DA 55-300 at 300mm weird out of focus area

dtra · 03-24-2011, 04:38 AM

Hi

Well, I'm not sure if it is weird, I'd just like someone to explain what's happening here.
Asthmatic Birdman | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Is it just motion blur? I did take a similar photo at 170mm that didn't exhibit that blur. The only reason I'm confused is that the focus area is reasonably ok, or certainly doesn't have the blur to the same extent, but that is probably just because it is in focus?

David

Asahiflex · 03-24-2011, 04:55 AM

I'd say that the subject is not really in focus, but slightly frontfocused. So it may still look reasonably sharp while showing "soft" halos around the subject.

Another possible explanation: your lens may not be at its best at the given focal length.

GibbyTheMole · 03-24-2011, 05:02 AM

Looks like camera shake to me. If you look closely, the foreground subjects aren't in sharp focus, either. What shutter speed did you use? Do your other shots taken at 300mm exhibit the same quality?

The DA 55-300 is supposedly quite good at 300mm.

dtra · 03-24-2011, 01:16 PM

The shutter speed is 1/800, I guess camera shake is probably a good explanation, I was taking the picture from a fair distance trying to shoot over other people's heads. I haven't really shot enough with this lens to give a fair summary of it's qualities at 300mm.

Thanks guys

reeftool · 03-25-2011, 06:35 AM

It appears to be motion blur. I think your 1/800 shutter speed rules wind out. Odd effect though. I think the better light in the foreground is hiding the shake. You can do this with flash so it's likely to happen in certain conditions of natural light too.

03-24-2011, 04:38 AM	#1
dtra Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: melbourne, au Photos: Gallery Posts: 157	DA 55-300 at 300mm weird out of focus area Hi Well, I'm not sure if it is weird, I'd just like someone to explain what's happening here. Asthmatic Birdman \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! Is it just motion blur? I did take a similar photo at 170mm that didn't exhibit that blur. The only reason I'm confused is that the focus area is reasonably ok, or certainly doesn't have the blur to the same extent, but that is probably just because it is in focus? David

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03-24-2011, 04:55 AM	#2
Asahiflex Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,762	I'd say that the subject is not really in focus, but slightly frontfocused. So it may still look reasonably sharp while showing "soft" halos around the subject. Another possible explanation: your lens may not be at its best at the given focal length.

03-24-2011, 05:02 AM	#3
GibbyTheMole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Iowa Photos: Albums Posts: 2,275	Looks like camera shake to me. If you look closely, the foreground subjects aren't in sharp focus, either. What shutter speed did you use? Do your other shots taken at 300mm exhibit the same quality? The DA 55-300 is supposedly quite good at 300mm.

03-24-2011, 01:16 PM	#4
dtra Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: melbourne, au Photos: Gallery Posts: 157 Original Poster	The shutter speed is 1/800, I guess camera shake is probably a good explanation, I was taking the picture from a fair distance trying to shoot over other people's heads. I haven't really shot enough with this lens to give a fair summary of it's qualities at 300mm. Thanks guys

03-25-2011, 06:35 AM	#5
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,420	It appears to be motion blur. I think your 1/800 shutter speed rules wind out. Odd effect though. I think the better light in the foreground is hiding the shake. You can do this with flash so it's likely to happen in certain conditions of natural light too.

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