Question re: 35mm lens

photomama3 · Apr 18, 2011

I am becoming more and more familiar with my camera and aiming for great exposure. Prior to a couple of weeks ago, I relied mainly on my 55-200 zoom lens - my children are young and are always moving. At that time, I wasn't shooting in manual mode, because I was relying on the camera to do my work for me. I purchased the 35mm lens, which motivated me to really explore my camera and I am just loving all things photography, also prefer the M or A mode. However, I am not getting the crispness and sharp images that I got with my zoom lens. I love the bokeh the 35mm gives me and when used on an individual subject (such as my 4yr old son) the picture is nice and soft, but if I add another subject (such as my 5 yr old son) and the photo isn't as sharp.

Will I be able to achieve the desired sharpness with two people or is there a better a lens you recommend?

I GREATLY appreciate it and I would love some cc on the photos as well. Thank you Thank you Thank you

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61734930@N08/sets/72157626399478003/

1.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61734930@N08/5630775035/

2.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61734930@N08/5631355828/

3.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61734930@N08/5630769829/

4.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61734930@N08/5630756593/

5.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61734930@N08/5630766431/

As you can see when I need to focus on two people, I cant seem to get the photo as sharp.

Camera used: Nikon D5000
Lens: 35mm
Mode: M
Aperture: Kept is a small as I could to get the widest depth of field, which was 22.

Thank you for helping me, as I don't have anyone that truly challenges me and I am learning so much from you guys. Sorry about all the links. If there is something else you would prefer I do, please let me know.

photomama3 · Apr 18, 2011

I know the links are a pain - you can ignore the cc. I am more concerned about this 35mm lens? Any suggestions? Thank you.

shufti · Apr 18, 2011

Are you using some sort of digital filter on a couple of these?

You probably could've shot this at F8. F22 isn't necessary.

tirediron · Apr 18, 2011

I can't seem to view the EXIF data on these images so I can't be sure of what possibles there may be. Which version of the 35mm lens do you have?

Derrel · Apr 18, 2011

Shooting at f/22 seems counter-intuitive to me.

shufti · Apr 18, 2011

F22 is the main problem. The softening effect with slight chromatic aberration (the breaking wave against the rocks, left).

photomama3 · Apr 18, 2011

Thanks so much guys. Yes, I agree, but I was trying to get the pics of my boys with out having to continue to change my settings and I didn't want the background of the photo to be out of focus. Such as the one of my youngest, I shot that frame directly after I shot my boys on the rocks together - and I thought if I closed my ap all the way, I would be able to get a larger dof so the whole picture would be in focus?? Is a photographer expected to change settings continuously in the same setting - I was afraid if I took my eyes off my boys - afraid I would miss a good shot. Is this poor thinking for an aspiring photographer?

photomama3 · Apr 18, 2011

shufti said:
F22 is the main problem. The softening effect with slight chromatic aberration (the breaking wave against the rocks, left).

Thank you Shuft, what ap would you suggest? Did I use a good lens for this setting or would my nikkor 15-55 have been better?

photomama3 · Apr 18, 2011

Shufti, I am not using a filter - would you suggest I do? I added some warmth via the sliders and messed with the other sliders a little.

KmH · Apr 18, 2011

photomama3 said:
I would be able to get a larger dof so the whole picture would be in focus??

Yes you would, but there is a trade off because the lens aperture is so small the shutter has to stay open longer making it more possible focus could be soft from subject motion blur or camera shake blur.

At small apertures focus can also soften because of the optical effect known as diffraction.

People shots are best done using middle apertures of around f/8, f/11 or so to keep the shutter speed up..

shufti · Apr 18, 2011

Which lens is this specifically? I would assume the 15-50 at F8 it would be fine. Avoid using lenses wide-open - the boke usually won't be as pleasing (e.g discs with bright edges) as stopped down a little. If your 35mm is F2 then use it ~F4 and probably not beyond F16.

shufti · Apr 18, 2011

photomama3 said:
Shufti, I am not using a filter - would you suggest I do? I added some warmth via the sliders and messed with the other sliders a little.

The 'other' sliders - that's what i meant. It looks like you adjusted highlight/shadow sliders to give a soft effect (on his facial skin tones). Maybe it's just the result of F22.

photomama3 · Apr 18, 2011

35mm F1.8

Going forward, when photographing two people that are not remaining still, is this lens on a wider ap okay or should I stick with my 18-50 at a wider ap? I am currently reviewing tutorials on lynda.com...because I don't just want to photograph and hope for good shots, I really want to understand the fundamentals of photography, so I can guarantee spectacular shots...so if you can suggest any other resources that I can refer to better understand aperture or the 35mm lens, I would appreciate it. I thought Ap was a fairly easy concept to understand, but it seems I am a bit unclear on it.