55-300mm photos blurry

percy · 12-25-2013, 01:43 AM

Might it be a shake reduction issue - are you giving it enough time to stabilise?

ChrisJ · 12-25-2013, 03:24 AM

Turn Auto Noise Reduction OFF! See this video

You Tube

The K3 is far too aggressive with noise reduction which will probably be cured in the next firmware update. Set Auto Noise Reduction so it doesn't come on until an ISO of 1600 or even 3200, by default it's working at ISO 200 when it's just not needed.

If you use a tripod be sure to turn SR OFF too or it can add camera shake as it tries to compensate for camera shake that isn't there.

With the higher resolution of the K3 and finer pixels it is far more susceptible to both of these issues.

Chris

PentxOrni · 12-25-2013, 03:29 AM

Did you already try another lens...? Just to make sure that this either a K-3 or a lens issue.

Lucky-Luc · 12-25-2013, 04:33 AM - **1 Like**

Cant really say why you get blur, but i am getting great result with the 55 300wr on the k3

Al_Kahollick · 12-25-2013, 07:14 AM

Originally posted by Reptilezz

After looking at the shots i took of this pacific baza i have found that none of them are sharp

this is a very light crop to get the bird in frame. Should i exchange for a new lens? Or send in for service/calibrating
EDIT: iit looks like there is lots of noise reduction also but ive got noise reduction to OFF and when i was shooting raw it had the same effect. Also at 55 the image is very crisp and clear

This shot looks to me like camera shake / movement, notice the ghosting in the background leaves and branches. As stated in an earlier post, the slightest movement will be greatly exaggerated at longer focal lengths.

Unregistered User · 12-25-2013, 07:32 AM

Originally posted by Reptilezz

After looking at the shots i took of this pacific baza i have found that none of them are sharp

this is a very light crop to get the bird in frame. Should i exchange for a new lens? Or send in for service/calibrating
EDIT: iit looks like there is lots of noise reduction also but ive got noise reduction to OFF and when i was shooting raw it had the same effect. Also at 55 the image is very crisp and clear

What EXIF do you have on this shot?

amoringello · 12-25-2013, 12:16 PM

Maybe a bad lens? Ive seen some people get great shots, but I'm locked on a tripod, mirror lockup, cable release and stopped down, with and without SR, yet photo are very soft. It used to be great even hand held. Dunno if temps affect it? But I've also used auto focus, live view with no luck. My eyes are not good enough to manual focus reliably.

So just sayin, you're not the only one.

Lucky-Luc · 12-25-2013, 12:35 PM

From what I've seen on the picture exif you were at 1/40s aperture speed, which is not fast enough for handheld. Also when you get to fast shutter speed (I think over 1/250), deactivate the shake reduction option.

formercanuck · 12-25-2013, 12:45 PM

You missed a '0' that showed as 1/400.

Unregistered User · 12-25-2013, 12:59 PM

Originally posted by Lucky-Luc

From what I've seen on the picture exif you were at 1/40s aperture speed, which is not fast enough for handheld. Also when you get to fast shutter speed (I think over 1/250), deactivate the shake reduction option.

Why would you turn off shake reduction when using higher shutter speeds?

I have the K-3 with the DA* 300 f4-lens and I use from 1/160 with shake reduction on and it keeps me stable. When going faster I have not seen any degradation in my pics but if there is some issue with faster shutter speeds and shake reduction I do want to know about it.

bxf · 12-25-2013, 01:10 PM

I'm not necessarily able to analyse the softness of your specific lens, but the softness of 55-300 at higher focal lengths has been mentioned numerous times in these forums. It's possible that your copy may be par for the course.

Reptilezz · 12-25-2013, 01:37 PM

Originally posted by ChrisJ

Turn Auto Noise Reduction OFF! See this video

Pentax K-3: REDEMPTION - YouTube

The K3 is far too aggressive with noise reduction which will probably be cured in the next firmware update. Set Auto Noise Reduction so it doesn't come on until an ISO of 1600 or even 3200, by default it's working at ISO 200 when it's just not needed.

If you use a tripod be sure to turn SR OFF too or it can add camera shake as it tries to compensate for camera shake that isn't there.

With the higher resolution of the K3 and finer pixels it is far more susceptible to both of these issues.

Chris

I have turned off the NR and i have set it on a tripod with SR off and the images look exactly the same. Also i have a 18-55 lens as well and i think that is plenty sharp so shouldn't the 55-300 being a much more expensive lens be at least on par with the kit lens?

Reptilezz · 12-25-2013, 01:41 PM

Originally posted by Al_Kahollick

This shot looks to me like camera shake / movement, notice the ghosting in the background leaves and branches. As stated in an earlier post, the slightest movement will be greatly exaggerated at longer focal lengths.

Yes but I did try shutter speeds over 1/1000 and it looks the same. I also took a photo of a tree and zoomed in on the back of the screen by about 4x on the leaves and all the leaves looked mashed together.

Reptilezz · 12-25-2013, 02:12 PM

Originally posted by twitch

Exchange that lens if you have the option. The 55-300 should be better than that.

Yes that is what im thinking of doing but first im going to go to my local camera shop to see if i can test a couple of their lenses to make sure its the lens and not the camera. Could i be missing any settings that could make it look like this?

IchabodCrane · 12-25-2013, 02:34 PM

Originally posted by Reptilezz

Yes that is what im thinking of doing but first im going to go to my local camera shop to see if i can test a couple of their lenses to make sure its the lens and not the camera. Could i be missing any settings that could make it look like this?

You probably reached the point of over-analysis. If you tried fine tuning the AF module and still get shots like this (plus Live View makes no difference) then you most likely have a lens problem. That the 18-55 is sharp only confirms this.

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12-25-2013, 01:43 AM	#16
percy Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Herefordshire, UK Posts: 197	Might it be a shake reduction issue - are you giving it enough time to stabilise?

12-25-2013, 03:29 AM	#18
PentxOrni Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Greater area of Frankfurt/Main Posts: 46	Did you already try another lens...? Just to make sure that this either a K-3 or a lens issue.

12-25-2013, 04:33 AM - 1 Like	#19
Lucky-Luc Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Montreal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 330	Cant really say why you get blur, but i am getting great result with the 55 300wr on the k3

12-25-2013, 07:14 AM	#20
Al_Kahollick Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 390	Originally posted by Reptilezz After looking at the shots i took of this pacific baza i have found that none of them are sharp this is a very light crop to get the bird in frame. Should i exchange for a new lens? Or send in for service/calibrating EDIT: iit looks like there is lots of noise reduction also but ive got noise reduction to OFF and when i was shooting raw it had the same effect. Also at 55 the image is very crisp and clear This shot looks to me like camera shake / movement, notice the ghosting in the background leaves and branches. As stated in an earlier post, the slightest movement will be greatly exaggerated at longer focal lengths.

12-25-2013, 07:32 AM	#21
Unregistered User Guest	Originally posted by Reptilezz After looking at the shots i took of this pacific baza i have found that none of them are sharp this is a very light crop to get the bird in frame. Should i exchange for a new lens? Or send in for service/calibrating EDIT: iit looks like there is lots of noise reduction also but ive got noise reduction to OFF and when i was shooting raw it had the same effect. Also at 55 the image is very crisp and clear What EXIF do you have on this shot?

12-25-2013, 12:16 PM	#22
amoringello Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,562	Maybe a bad lens? Ive seen some people get great shots, but I'm locked on a tripod, mirror lockup, cable release and stopped down, with and without SR, yet photo are very soft. It used to be great even hand held. Dunno if temps affect it? But I've also used auto focus, live view with no luck. My eyes are not good enough to manual focus reliably. So just sayin, you're not the only one.

12-25-2013, 12:35 PM	#23
Lucky-Luc Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Montreal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 330	From what I've seen on the picture exif you were at 1/40s aperture speed, which is not fast enough for handheld. Also when you get to fast shutter speed (I think over 1/250), deactivate the shake reduction option.

12-25-2013, 12:45 PM	#24
formercanuck Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: SoCal Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 518	You missed a '0' that showed as 1/400.

12-25-2013, 12:59 PM	#25
Unregistered User Guest	Originally posted by Lucky-Luc From what I've seen on the picture exif you were at 1/40s aperture speed, which is not fast enough for handheld. Also when you get to fast shutter speed (I think over 1/250), deactivate the shake reduction option. Why would you turn off shake reduction when using higher shutter speeds? I have the K-3 with the DA* 300 f4-lens and I use from 1/160 with shake reduction on and it keeps me stable. When going faster I have not seen any degradation in my pics but if there is some issue with faster shutter speeds and shake reduction I do want to know about it.

12-25-2013, 01:10 PM	#26
bxf Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lisbon area Posts: 1,660	I'm not necessarily able to analyse the softness of your specific lens, but the softness of 55-300 at higher focal lengths has been mentioned numerous times in these forums. It's possible that your copy may be par for the course.

12-25-2013, 01:37 PM	#27
Reptilezz Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 206 Original Poster	Originally posted by ChrisJ Turn Auto Noise Reduction OFF! See this video Pentax K-3: REDEMPTION - YouTube The K3 is far too aggressive with noise reduction which will probably be cured in the next firmware update. Set Auto Noise Reduction so it doesn't come on until an ISO of 1600 or even 3200, by default it's working at ISO 200 when it's just not needed. If you use a tripod be sure to turn SR OFF too or it can add camera shake as it tries to compensate for camera shake that isn't there. With the higher resolution of the K3 and finer pixels it is far more susceptible to both of these issues. Chris I have turned off the NR and i have set it on a tripod with SR off and the images look exactly the same. Also i have a 18-55 lens as well and i think that is plenty sharp so shouldn't the 55-300 being a much more expensive lens be at least on par with the kit lens?

12-25-2013, 01:41 PM	#28
Reptilezz Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 206 Original Poster	Originally posted by Al_Kahollick This shot looks to me like camera shake / movement, notice the ghosting in the background leaves and branches. As stated in an earlier post, the slightest movement will be greatly exaggerated at longer focal lengths. Yes but I did try shutter speeds over 1/1000 and it looks the same. I also took a photo of a tree and zoomed in on the back of the screen by about 4x on the leaves and all the leaves looked mashed together.

12-25-2013, 02:12 PM	#29
Reptilezz Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 206 Original Poster	Originally posted by twitch Exchange that lens if you have the option. The 55-300 should be better than that. Yes that is what im thinking of doing but first im going to go to my local camera shop to see if i can test a couple of their lenses to make sure its the lens and not the camera. Could i be missing any settings that could make it look like this?

12-25-2013, 02:34 PM	#30
IchabodCrane Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,728	Originally posted by Reptilezz Yes that is what im thinking of doing but first im going to go to my local camera shop to see if i can test a couple of their lenses to make sure its the lens and not the camera. Could i be missing any settings that could make it look like this? You probably reached the point of over-analysis. If you tried fine tuning the AF module and still get shots like this (plus Live View makes no difference) then you most likely have a lens problem. That the 18-55 is sharp only confirms this.