All the gear and no idea! (D810)
Discussion
.... that's me!
Can i trouble you for some advice please......I recently bought a D810, I haven't been able to upgrade the lens yet so i've been using the lens that came with my previous camera (Nikon D80) a 18-135mm DX lens. I'm finding when i review the images on the back of the camera (or the computer) and zoom in they aren't very sharp, at first i thought it was because i was using the wrong shutter speed, so i fiddled around, but i don't think its that i think its the lens.
The lens is a DX lens not a FX lens, which i understand means it has a smaller sensor, do you think this could be part of the problem? can DX lenses be used with the D810?
My old camera is a D80 a 10.8 megapixel camera this ones a 36.3 megapixel but the image quality doesn't seem any better, do you reckon the camera could be faulty?
Can i trouble you for some advice please......I recently bought a D810, I haven't been able to upgrade the lens yet so i've been using the lens that came with my previous camera (Nikon D80) a 18-135mm DX lens. I'm finding when i review the images on the back of the camera (or the computer) and zoom in they aren't very sharp, at first i thought it was because i was using the wrong shutter speed, so i fiddled around, but i don't think its that i think its the lens.
The lens is a DX lens not a FX lens, which i understand means it has a smaller sensor, do you think this could be part of the problem? can DX lenses be used with the D810?
My old camera is a D80 a 10.8 megapixel camera this ones a 36.3 megapixel but the image quality doesn't seem any better, do you reckon the camera could be faulty?
I know nothing about photography (yet), but I came across this....
https://photographylife.com/using-nikon-dx-lenses-...
https://photographylife.com/using-nikon-dx-lenses-...
The D810 will automatically switch to DX mode (although this is dependent on a menu setting) when a DX lens is attached and the viewfinder will show a smaller area. This can be over ridden in the menus but on a zoom lens you will have severe vignetting. That said in DX mode you still have 16mp, so there is no reason images should not be sharp and in focus. That would then depend on shutter speed and what the AF is locking onto.
Thanks NTEL for the article i shall have a read!!
I now know that DX lenses can be used, just checked settings on my camera auto DX crop is on. I'll have a little fiddle around with settings/ try a friends lens to see if i can fix the problem. Somethings wrong either with the lens or camera because it should be sharper!
I now know that DX lenses can be used, just checked settings on my camera auto DX crop is on. I'll have a little fiddle around with settings/ try a friends lens to see if i can fix the problem. Somethings wrong either with the lens or camera because it should be sharper!
The more pixels you have the more problems you see!
If you've eliminated camera-shake then perhaps the autofocus is slightly off, or you're not using the right focus sensor/s. Have you read the manual on the AF system? It's complex and needs to be understood for reliable results.
If you have both of those correct, then it probably means you need to buy a higher quality lens. Indeed, regardless of the exact issue, your lens is a weak link.
If you've eliminated camera-shake then perhaps the autofocus is slightly off, or you're not using the right focus sensor/s. Have you read the manual on the AF system? It's complex and needs to be understood for reliable results.
If you have both of those correct, then it probably means you need to buy a higher quality lens. Indeed, regardless of the exact issue, your lens is a weak link.
Camera on tripod and remote release/mirror lockup/auto timer to remove any camera shake. "Reasonable" ISO setting to achieve a reasonable shutter speed too.
Switch to manual focus and live view. Zoom right in on live view and focus the lens on any reasonable subject.
Take a couple of shots at various apertures - wide open and two stops down would be my suggestion. But don't bother past about f/11 because "the laws of physics cannae take it, Cap'n". If it's a zoom lens repeat at each end and in the middle.
Now go and pixel peep to your heart's content. Don't forget that your output will need sharpening - and I hope you're doing all this with RAW files so you can eliminate whatever the camera processor wants to nanny you with in conversion....
Right, that's the best it's going to get. If your test shots previously weren't that good it's camera shake or your autofocus needs refining (RTFM).
That's probably wasted half an hour of your life to tell you the lens is "average" - are you going to live with it for outputs on screen, or start on the slippery slope of NAS?
Switch to manual focus and live view. Zoom right in on live view and focus the lens on any reasonable subject.
Take a couple of shots at various apertures - wide open and two stops down would be my suggestion. But don't bother past about f/11 because "the laws of physics cannae take it, Cap'n". If it's a zoom lens repeat at each end and in the middle.
Now go and pixel peep to your heart's content. Don't forget that your output will need sharpening - and I hope you're doing all this with RAW files so you can eliminate whatever the camera processor wants to nanny you with in conversion....
Right, that's the best it's going to get. If your test shots previously weren't that good it's camera shake or your autofocus needs refining (RTFM).
That's probably wasted half an hour of your life to tell you the lens is "average" - are you going to live with it for outputs on screen, or start on the slippery slope of NAS?
Pennyyong45 said:
The lens is a DX lens not a FX lens, which i understand means it has a smaller sensor, do you think this could be part of the problem? can DX lenses be used with the D810?
A bit of clarification here. The lens doesn't have any kind of sensor, that's in the camera body. The sensor is where good old fashioned film used to sit.
Thank you for your replies everyone, K12beano i will try your suggestion this weekend....to be fair I'm pretty sure its something I'm doing and not the camera.... 
but I'm still going to blame the camera.....
Budfox/ Simpo Two In my defence I did say i had no idea
haha.
Saving up for a new lens!!
but I'm still going to blame the camera.....Budfox/ Simpo Two In my defence I did say i had no idea
haha.Saving up for a new lens!!
Pennyyong45 said:
Saving up for a new lens!!
Can I add - and Simpo will be along in a moment to take the p*** - don't be afraid about Nikkor lenses on the secondhand market. They're good back for the last 50 years or so......I know I've been lucky but I flogged on Fleabay a couple of lenses, like a 55mm Ais Micro and a 70-200mm MkI, for about what I paid for them, and have had some stunning bargains - my 17-35mm came from Grays at half a new price - it didn't have a box and I haggled Gray himself for a hood and lens cap
and my 85mm and 50mm f/1.4 lenses were carefully considered impulse buys. My 14mm was a treat from a fellow PHer, it has some war wounds, but is a delight, and I cannot begin to mention just how simple the 45mm f/2.8 is because it particularly upsets Simpo!If I don't get on with any of them, they'll go back on Fleabay and Hey! if I've ended up paying a bit over the typical 5-6 years I've had 'em then I'm a winner!
Went through a lens upgrading spree when i had a D2X - lovely "brick" of a thing - because that was even-more-pernickety about the glass it would play with than the D800 ever is!!!
Recommend you find some "friends" and do some lens-swapping (and maybe technique-sharing) too!!!
K12beano said:
Can I add - and Simpo will be along in a moment to take the p*** - don't be afraid about Nikkor lenses on the secondhand market. They're good back for the last 50 years or so......
Actually I agree entirely - s/h lenses can be very good value - several of mine were bought s/h.Just don't buy crappy weird ones lke Beano
GetCarter said:
If you can't afford the zooms, just buy a f1.8 prime.
I've been using a 50mm 1.8 a fair bit on my D800. Other than the fact that it suffers badly from vignetting when wide open, it's more than capable of taking lovely sharp photos at a price that isn't too painful even if you don't end up using it too much. Can be had for around £100 these days I think.It would be a great way to fill the gap between what you have and what you really need, which will set you back about in the wallet department.
I'll just leave this here...
Edited by _dobbo_ on Wednesday 28th January 17:25
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