Help me decide...

sarah_19_nz · Oct 20, 2013

This paprticular image in just a jpg but I can bring up the RAW too (I have it set to do both) and still the same issue. The focus point was RIGHT on one of her eyes, cant remember which one.

tirediron · Oct 20, 2013

There's definitely some softness there; you weren't using a VR lens were you? Do you have any filters on the lens?

tirediron · Oct 20, 2013

Are you using a single focusing point?

sarah_19_nz · Oct 20, 2013

single point focusing, no filters, not a VR

sarah_19_nz · Oct 20, 2013

the 'center' focusing point at that!

tirediron · Oct 20, 2013

Try manually focusing a shot and see if there is a difference.

sarah_19_nz · Oct 20, 2013

my daughters are in bed now so I only have dolls to practice on, I will wait until they wake and do some more manula/auto focusing tests

Thank you. I'll be back!

tirediron · Oct 20, 2013

If it focuses properly manually, then I suspect your AF needs to be adjusted just a hair, if it's still soft, well... I'm 'bout out of ideas..

sarah_19_nz · Oct 20, 2013

manual vs auto focusing.... no difference. If I am REALLY close to the subject I can get TACK sharp eyes, but move more that a meter away and softness occurs, no matter what. Here is a test shot I took just now. I was the closest I could get to my subject in order to focus and it nailed it (I think) but as I keep saying move a couple of meteres back and its all soft. Is this just something that happens, being too fussy?

ISO 320, Shutter 160, f 2.8

tirediron · Oct 20, 2013

It shouldn't; this was taken from about 3m (85mm 1.4 @ f9); have a look at the eyes at 100% (it's a big file; 4.4mb).

sarah_19_nz · Oct 20, 2013

yeah very clear!... I'm going to pick up mums nikon d90 in a couple of hours and do some more testing. hmmmm

tirediron · Oct 20, 2013

Just reviewing the thread; have you compared the 50 and the kit lens? What about trying it stopped down a bit more say, f5.6-8 just for comparison.

sarah_19_nz · Oct 20, 2013

I'm pretty sure the kit lens is worse. I will do some more testing after dinner. I don't know where in the world you are but I'll get the results up sometime in the next 24 hours. Then you can help me make a decision as to what to do next!

Thanks for your time and patience so far, i'm getting rather frustrated. I know 9 times out of 10 it will be 'user error' but I refuse to believe this! haha

tirediron · Oct 20, 2013

You might also want to try my D-I-Y lens resolution & focusing test... Use a LASER printer (NOT inkjet) to completely cover a sheet of paper with 12pt upper-case 'X's. Using a tripod, level and square, position your camera such that it is within the minimum focusing distance (eg, if your lens will focus as close as 12" then use, say, 14") and ensure that the sheet of paper is exactly square to the lens axis. Use your lowest native ISO, and supplementary lighting if necessary to ensure a correct exposure.

Focus on the centre on the of sheet of paper and make an exposure wide open, followed by a series stopping down by a couple of stops each time. Then, examine the centre, and edges at 100% and compare sharpness. Even wide open, at the edges, the characters should be legible. This will give you a good idea of whether or not there is a problem with the lens (It's unlikely, but it can happen) and just how it performs at different apertures.