Photo sharpness when shooting photos through thermopane windows

[AtTheLake]

I live on a lake and in the winter months I take a lot of pictures through the thermopane windows facing the lake. A lot of the times the pictures are sharp but a fair amount of the time the focus is close but not sharp. I am usually shooting at no angle or up to a 30% angle. Distances are from 20 feet to 100 feet. I shoot from a tripod with a Really Right Stuff BH-55 ball head. Camera is a Nikon D500 with a Nikon 300 prime 2.8 lens or a Nikon 70 to 200 2.8. My question is does anyone else have a similar issues?

 

[DRwyoming]

My question is does anyone else have a similar issues?

I shoot through windows sometimes with varying results but basically don't expect much when doing it. Sometimes the image works or can be made to work with some careful sharpening. It's asking a lot to shoot through even one pane of window glass much less double pane windows and that's assuming they're spotlessly clean. Add some angle and the possibility of glare off any of the inner or outer window surfaces and there's no guarantees of getting any crisp images though as mentioned above sometimes I get lucky and the image is workable. Getting the front of your lens right up against the glass and ideally shooting straight through can help but window glass really isn't optical grade glass and you really can't expect much when shooting through glass windows and doors especially if they're at all smudged, dusty or dirty.

If there's some bird or other wildlife subject that I really care about outside I'll try to very gently open up a window or door and shoot without extra layers of glass in the way and that's even in sub zero Wyoming winters. Doesn't always make my wife happy and I generally can't shoot for very long like that on a cold winter day but if I really want the shot I don't rely on the hope that an image shot through a couple of panes of glass will be sharp enough to use.

Some winters I've had feeders on a tree right outside my office window and would open up the window, stick the lens out and drape camo netting or blankets down from the window keeping some heat in but allowing me to shoot without glass in the way.

 

[Fishboy1952]

During the summer here outside of Phoenix, we’ll sometimes get Cooper’s Hawks hanging out in the shade near water in our backyard. I’ll try to get an unobstructed shot, but the birds are pretty skittish. That leaves getting images through a dual pane window from our sewing room. I’m surprised at the number of decent shots I get, but like DR said, I’m not expecting much in this situation. But I keep trying.......

 

[dklimek1]

First thing to do is take the shot, take a couple. Also, move a bit between shots. Modern “float glass” windows can be fairly low distortion, or not. It depends on the portion of the window you are looking thru. Once you have a few shots you can consider opening the window. I was really glad I took this approach with the great blue heron perched on top of a spruce tree outside. When I tried to the open the window as quietly as possible, the bird was spooked, and the further opportunity was lost.
If there is a large temperature difference between the inside and outside, it would probably be a good idea to try and block as much of the space not occupied by the lens to limit the air flow out the window. With a large temperature difference you could create air thermals which could themselves create significant distortions and spoil the sharpness.

 

[Spelzar]

Clean windows, angle of the sun and placing the lens almost against the glass usually works for me in my north facing garden. This Kestrel had just taken down a Blue Tit from a feeder and was rather smugly devouring it. Taken with a 300pf + 1.4tc through double-glazing. Tried to post full image but too large so this is a 70% crop.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

 

[Warren D]

It's hit or miss. I seem to have better luck with newer windows (c2003) even though they supposedly have UV sandwiched between the glass. My vintage c1986 sliders are much worse optically but I can sometimes get decent results if I find just the right spot (which of course is not visible to the eye!) In general, I have better luck without a lens hood and the front of the lens is right against the glass or otherwise square to the window.
Coopers Hawk feasting on my deck railing. Shot thru a window.

 

[Nick B.]

Does a polarizer help?

 

[Ralph]

Clean windows, angle of the sun and placing the lens almost against the glass usually works for me in my north facing garden. This Kestrel had just taken down a Blue Tit from a feeder and was rather smugly devouring it. Taken with a 300pf + 1.4tc through double-glazing. Tried to post full image but too large so this is a 70% crop.

View attachment 10078

Great Shot!

 

[Warren D]

Does a polarizer help?

Not usually. Just adds more air/glass surfaces and might possibly react with energy saving film between the panes.

 

[AtTheLake]

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.