Grace's Faces

[NorthernFocus]

I've been testing a couple of new(to me) lenses and as usual our dog, Grace, was the first test subject. I'm amazed at how she can look like such a puppy one minute and so mature the next.

1) Wanting to play. Nikon D810 and 24-120mm VR



2) Laying in her favorite sunny spot on the back deck. Nikon D810 and 300mm f4E. The full resolution version of this shot wasn't as crisp as I'd expected from this lens. I'm going to have to do a bit of testing on it.

[Kaye Leggett]

The first would make a lovely caption competition. The harsh light in the ssecond probably hasn't helped the crispness

[Shadowman]

Nice set.

[Mike Buckley]

Grace is back! She is so regal in the second photo.

[IzzieK]

Dan, When we were at the Melbourne's Aquarium, my DIL has my D300s and a particular lens. At one point she complained that the lens she has wasn't as sharp. So I tested the lens right then and there, somewhat darkish atmosphere. I know you are more advanced than me in photography, but I just want to tell you my experience here. Anyway I tested and tested the lens over and over again and what works for me was to move back a little bit from my subject and the lens sort of correct itself? I don't know if this has merit in even explaining. I had my D810 with me at the time too so when I told my DIL to just move back just a little, the sharpness will be more correct, for lack of better explanation...In short I did that to my camera too and waited until I get home to find out what really went wrong.

[flashback]

There's no such thing as a bad dog photograph, only bad dog photographers

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks, guys.

Mike, Grace certainly acts like she's royalty. Though no wonder because that's how she has been treated all her life.

Izzie, the only thing I can think of to make a lens behave as you described is that it is either front or back focusing. When you move farther away the DOF increases for any given aperture to the target point is then more likely to fall within the DOF. Particularly if you noticed it shooting in a dark location which likely means you were shooting with the lens wide open so relatively flat DOF. The softness I'm seeing on this lens looks like very small motion blur. Like camera shake. I suspect it is related to the VR but front/back focus could also be an issue. I need to break out the tripod and sort it out.