why are these out of focus

enyaw · 10-19-2016, 05:45 PM

Hi, I have some images I took. And they all came out blurry. I don't know why. I turned on Image stabilization. The shutter was at 320 for a 200mm lens?

Input would be greatly appreciated. They have been resized.
'

And thanks,

---------- Post added 10-19-16 at 05:54 PM ----------

Is this lens garbage? I read the reviews it might be middle of the road but?? I must be me and focus points? and also new to pentax

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

View Picture EXIF

GolNat · 10-19-2016, 06:22 PM

Did you check the focus of the lens? It might need some adjusting.

Higher shutter speed may have been better also.

**ramseybuckeye** · 10-19-2016, 06:40 PM

I'm guessing this is a manual focus lens since the focal length is 210mm. And they were shot at f5.6, is that wide open for this lens? It may be a lens that just isn't very good, many older zooms were not. But it may also a little motion blur, longer lens take a little more practice sometimes. It may perform better at f8 or f9. If you have a tripod try some test shots using it and some handheld and compare. Good luck hope it's fixable.

**robgski** · 10-19-2016, 07:35 PM

I could be completely wrong, but it might be that you are using a pattern focus, so it's focusing in the most prominent thing, which is the foreground and the reeds behind, and not the most important thing, the bird. Change to a single point focus on the bird and try a few more shots. I'd also try a higher ISO in order to get a higher shutter speed. what many people fail to consider is that a slight movement at the camera end translates to a much larger movement at a distance, so the higher shutter speed the better. Also, I encourage the use of a monopod with a long zoom, that little bit of stability and support makes a difference.

victormeldrew · 10-19-2016, 08:01 PM

Some more detail on how you took the shots would be useful, to stop people having to guess...

But in the spirit of things...were you using a monopod or tripod? If so, SR should be switched off. Seeing as you seem to be panning the camera to follow the bird, off would probably be better in any case.

Not a Number · 10-19-2016, 08:07 PM

From the EXIF

TAMRON AF 80-210mm F4-5.6

Tamron 80-210mm 1:4.5-5.6 Lens Reviews - Tamron Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

**UncleVanya** · 10-19-2016, 10:35 PM

If you turned on image stabilization do you mean that the lens has a switch for that? If so turn it off or turn off the body based sr to avoid the two systems fighting each other.

enyaw · 10-20-2016, 12:45 AM

HI, 'Not a Number' is correct about the lens. I was shooting handheld. I had single spot/centre autofocus on. I had image stabilization on. Auto

---------- Post added 10-20-16 at 12:52 AM ----------

These were taken with the same lens, on the same day

---------- Post added 10-20-16 at 12:55 AM ----------

I'm past my limit for files, sorry I'll try 1 instead of 4. No can do, Auto ISO was on. It was a sunny day. The range is 100-1600. The lens is an older one that doesn't have built in stabilization. I'm guessing it might be the filter that came with the lens. I'll have to go back out with it when the camera comes back from the shop and try shooting without the filter on.

photolady95 · 10-20-2016, 01:04 AM

Originally posted by enyaw

I had single spot/centre autofocus on

The EXIF on each photo shows Pattern metering. Try spot metering instead. All my birds are shot this way. You want to focus on the bird not necessarily the whole photo scene.

enyaw · 10-20-2016, 01:09 AM

I will try that as well, might be the ticket. Thanks. And I did want the focus on the bird. Continuous auto-focus was also on

photolady95 · 10-20-2016, 01:14 AM

Originally posted by enyaw

Continuous auto-focus was also on

I don't use that when I shoot birds. It tends to hunt too much with older lenses, at least that's what I've found.

enyaw · 10-20-2016, 01:17 AM

what "kind" of focus should I be using then? And on all bird shots? Or just this lens?

photolady95 · 10-20-2016, 01:22 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by enyaw

what "kind" of focus should I be using then?

I'm not sure what you're meaning there but here's how I shoot Egrets and Herons and small birds.
AF.S for all of them.
Shutter speeds usually are at least 1/500s and the reason is, birds move even if you can't see it.
F stop depends on the conditions. Usually f8.
And spot metering.

A sample I shot today:

enyaw · 10-20-2016, 01:48 AM

Thanks photolady 95, I will try af.s as well. I was using af.c Great shot by the way

photolady95 · 10-20-2016, 01:51 AM - **1 Like**

Thanks for the compliment. I hope my advice helps you. I'm sure if you need to, a tripod will help but if you use one, turn off SR first.

All the ones I shoot are hand held.

10-20-2016, 12:45 AM	#8
enyaw Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 276 Original Poster	HI, 'Not a Number' is correct about the lens. I was shooting handheld. I had single spot/centre autofocus on. I had image stabilization on. Auto ---------- Post added 10-20-16 at 12:52 AM ---------- These were taken with the same lens, on the same day ---------- Post added 10-20-16 at 12:55 AM ---------- I'm past my limit for files, sorry I'll try 1 instead of 4. No can do, Auto ISO was on. It was a sunny day. The range is 100-1600. The lens is an older one that doesn't have built in stabilization. I'm guessing it might be the filter that came with the lens. I'll have to go back out with it when the camera comes back from the shop and try shooting without the filter on. Last edited by enyaw; 10-20-2016 at 01:00 AM.

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10-19-2016, 06:22 PM	#2
GolNat Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: USA-Delaware Posts: 134	Did you check the focus of the lens? It might need some adjusting. Higher shutter speed may have been better also.

10-19-2016, 06:40 PM	#3
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	I'm guessing this is a manual focus lens since the focal length is 210mm. And they were shot at f5.6, is that wide open for this lens? It may be a lens that just isn't very good, many older zooms were not. But it may also a little motion blur, longer lens take a little more practice sometimes. It may perform better at f8 or f9. If you have a tripod try some test shots using it and some handheld and compare. Good luck hope it's fixable.

10-19-2016, 07:35 PM	#4
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,799	I could be completely wrong, but it might be that you are using a pattern focus, so it's focusing in the most prominent thing, which is the foreground and the reeds behind, and not the most important thing, the bird. Change to a single point focus on the bird and try a few more shots. I'd also try a higher ISO in order to get a higher shutter speed. what many people fail to consider is that a slight movement at the camera end translates to a much larger movement at a distance, so the higher shutter speed the better. Also, I encourage the use of a monopod with a long zoom, that little bit of stability and support makes a difference.

10-19-2016, 08:01 PM	#5
victormeldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: South West UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,493	Some more detail on how you took the shots would be useful, to stop people having to guess... But in the spirit of things...were you using a monopod or tripod? If so, SR should be switched off. Seeing as you seem to be panning the camera to follow the bird, off would probably be better in any case.

10-19-2016, 08:07 PM	#6
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	From the EXIF TAMRON AF 80-210mm F4-5.6 Tamron 80-210mm 1:4.5-5.6 Lens Reviews - Tamron Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

10-19-2016, 10:35 PM	#7
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,404	If you turned on image stabilization do you mean that the lens has a switch for that? If so turn it off or turn off the body based sr to avoid the two systems fighting each other.

10-20-2016, 01:04 AM	#9
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Originally posted by enyaw I had single spot/centre autofocus on The EXIF on each photo shows Pattern metering. Try spot metering instead. All my birds are shot this way. You want to focus on the bird not necessarily the whole photo scene.

10-20-2016, 01:09 AM	#10
enyaw Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 276 Original Poster	I will try that as well, might be the ticket. Thanks. And I did want the focus on the bird. Continuous auto-focus was also on

10-20-2016, 01:14 AM	#11
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Originally posted by enyaw Continuous auto-focus was also on I don't use that when I shoot birds. It tends to hunt too much with older lenses, at least that's what I've found.

10-20-2016, 01:17 AM	#12
enyaw Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 276 Original Poster	what "kind" of focus should I be using then? And on all bird shots? Or just this lens?

10-20-2016, 01:22 AM - 2 Likes	#13
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Originally posted by enyaw what "kind" of focus should I be using then? I'm not sure what you're meaning there but here's how I shoot Egrets and Herons and small birds. AF.S for all of them. Shutter speeds usually are at least 1/500s and the reason is, birds move even if you can't see it. F stop depends on the conditions. Usually f8. And spot metering. A sample I shot today:

10-20-2016, 01:48 AM	#14
enyaw Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 276 Original Poster	Thanks photolady 95, I will try af.s as well. I was using af.c Great shot by the way

10-20-2016, 01:51 AM - 1 Like	#15
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Thanks for the compliment. I hope my advice helps you. I'm sure if you need to, a tripod will help but if you use one, turn off SR first. All the ones I shoot are hand held.