What went wrong?

[Destin]

I dont understand about the VR and monopod. Why does it matter? His shutters were really fast.

Schwetty (and the OP), you should read this:

Nikon VR explained"

"if you have a shutter speed faster than the sampling frequency, sometimes the system is running a correction that's not in sync with the shutter speed. The results look a bit like the lens being run with the wrong AF Fine Tune: slightly off."

 

[2ManyToyz]

Is this your lens? Nikkor AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR - Review / Lab Test Report - Analysis

I suggest stopping down the aperture a couple stops next time. (but make sure the shutter is fast enough) Also try to zoom it around 150-200 range if it is not necessary to be outside that range.

That's the lens

 

[Robin Usagani]

Good to know.. None of my lenses has IS... i guess that is a good thing, I would have used it wrong LOL.

I dont understand about the VR and monopod. Why does it matter? His shutters were really fast.

Schwetty (and the OP), you should read this:

Nikon VR explained"

"if you have a shutter speed faster than the sampling frequency, sometimes the system is running a correction that's not in sync with the shutter speed. The results look a bit like the lens being run with the wrong AF Fine Tune: slightly off."

 

[Robin Usagani]

Is this your lens? Nikkor AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR - Review / Lab Test Report - Analysis

I suggest stopping down the aperture a couple stops next time. (but make sure the shutter is fast enough) Also try to zoom it around 150-200 range if it is not necessary to be outside that range.

That's the lens

Read the link especially the MTF (resolution) part.

 

[2ManyToyz]

When the photos shown on the original post were taken VR was off...

 

[Dominantly]

Use a smaller aperture, it makes no sense to me to be at that focal length, and that aperture in the middle of a bright sunny day. I assume you cranked that shutter up to compensate for the aperture and available light. So bring the shutter down, shoot with a smaller aperture, and you should be at a better place.

 

[brian_f2.8]

I think VR is only useful at 1/80th or slower. If you are shooting sports you should be at a faster shutter speed. In this case the VR will not help. One thing to consider is that using a 70-300 and a D90 arent going to compare to a D3 and a 300 2.8. Im sorry it doesnt provide the same results. The autofocus on your lens is slow, I saw a few guys using the 80-400 at a race one time and I asked why they use it. They said it works great, so I tried it on a D3. The lens is useless in auto sports.
Use the af-c and matrix metering and auto wb. If its really sunny then use the shady barn icon. I like that much better depending on what color the jerseys you are shooting.

 

[2ManyToyz]

Regarding the use of the smallest aperature posssible...my reason for using it is to follow what I consider a cardinal rule of sports photography--minimal DOF to throw the background out of focus so when you view the phtotgraph you are focused on the subject. But I am going to go to f8 today to compensate for the apparent shortcomings of the lens.

 

[2ManyToyz]

I think VR is only useful at 1/80th or slower. If you are shooting sports you should be at a faster shutter speed. In this case the VR will not help. One thing to consider is that using a 70-300 and a D90 arent going to compare to a D3 and a 300 2.8. Im sorry it doesnt provide the same results. The autofocus on your lens is slow, I saw a few guys using the 80-400 at a race one time and I asked why they use it. They said it works great, so I tried it on a D3. The lens is useless in auto sports.
Use the af-c and matrix metering and auto wb. If its really sunny then use the shady barn icon. I like that much better depending on what color the jerseys you are shooting.

Thanks for the reply. I get how the lenses do not compare...can you educate me on how using the D3 over the D90 is going to reslult in better photos?

 

[Robin Usagani]

I think VR is only useful at 1/80th or slower. If you are shooting sports you should be at a faster shutter speed. In this case the VR will not help. One thing to consider is that using a 70-300 and a D90 arent going to compare to a D3 and a 300 2.8. Im sorry it doesnt provide the same results. The autofocus on your lens is slow, I saw a few guys using the 80-400 at a race one time and I asked why they use it. They said it works great, so I tried it on a D3. The lens is useless in auto sports.
Use the af-c and matrix metering and auto wb. If its really sunny then use the shady barn icon. I like that much better depending on what color the jerseys you are shooting.

Thanks for the reply. I get how the lenses do not compare...can you educate me on how using the D3 over the D90 is going to reslult in better photos?

The Full-Frame Advantage

 

[brian_f2.8]

also the D3 has more focus points in which the camera will focus on your subject much much quicker. the d3 is a work horse, it is designed for photojournalist / sports photograhers. the d90 is designed for people just starting out. im not a pro talking down im just saying how the two cameras differ. i shot a race onetime with a d80 and after shooting with a d3, ill never never use anything less(maybe a d700 gripped).

 

[imagemaker46]

Nothing wrong with shooting at 2500th at 5.6, if the iso isn't being pushed way up. As far as using a monopod, that's just personal choice, I hand hold my 400 2.8 without any problems, weight is relative to strength. I prefer to use a prime lens for shooting, just find them sharper than alot of zoomers. The Nikon 200-400mm f4 is a nice lens, but expensive, and you'd get more use out of a 70-200 2.8 and a 1.4 converter, it all comes down to what you want to spend.

Doesn't sound you like you have a real grasp on the equipment you are using, or a soild understanding of how to shoot, as far as settings go.

 

[2ManyToyz]

Nothing wrong with shooting at 2500th at 5.6, if the iso isn't being pushed way up. As far as using a monopod, that's just personal choice, I hand hold my 400 2.8 without any problems, weight is relative to strength. I prefer to use a prime lens for shooting, just find them sharper than alot of zoomers. The Nikon 200-400mm f4 is a nice lens, but expensive, and you'd get more use out of a 70-200 2.8 and a 1.4 converter, it all comes down to what you want to spend.

Doesn't sound you like you have a real grasp on the equipment you are using, or a soild understanding of how to shoot, as far as settings go.

On the bold You are 100% correct.
Today's adjustments led to some improvements...not as sharp as I'd like but prehaps I'm at the limit of my equipment's capabilities...while flawed these are priceless to me because #30 in the first photo and #28 in the second are two of my sons!!!

 

[2ManyToyz]

One more from today

 

[2ManyToyz]

I think VR is only useful at 1/80th or slower. If you are shooting sports you should be at a faster shutter speed. In this case the VR will not help. One thing to consider is that using a 70-300 and a D90 arent going to compare to a D3 and a 300 2.8. Im sorry it doesnt provide the same results. The autofocus on your lens is slow, I saw a few guys using the 80-400 at a race one time and I asked why they use it. They said it works great, so I tried it on a D3. The lens is useless in auto sports.
Use the af-c and matrix metering and auto wb. If its really sunny then use the shady barn icon. I like that much better depending on what color the jerseys you are shooting.

Thanks for the reply. I get how the lenses do not compare...can you educate me on how using the D3 over the D90 is going to reslult in better photos?

The Full-Frame Advantage

Great link thank you