1. Forum
  2. Photography and Camera Forum
  3. Taking the Photo | Editing | The art of Photography!
  4. Tips and Taking Photos
  5. Trouble with viewfinder and zoom lenses

Trouble with viewfinder and zoom lenses


5 years 4 months ago #620826 by meganhaderphotography
After spending my entire day out driving, then photographing Bald Eagles and other birds at a wetlands up north, I came home to see how my photographs turned out only to find they were all blurry.  This is not the first time I've had trouble getting my photographs in focus but maybe one of the most frustrating.  It's not my lenses or my camera as I do have plenty of photos that are completely in focus.  I'm pretty sure it's my eyes.  I have very poor vision without contacts or glasses so I wear contacts 24/7.  I usually use my viewfinder on my Nikon D3200 and most of my closer photos tend to come out fairly sharp as long as I make sure my settings are correct.  I've noticed when I use my viewfinder with one of my zoom lenses, my eyes either tell me everything is focus or that I have exactly where I want in focus only to find out my main part of the photo is out of focus while something in the background is perfectly focused.  I tend to use my viewfinder more than the liveview due to the glare on the screen.  Does anyone have tips on using my viewfinder better?  Or is there an adapter that will help me be able to actually see what I am actually focused on with my viewfinder?  I'm very frustrated at what feels like a completely wasted day of 100s of wildlife photos that are useless.  Thanks for the help.
,
5 years 4 months ago #620860 by garyrhook
Without specifics of your shots, along with, perhaps, a sample image, it's going to be difficult to offer any useful advice. There are a couple of reasons you can get blurry images at long distances, but we need to know how you were working and what settings you used.

A D3200 is perfectly capable of capturing images at any distance. And, frankly, your eyesight shouldn't matter with AF.

We assume the diopter is set properly for you.
Photo Comments
,
5 years 4 months ago #620889 by GaryA
I wear glasses and/or contacts and I haven't a problem with seeing the 'Focus Confirmation' in my cameras.

I have no familiarity with digital Nikon cameras ... but, Most/all AF digital cameras have 'Focus Confirmation', typically a small box/reticle in the viewfinder will highlight green over the part of the frame which the camera has focused upon. Read the manual for additional info on how this works with different AF settings.  Focus Confirmation is extremely helpful for those with less than perfect eyes. Many cameras have built in eyepiece diopters that are adjustable for sharp viewfinders.  Make sure the built in diopter is set for your eyes. 

If you can't see the Focus Confirmation with your contacts, maybe glasses could provide the adjusts you require for your eyes to focus in the viewfinder.  Maybe contacts with over-the-counter reading glasses will help.
There are photographs everywhere. It is the call of photographers to see and capture those images.
www: garyayala.com
,
5 years 3 months ago #624836 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day Megan

As ^^ comments allude to - it could be several reasons :(

I would expect the camera to 'beep' at you when it finds correct focus - as well as showing a green dot or square around the focus point ... can you hear the beep? ... it is 'really' finding focus?

Also - it might be that there is a tiny amount of camera shake &/or subject movement (remember long lenses multiply both image size & blur) - so could that be where some of the problems are coming from?

Hope this helps
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/
,

  1. Forum
  2. Photography and Camera Forum
  3. Taking the Photo | Editing | The art of Photography!
  4. Tips and Taking Photos
  5. Trouble with viewfinder and zoom lenses

817.3K

241K

  • Facebook

    817,251 / Likes

  • Twitter

    241,000 / Followers

  • Google+

    1,620,816 / Followers

Show Me...

Visit 4wdtlak Forum
Saal

Latest Reviews

Nikon Zfc Review

Nikon’s retro-looking Nikon Zfc is anything but retro. Under its classic body is a host of features and amenities that make it a worthwhile compact mirrorless camera for 2024.

Apr 15, 2024
Canon EOS R50 Review

The Canon EOS R50 is one of the newest R-system cameras from Canon. Is it worth your money? Find out all the details you need to know in this comprehensive review.

Apr 10, 2024
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Review

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II is Sony’s flagship mirrorless zoom lens. As such, it’s loaded with features and has a top-shelf build quality that makes it a top pick!

Mar 27, 2024
Leica SL2-S Review

The Leica SL2-S is an attractive, premium mirrorless camera with photo and video specs that are sure to impress. And with the legendary Leica name, you know this camera exudes quality!

Mar 26, 2024
More Articles
Ikan

Forum Top Posters

Sponsored Imageimages2/vanguard1.jpgSponsored Imageimages/stories/ad_agency/2/1559071052.jpg
Sponsored ImageSponsored Image

Latest Articles

What is Blue Hour Photography?

Blue hour photography might not be as well known as golden hour photography, but it is every bit as good a time to create epic images of landscapes. Learn how in this quick tutorial!

Apr 17, 2024
Nikon Zfc Review

Nikon’s retro-looking Nikon Zfc is anything but retro. Under its classic body is a host of features and amenities that make it a worthwhile compact mirrorless camera for 2024.

Apr 15, 2024
5 Dog Photography Tips for Stunning Results

Moving from taking snapshots of your dog to creating beautiful images doesn’t have to be that difficult! Use the tips outlined in this dog photography guide, and you’ll get better results in no time.

Apr 15, 2024
FAQs About Acrylic Print Photos

Acrylic print photos are a beautiful way to display your favorite images. But they don’t come without some questions. Get all the answers you need about this medium in this guide!

Apr 15, 2024
Get All the Landscape Photography Inspiration You Need With These Simple Tips

Where do you get your landscape photography inspiration? Is it from masters like Ansel Adams? Or perhaps viewing art from other genres? We’ve got these and a few other sources for you to check out!

Apr 10, 2024
Canon EOS R50 Review

The Canon EOS R50 is one of the newest R-system cameras from Canon. Is it worth your money? Find out all the details you need to know in this comprehensive review.

Apr 10, 2024
Myth Busted: High-Quality Affordable Online Printing DOES Exist!

Too often, affordable online printing companies don’t meet your expectations of what a print should look like. But there are some choices that combine affordability with superb quality!

Apr 09, 2024
How to Use Self-Critique to Improve Your Photography

Self-critique is an important component of your journey to improving as a photographer. Use these simple tips about critiquing your work as a means to make faster progress with your art.

Apr 08, 2024
More Articles