the birds movement with an ISO of 400.  I did have it on autofocus just because there were so many birds and I was moving from flock to flock.  I was also using the focus ring this lens has.  When using it I thought everything looked in focus but obviously it wasn't.  Even when I've used my 55-300mm lens that doesn't have a focus ring, I could take quite a few photos at a distance, only to come home and realize that what I thought I was focused in on is blurry while something behind it is in focus.  I just don't understand why I'm having so much trouble seeing that I am actually out of focus or that I've focused on the wrong thing.

[Merco_61]

Why not raise the ISO a bit and close down the aperture. The Tamron isn't at its best wide open at the long end. Your lens might need some microadjustment if it constantly front- or backfocuses. Unfortunately, the D3xxx bodies don't have that feature.

 

The viewfinders in the D3xxx and D5xxx bodies aren't very good for BIF as they don't show a realistic DOF.

[mikew]

I possibly need someone else to jump in on this because i dont know your camera.

 

Some of the free Nikon software that you can get from Nikon will show where your focus point was in the picture, it may be an idea to check this.

 

You get a red box where the focus point was like this

 

[meganhaderphotography]

I checked the focus points on the photographs in question and even in the boxes it is just as blurry there as it is in the whole photograph.  I do the same thing with focusing up close as I do an object far away so maybe I just have a really hard time seeing if what I'm trying to focus on in the viewfinder when it's a far away subject.  It is hard to see if an eye is in focus if it is way too small to see.  Maybe I should try some reading glasses.  I just get so frustrated when I go out for hours and come home only to find out nothing I shot came out.

[Bengan]

Is it only a problem with focusing when you're photographing birds in flight with long focal lengths or do you have issues with viewfinder AF in general? Have you checked AF precision with the Tamron 150-600  on non moving objects? Other lenses work OK?

[meganhaderphotography]

It’s with any lens at a distance. If I’m shooting up close with my Nikkor 18-55 my focus turns out fine. With my Nikkor 55-300 it isn’t a problem semi close but if I get further away I’ll think I’ve got something in focus only to find out later that I either wasn’t in focus or that I was focused on something behind my subject. I’m beginning to think it’s my eyes that can’t see in the viewfinder if I’m in focus when the subject is so far away, appearing smaller.

[Bengan]

You may want to read this: https://brianparkes....ns-calibration/

 

Since the AF is working when you're shooting close it's not a solution that will fix everything, since the alteration affects all lenses. An alteration like this may give you problems with wider focal lengths, I just don't know if it's worth it.

An alternative is to upgrade to a body that will let you fine tune AF, maybe a used one. It's a pity not to be able to use your Tamron 150-600 properly

[TBonz]

Could it be camera movement?  I am guessing you used a tripod...were you using the shutter button or some remote release to fire?  Is your tripod rated to the weight of lens / body combination?