What lens should I use to get the clearest pictures??

Suziellen · Oct 12, 2011

Hello, I am new to photography. I have been doing it for the last 3 months but my pictures are coming out a tad blurry. I know it has to do with how steady I am and my shutter speed but what lens is best. I've read on primary lenses. I mostly use my 55mm-200mm but I know there is a better one to use for family and children shoots. PLease help. I have a D3000

Thank you
Suzi

MTVision · Oct 12, 2011

Can we see an example?

Suziellen · Oct 12, 2011

2WheelPhoto · Oct 12, 2011

I used to use the 55-200. One thing I found was it performed better at around 70-180 than at the far ends of its focal length. But the pics were beyond surprisingly sharp for what I paid for that lens.

cgipson1 · Oct 12, 2011

almost any lense will give relatively sharp non-blurry pictures if used properly. Keep your shutter speed above 200... and as long as your focus is good, you should get decent shots. We need to know more information.. what speeds you are shooting at, how you are focusing, have you adjusted any of the settings in the camera, etc.....

as MTVision said.. please post some shots.... preferably with the Exif data intact....

cvbikeguy · Oct 12, 2011

that is a slow lens and if you your shooting at 85 and farther,,,,

hmmm maybe someone can post an informational link

Suziellen · Oct 12, 2011

I tried to upload a picture and it didn't show above... I am new to this forum, sorry. I shoot on aperture priority mode in natural light usually anywhere between 5/6 to 8 or so...I have my camera set to not go below 200 in shutter speed so it should be shooting appropriately I think. It feels like there's "lag" inbetween shots causing them to go blurry .. I tried a 55 mm primary lense and it was super quick but it didn't have auto focus and so some of my pictures turned out blurry because I couldn't focus fast enough for the kids I was shooting...

MTVision · Oct 12, 2011

You can't upload to the site. You can embed an image in the post by using a host site like flickr.com

MTVision · Oct 12, 2011

Typically for photographing moving children your shutter speed should be about double the length of your focal length. I have the 55-300mm and I can get really sharp photos. It could be due to focusing errors as well and if that's the case then all lenses will be the same.

cgipson1 · Oct 13, 2011

how to post photos on TPF http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...forum-functions-pictoral-guide-using-tpf.html

Kerbouchard · Oct 13, 2011

Invest in flash gear.

Photography is about capturing light reflected off your subject. There are a few variables in how that light is captured, but it always comes down to what light there is and how the camera sees it.

It takes a lot more skill and equipment to shoot great shots with natural light than it does to shoot great shots with flash.

Sure, natural light can be great, as long as you have somebody holding a gobo, a diffuser, a reflector, and have picked a great spot with a background that will work well with your photos. Most 'natural light' photographers don't do any of that, and consistantly produce poor results.

As far as flash photography, it's a lot easier. Instead of having to work with the light available to you, you get to control the light.

First decide what your expectations are. Next, decide your budget. Third, pick up some books on lighting, because photography really is all about the lighting.

Vtec44 · Oct 13, 2011

Suziellen said:

Here's the picture. It looks like you shot at max aperture.

Kerbouchard · Oct 13, 2011

Vtec44 said:
Here's the picture. It looks like you shot at max aperture.

Absolutely nothing wrong with the picture. If that was the OP's, they need to spend some time learning sharpening techniques rather than worrying about what lenses they are using. Shot looks good to me. With a bit of sharpening to add some pop, it could be great.