polarizing filters

12 years 2 months ago #204273 by AMK2012
i have recently purchased a polarizing filter to use with my 55-300 nikkor lens on my Nikon D3100 DSLR but all the photos came out with very bad focus. any suggestions? thanks.


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12 years 2 months ago #204275 by photobod
I cant see how a filter would affect the focus ??? are you using auto focus ? as a filter should not cause your problem if you are. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

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12 years 2 months ago #204309 by AMK2012
in fact i am using auto-focus, but i'm not sure which auto focus mode is the right one to use with the polarizing filter. i'll try to play around with the different AF modes until i get the right result. thanks for your concern & reply.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:


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12 years 2 months ago #204311 by shelland
Are you talking the modes on the dial on top of your camera, or auto-focus where you manually focus the lens itself? You say "auto-focus", but it sounds like you're talking about the exposure modes.

Scott

- Twin Cities, MN

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12 years 2 months ago #204312 by Baydream
The onlky time a polarizing filter might affect AF (except with a dirty or distorted filer) is in low light. The filter reduces your light by about 1 f-stop or so and can prevent AF from "seeing" in low light. That filter is NOT for full-time use. Use it only when you have glare or need to "punch up" sky. I know it's a pain to put on and take off at times but it will be worth it.

Tell about the lighting conditions when you are having these issues and if you can, some of the basic EXIF data on those shots.

Shoot, learn and share. It will make you a better photographer.
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12 years 2 months ago #204327 by chasrich
Good thought John... in that same vein - The loss of an f stop might induce a slower shutter bringing in camera movement possibilities, especially at the higher zoom ranges.

“Amateurs worry about equipment, professionals worry about money, masters worry about light, I just make pictures… ” ~ Vernon Trent
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12 years 2 months ago #204365 by AMK2012
no, not the mode dial. i'm shooting in P mode most of the time unless otherwise required. I am talking about the AF modes in the camera menu itself. there is like AF-C, AF-S, AF-something else. I will experiment different modes for that & see how different the results will be. My next shooting opportunity will be next Thursday. Wish me luck.

Thanks for your concerns & help..
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:


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12 years 2 months ago #204367 by AMK2012
i was shooting at noon in very bright conditions. I was shooting some flamingos near the shore. I did not get even one shot in focus. only when i removed the filter, the shots were sharp. i suspect something in choosing my AF settings inside the camera menu. I will try again next Thursday.
Thanks for your help.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:


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12 years 2 months ago - 12 years 2 months ago #204383 by Baydream

AMK2012 wrote: no, not the mode dial. i'm shooting in P mode most of the time unless otherwise required. I am talking about the AF modes in the camera menu itself. there is like AF-C, AF-S, AF-something else. I will experiment different modes for that & see how different the results will be. My next shooting opportunity will be next Thursday. Wish me luck.

Thanks for your concerns & help..
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Good luck.
Try opening your aperture to let more light in. If those guys are near the shore, they may be in reduced light. The bright sun might be closing down your aperture and getting too dark for AF. Just a thought.

It would be interesting to see samples with and without, including basic settings (EXIF data - f/stop, shutter speed, ISO).

Shoot, learn and share. It will make you a better photographer.
fineartamerica.com/profiles/john-g-schickler.html?tab=artwork

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12 years 2 months ago #204560 by Joves
Well all I have to ask is did you get a cheap inexpensive filter? Because some of them stink and will affect image quality. When buying filter do not go cheap, good filters are made from well ground glass, the cheap ones are either rejects from another company or made from plastic, it has an affect on the camera when they are cheap. Also good filters are Multi-Coated to kill reflections from between the glass elements.


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12 years 2 months ago #204572 by Vikas Kahol




Dear AMK,

Filter does not have any connection with focusing. You talked about AF-S, AF-C mode selector. But did you have the AF mode selector (Top) with correct option? Try it out, probably it solves your problem.

:)

Vikas

Vikas Kahol
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