Question about my camera.

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Okay, so I have a D40, an 18-55mm lens, and a 55-200mm lens. I've noticed lately that my camera doesn't focus as well, or take pictures as sharp as it used to.

There is some dust on the sensor (as far as I can tell) so I'm going to have it sent out to be cleaned soon. Could this be the reason I'm having these problems? Is the dust causing the camera not to focus as well?

I notice this especially when I'm using auto focus (which I do a lot). When I'm taking pictures of stationary things, I use manual focus, but if I'm taking a picture of anything that moves, I use auto focus because I'm not quick enough to manually focus, and catch whatever I'm trying to get a picture of. So what I mean by "doesn't focus as well" is that I'll try and try to get a picture but it won't focus. I'll press the button halfway down waiting for it to focus and it either takes forever or just doesn't work! Sometimes I have to turn the camera off, and then back on to get it to focus at all, and that doesn't seem right...

As far as photos not being as sharp, maybe it's just me, or the lighting or something, but it just seems like my recent photos just aren't as sharp as they used to be.

Is there something I can do besides getting the camera/lenses cleaned? (I'm going to do this, I just mean for in the meantime, or in case this isn't the problem at all).

 

[~Jessie~]

How familiar are you with how your camera works?

Sounds to me like it's mainly an issue with lighting. Do you shoot in auto, or manual mode? I generally shoot in aperature priority (the "A" button inbetween M and S), which always for me to customize my settings to exactly how I want them. For the most part, I use auto focus, unless I'm using a macro lens.

In darker lighting, try lowering the f-stop, and up the iso.

My external flash is seriously one piece of photography equipment I couldn't live without. It's a Nikon SB 600 flash.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Sadly (and embarrassingly) not very.

For the most part I use auto unless I'm taking a picture of something stationary, then I use manual. I get easily frustrated however, using the different priorities because I don't quite understand them. I try experimenting with them, and then I get frustrated because I'll spend forever messing with the different numbers and settings, and still can't get what I want. It seems like anything I try is either really dark, grainy, or both, no matter what numbers and settings I change. Plus, even more embarrassingly, I can hardly ever figure out if I'm even changing the iso/f-stop/etc because I can't figure out which buttons are changing the numbers. x100

I'm really interested in getting an external flash, and I'm going to look at prices after I'm done posting this.

 

[~Jessie~]

Oh yeah, you do know that the auto-focus motor for the D40 isn't in the body, right? That's why you need to by AF-S lenses (motors are in those lenses) in order to auto focus your pictures.

In order to fully utilize your DSLR, you'll have to learn about how to use the controls. Otherwise you're just shooting with an expensive point and shoot.

There's a book my husband always recommends to people looking to learn more about photography. It's called Understanding Exposure... can't remember the author's name.

Also, be sure to break out your instruction book... it's really easy to adjust the settings once you know which buttons they're under.

 

[milos_mommy]

I second looking up how the f-stop, aperture, ISO, etc. works, so that you understand when you're changing the numbers, what it's doing to the camera and why it's making your pictures look the way they do. It helps a lot!

I also think it sounds like an issue with lighting (which IMO is the hardest part of photography to work out if you're trying to set your camera for bad light and not create good light). Example: Raising the ISO makes pictures brighter, but grainier. If you do know how to work the f-stop and things around the bad light, and can pull off using a lower ISO in low lighting, that's great. (I, however, have not figured that out yet)

 

[AllieMackie]

I third the "get to know your camera"! Read the manual about f-atop, aperture and ISO at the very least - those three factors are the main things that change the look of your photos. Everything else is good to learn too, of course, but learn those three first, and what the lower/higher numbers mean.

Everyone should watch the Pioneer Woman's blog - she's got some awesome freebie photography tips.

Here's her tutorial on aperture and f-stop. Makes it all a LOT simpler.

If the lens is having issues autofocusing in all types of light, your autofocus motor may be malfunctioning. My kit lens AF motor died on me recently. If it's withing warranty you get a free repair. If not, it's not too pricey, usually.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Thanks so much everyone! I've been too lazy to read the manual, but I'm going to go ahead and bite the bullet, and just do it. I know it'll help me a lot. And thanks for the book suggestion, and the link! I'll check both out!

 

[milos_mommy]

Personally, the manual made me want to pull my hair out, but googling tutorials on my specific camera's settings helped. They were a lot easier for me to read than the manual.

 

[AllieMackie]

Thanks so much everyone! I've been too lazy to read the manual, but I'm going to go ahead and bite the bullet, and just do it. I know it'll help me a lot. And thanks for the book suggestion, and the link! I'll check both out!

Honestly, just use the manual for figuring out HOW to change all of those settings, then read some good online tutorials (like the one I linked) for what they ARE and what they DO. Manuals never seem to explain it well. :rofl1:

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Lol! Thanks guys, I'll do that! I usually find that tutorials are confusing because they use terms I don't understand, but I will try to find some for beginners. (And I will use the one you linked, Allie, thanks again!)

 

[AllieMackie]

Lol! Thanks guys, I'll do that! I usually find that tutorials are confusing because they use terms I don't understand, but I will try to find some for beginners. (And I will use the one you linked, Allie, thanks again!)

No problem! Before I read that article, I -knew- what aperture and shutter speed -were-, but I had issues applying them properly to my photos. If you've noticed, my photos have experienced a significant bump in quality in the past little while, and it's thanks to the simplicity of that articla. Read parts 1-4, it makes it SO EASY!

 

[Southpaw]

For me, it doesn't make sense until I actually play around with the settings on the camera. I have a very limited understanding of the terms from high school photography, but it doesn't help me figure out what settings to use. So sometimes the first minute or so of me taking pictures, is just adjusting the settings until I get what I want... figure out what gets the best light, my shutter speed, etc. Like I know that I like an aperture of around f/3.5 because I like the depth of field I get with it... but the whole concept of aperture still confuses me. That's just what usually gets me the best results, so I stick with it.

Aperture priority is the mode I shoot in 95% of the time. If I'm too lazy to play with settings, then I'll do auto, but not usually. It's really amazing the difference in my pictures just between switching from auto to aperture... it makes a difference when you start customizing settings.

 

[Grab]

I agree to read the manual/tutorials.

Of course, some of us have done that and have a fair grasp of it and then end up with sleep deprived newborn brain and cannot figure out a setting to get a good indoor pic of the infant until they give up and break out the point and shoot