Birds Sharp and Blurry.

[Nicks Pics]

Hi everyone!

Anyone got any tips on getting your focus sharper? My camera is the SL1000 which doesn't allow me to manually focus, so my focus is normally soft, or on something other than my subject, especially at telephoto or macro. My cameras focus type is: TTL contrast AF, AF assist illuminator available. (copied off fujifilm website)

I have the option of center, continuous, multi, area, and tracking. Even setting it on center focus though, doesn't always seem to convince it not to focus on the background.



f/6.5
1/85 sec.
iso 800
focal length
215 mm

[Nicks Pics]

The first picture was an example of soft focus. Its sometimes worse.

This chickadee is an example of a sharper focus my camera sometimes does.

f/5.6
1/75 sec.
iso 400
focal length 139 mm



Tips and techniques would be much appreciated!

[chauncey]

I do not know your camera except from the reviews that I've perused that indicate it's worth the money
for a starter camera...it will not cough out consistent superior images regardless of your skills.

[Nicks Pics]

Oh well, I would, though, be interested to hear if people think a camera with phase detection auto focus or one with a manual option would be superior for wildlife photography, but in the case that swapping current equipment for new weren't an option at all times, I was just looking for tips on making my camera perform better.

My AF system probably costs me the most good shots.

[Nicks Pics]

In regards to my above latest post, Iv'e now posted a separate thread in the camera equipment section to cover my interest in the different types of focus systems in case you'd like to check that out too.

Thanks

[bnnrcn]

I don't know your camera , sorry for not being able to help about focusing better. But I would like to say that your second shot is beautiful BTW it is good that you started another thread in the equipment section , more people might be helpful

[ajohnw]

From the spec it sounds like you have the ability to select central AF. That will probably be marked with a square in the viewfinder. Place it on high contrast boundaries. Sorry just noticed you mentioned you've tried it on centre af but try to put the square where there is a decent contrast change across it, ideally at a line.

I don't know how much you have cropped off the 1st shot but if it's rather a lot you should be better off zooming in and filling more of the frame with the subject. I can't make my mind up but there might be a bit of camera shake adding to the problem. The bird has a black and white area so that would be the best place to position the focus area or even one of the twigs close to the bird.

John
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[Nicks Pics]

Thanks everyone. The second bird was cropped, but the first was not so people could evaluate the whole scene.

Helpful advise, John, about trying to set the focus point on high contrast areas.

Thanks!