having a hard time with the 55-300 lens

bobloadmire · 11-24-2008, 04:10 PM

So i am having a hard time coming up with a sharp picture on the 55-300. I have tried 300mm with 1/320 f/8, and took a couple of shots at multiple focus points, and none of them came up sharp, i even removed the uv glass. SR on and off, they are always just a tab blurry. tried at 200mm with with external flash, 1/180 f/8 and the same problem. Inside/outside same deal. is there something im missing? My kit 18-55 takes sharper shots, even when both at 55.

Last edited by Peter Zack; 05-29-2009 at 05:14 PM. Reason: Choice of language

SuperAkuma · 11-24-2008, 04:25 PM

Sample image?

bobloadmire · 11-24-2008, 04:55 PM

<table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/bobloadmire/55300TEST?authkey=tjMum3w-dXc#"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9xNj4P1ZLyk/SSs-S-mRtlE/AAAAAAAAB5Y/nPTuFlXKQcE/s160-c/55300TEST.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/bobloadmire/55300TEST?authkey=tjMum3w-dXc#" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">55-300 TEST</a></td></tr></table>

picasa album. All of these shots were me trying to get the settings right, and all are on a tripod.

whoops html not allowed?

manual link i guess:http://picasaweb.google.com/bobloadmire/55300TEST?authkey=tjMum3w-dXc#

click the magnifying glass at the top right to go to native res.

Mark2100 · 11-24-2008, 05:34 PM

The shots of the leaf look pretty sharp. Probably since the leaf is so bright it gave you an extra couple of stops. Try a few shots with your flash to rule out camera shake. I mean, f8 in the shade w/300mm is tough for anyone... shake reduction or not. imho, sr is not that effective at the longer lengths..

Mark

trumpyman · 11-24-2008, 05:34 PM

Hi, have to tell you im no expert but from what i saw of your pics try goin to
f8 -f11.Are you to close for proper focussing ?.I only use those appertures when i have a main subject and want to blur the background.Noticed to some of your shutter speeds are realy slow,did u use a tripod ?If u did was shake reduction turned of.
Attachment 22901

Attachment 22902

Attachment 22903
Try some pics of bigger subjects and take it from there,like i said im no pro but these are jpegs straight from camera.Sure youl get some good advice here,good luk.
Thnx Paul

JonPB · 11-24-2008, 06:08 PM

Always frustrating to get a new tool and not have it operate as expected. Telephoto can be as tricky as macro, though.

My suggestion is to take an optimum test image. Say, 1/500s or faster at f/8; 300mm, SR off. Higher ISO is better, because it allows a faster shutter. Use the tripod as best you can: if the legs collapse/extend, collapse them as much as possible; if it has spikes, sink them into the ground. Use the 2-second timer and don't touch the camera when it fires. Don't shoot when it is windy.

Let us know what you find. :-)

bobloadmire · 11-24-2008, 06:12 PM

actually thos images were in calm wind, tripod as best as i could stabilize it, sr off and on, i know the subject was well within focal range, i realize that the minimum focal range is around a yard, and iwas using the 2s timer with a remote! i figured at that setup, shutter should be a nonissue.

BTW nice birds!

you think temp change from slightly warm car to slightly cool outside could have fogged it up?

Last edited by bobloadmire; 11-24-2008 at 06:22 PM.

Mark2100 · 11-24-2008, 07:03 PM

2s timer always turns off shake reduction. Condensing only happens when you go from cold to warm. Maybe the focus changed when you used the remote. I'm assuming it was a wired remote, since you were using the 2s timer, and auto focus doesn't work with the wireless. OR, there could be a slight oil film on you lens....

Originally posted by bobloadmire

actually thos images were in calm wind, tripod as best as i could stabilize it, sr off and on, i know the subject was well within focal range, i realize that the minimum focal range is around a yard, and iwas using the 2s timer with a remote! i figured at that setup, shutter should be a nonissue.

BTW nice birds!

you think temp change from slightly warm car to slightly cool outside could have fogged it up?

bobloadmire · 11-24-2008, 07:11 PM

maybe true. yeah i had wired remote, with 2s timer so the shutter pre-opened or whatever that is. it did af everytime, but i lined up the af point so that shouldn't be an issue right? i cleaned all of my lenses, filters and the ccd, and mirror today, so ill see if that made any difference.

raider · 11-24-2008, 07:31 PM

I have the FA80-320 and at maximum zoom, 1/320s and F8 seem to give reasonably sharp photo at handheld with SR on. I don't think it is the shutter speed and aperture combo which is causing your current problems. Could be something else. Just my thought.

Mark2100 · 11-24-2008, 07:57 PM

Originally posted by bobloadmire

maybe true. yeah i had wired remote, with 2s timer so the shutter pre-opened or whatever that is. it did af everytime, but i lined up the af point so that shouldn't be an issue right? i cleaned all of my lenses, filters and the ccd, and mirror today, so ill see if that made any difference.

If you had it on AFC and pushed the button quickly, it could have fired out of focus. On AFS it will only fire when the green hex lights up.

bobloadmire · 11-24-2008, 10:54 PM

green hex? when i was using the remote, i was still looking through the viewfinder, and but not touching it, so im pretty sure it was in focus, you can tell it gets more in focus in the middle of the picture and starts to blur out again, like it was in range, but still blurry though. But maybe not, its definately not as sure as f my eye was on the eye piece.

Alfisti · 11-25-2008, 06:32 AM

I am usually the last to discount crappy equipoment but they look sharp enough to me,. They need a levels adjustment but so do most images.

You're at 170mm wide open for one of the leaf images and it looks pretty good to me.

Marc Sabatella · 11-25-2008, 10:14 AM

Originally posted by bobloadmire

you can tell it gets more in focus in the middle of the picture and starts to blur out again

Um, are you familiar with the concept of depth of field (DOF)? Pictures taken at the focal lengths and and apertures you were using are *supposed* to only be in focus in the middle, with areas in front of of behind the subject increasingly out of focus. Looking at your shot, that't pretty much exactly what I see - focus point looking as sharp as can reasonably be expected of a consumer zoom at maximum aperture, the rest out of focus exactly as *any* lens will be at that focal length and aperture.

Several of the pictures also exhibited shake - tripod must have wobbled or something. Check out #15, #18, #19, #20, and #21, for example. You can clearly see the "ghosting" that was presumably caused caused by camera movement. Unless perhaps it was caused by wind blowing the grass?

The picture that seems most questionable to me is the one of the pool with the unoccupied lifeguard chair, where nothing seems in focus. But I'd attribute that one to a fluke of the focusing system, as nothing else seems terrible out of line.

bobloadmire · 11-25-2008, 07:55 PM

lol yeah i know about DOF. That why i was saying it, they part of the photo that seems most in focus (my focal point) is till really blurry, and it gets more blurred out in front and behind (so i know my FP is actually in the picture, like some were doubting), but the focal point seemed to blurry to be acceptable to me, but maybe i have have high standards, but my 18-55 is really sharp to me, so i don't think so, even at 55mm.

11-24-2008, 05:34 PM	#5
trumpyman Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 248	My thoughts Hi, have to tell you im no expert but from what i saw of your pics try goin to f8 -f11.Are you to close for proper focussing ?.I only use those appertures when i have a main subject and want to blur the background.Noticed to some of your shutter speeds are realy slow,did u use a tripod ?If u did was shake reduction turned of. Attachment 22901 Attachment 22902 Attachment 22903 Try some pics of bigger subjects and take it from there,like i said im no pro but these are jpegs straight from camera.Sure youl get some good advice here,good luk. Thnx Paul Last edited by trumpyman; 12-09-2008 at 07:02 PM.

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11-24-2008, 04:10 PM	#1
bobloadmire Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 50	having a hard time with the 55-300 lens So i am having a hard time coming up with a sharp picture on the 55-300. I have tried 300mm with 1/320 f/8, and took a couple of shots at multiple focus points, and none of them came up sharp, i even removed the uv glass. SR on and off, they are always just a tab blurry. tried at 200mm with with external flash, 1/180 f/8 and the same problem. Inside/outside same deal. is there something im missing? My kit 18-55 takes sharper shots, even when both at 55. Last edited by Peter Zack; 05-29-2009 at 05:14 PM. Reason: Choice of language

11-24-2008, 04:25 PM	#2
SuperAkuma Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 445	Sample image?

11-24-2008, 04:55 PM	#3
bobloadmire Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 50 Original Poster	<table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/bobloadmire/55300TEST?authkey=tjMum3w-dXc#"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9xNj4P1ZLyk/SSs-S-mRtlE/AAAAAAAAB5Y/nPTuFlXKQcE/s160-c/55300TEST.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/bobloadmire/55300TEST?authkey=tjMum3w-dXc#" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">55-300 TEST</a></td></tr></table> picasa album. All of these shots were me trying to get the settings right, and all are on a tripod. whoops html not allowed? manual link i guess:http://picasaweb.google.com/bobloadmire/55300TEST?authkey=tjMum3w-dXc# click the magnifying glass at the top right to go to native res.

11-24-2008, 05:34 PM	#4
Mark2100 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 185	The shots of the leaf look pretty sharp. Probably since the leaf is so bright it gave you an extra couple of stops. Try a few shots with your flash to rule out camera shake. I mean, f8 in the shade w/300mm is tough for anyone... shake reduction or not. imho, sr is not that effective at the longer lengths.. Mark

11-24-2008, 06:08 PM	#6
JonPB Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Portland, OR, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 430	Always frustrating to get a new tool and not have it operate as expected. Telephoto can be as tricky as macro, though. My suggestion is to take an optimum test image. Say, 1/500s or faster at f/8; 300mm, SR off. Higher ISO is better, because it allows a faster shutter. Use the tripod as best you can: if the legs collapse/extend, collapse them as much as possible; if it has spikes, sink them into the ground. Use the 2-second timer and don't touch the camera when it fires. Don't shoot when it is windy. Let us know what you find. :-)

11-24-2008, 06:12 PM	#7
bobloadmire Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 50 Original Poster	actually thos images were in calm wind, tripod as best as i could stabilize it, sr off and on, i know the subject was well within focal range, i realize that the minimum focal range is around a yard, and iwas using the 2s timer with a remote! i figured at that setup, shutter should be a nonissue. BTW nice birds! you think temp change from slightly warm car to slightly cool outside could have fogged it up? Last edited by bobloadmire; 11-24-2008 at 06:22 PM.

11-24-2008, 07:03 PM	#8
Mark2100 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 185	2s timer always turns off shake reduction. Condensing only happens when you go from cold to warm. Maybe the focus changed when you used the remote. I'm assuming it was a wired remote, since you were using the 2s timer, and auto focus doesn't work with the wireless. OR, there could be a slight oil film on you lens.... Originally posted by bobloadmire actually thos images were in calm wind, tripod as best as i could stabilize it, sr off and on, i know the subject was well within focal range, i realize that the minimum focal range is around a yard, and iwas using the 2s timer with a remote! i figured at that setup, shutter should be a nonissue. BTW nice birds! you think temp change from slightly warm car to slightly cool outside could have fogged it up?

11-24-2008, 07:11 PM	#9
bobloadmire Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 50 Original Poster	maybe true. yeah i had wired remote, with 2s timer so the shutter pre-opened or whatever that is. it did af everytime, but i lined up the af point so that shouldn't be an issue right? i cleaned all of my lenses, filters and the ccd, and mirror today, so ill see if that made any difference.

11-24-2008, 07:31 PM	#10
raider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,989	I have the FA80-320 and at maximum zoom, 1/320s and F8 seem to give reasonably sharp photo at handheld with SR on. I don't think it is the shutter speed and aperture combo which is causing your current problems. Could be something else. Just my thought.

11-24-2008, 07:57 PM	#11
Mark2100 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 185	Originally posted by bobloadmire maybe true. yeah i had wired remote, with 2s timer so the shutter pre-opened or whatever that is. it did af everytime, but i lined up the af point so that shouldn't be an issue right? i cleaned all of my lenses, filters and the ccd, and mirror today, so ill see if that made any difference. If you had it on AFC and pushed the button quickly, it could have fired out of focus. On AFS it will only fire when the green hex lights up.

11-24-2008, 10:54 PM	#12
bobloadmire Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 50 Original Poster	green hex? when i was using the remote, i was still looking through the viewfinder, and but not touching it, so im pretty sure it was in focus, you can tell it gets more in focus in the middle of the picture and starts to blur out again, like it was in range, but still blurry though. But maybe not, its definately not as sure as f my eye was on the eye piece.

11-25-2008, 06:32 AM	#13
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	I am usually the last to discount crappy equipoment but they look sharp enough to me,. They need a levels adjustment but so do most images. You're at 170mm wide open for one of the leaf images and it looks pretty good to me.

11-25-2008, 10:14 AM	#14
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by bobloadmire you can tell it gets more in focus in the middle of the picture and starts to blur out again Um, are you familiar with the concept of depth of field (DOF)? Pictures taken at the focal lengths and and apertures you were using are supposed to only be in focus in the middle, with areas in front of of behind the subject increasingly out of focus. Looking at your shot, that't pretty much exactly what I see - focus point looking as sharp as can reasonably be expected of a consumer zoom at maximum aperture, the rest out of focus exactly as any lens will be at that focal length and aperture. Several of the pictures also exhibited shake - tripod must have wobbled or something. Check out #15, #18, #19, #20, and #21, for example. You can clearly see the "ghosting" that was presumably caused caused by camera movement. Unless perhaps it was caused by wind blowing the grass? The picture that seems most questionable to me is the one of the pool with the unoccupied lifeguard chair, where nothing seems in focus. But I'd attribute that one to a fluke of the focusing system, as nothing else seems terrible out of line.

11-25-2008, 07:55 PM	#15
bobloadmire Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 50 Original Poster	lol yeah i know about DOF. That why i was saying it, they part of the photo that seems most in focus (my focal point) is till really blurry, and it gets more blurred out in front and behind (so i know my FP is actually in the picture, like some were doubting), but the focal point seemed to blurry to be acceptable to me, but maybe i have have high standards, but my 18-55 is really sharp to me, so i don't think so, even at 55mm.