There are a lot of posts about soft images and technique. I've got an interesting example from a recent astrophotography session using a long lens.
I was using a Nikon Z6 with the Nikon 600mm f/4 AFS VR. I used it with and without the TC14E III teleconverter. My tripod is a Really Right Stuff TVC-34L with a Really Right Stuff gimbal head. Through the EVF, focus was perfect and the image was very sharp. I used Exposure Delay Mode with a delay of 2 seconds. All that is pretty straight forward. The catch is my image settings were 0.5 seconds, ISO 1000, and f/5.6 with the teleconverter. While I could have increased the shutter speed by raising ISO to ISO 6400, it only buys about a couple of stops, and a 1/8 second exposure is not going to be that different. There was a light wind. My ideal subject was the moon, but I also took images of Venus and a nearby star.
The problem was that on playback, every image was soft. It's not the gear, so let's look at technique.
Here is the image of the moon without the teleconverter to give you an idea of the shot.
Here is a screen shot of a small portion of the image I was trying to make - at 300% showing a single star. This was with the lens and teleconverter - 850mm equivalent. It's pretty obvious, there is motion and you won't maintain fine detail with this kind of movement. As you can see, the lens is capable of resolving detail, but there is far too much movement in a half second exposure to maintain detail.
We talk a lot about soft images, causes of soft images, lens resolution, etc. But even with pretty good technique - this kind of movement is there.
So what does it mean. Obviously - it's not my gear. Clearly, I need to work more on technique. This is a pretty extreme situation with a half second shutter speed and equivalent 850mm focal length. But if you want a sharp image, here is something to try to see if your technique is adequate.
I'm sure there will be some additional suggestions for technique as well. One possibility is to put more weight on the camera and lens. I will add that in this case my shooting location required a 0.7 mile hike with a 15% grade at 3:30 AM.
Finally - here is the scene with a wide lens. This is Brasstown Bald - the highest point in Georgia - and the trip was originally for NEOWISE and the conjunction of the moon and Venus.
I was using a Nikon Z6 with the Nikon 600mm f/4 AFS VR. I used it with and without the TC14E III teleconverter. My tripod is a Really Right Stuff TVC-34L with a Really Right Stuff gimbal head. Through the EVF, focus was perfect and the image was very sharp. I used Exposure Delay Mode with a delay of 2 seconds. All that is pretty straight forward. The catch is my image settings were 0.5 seconds, ISO 1000, and f/5.6 with the teleconverter. While I could have increased the shutter speed by raising ISO to ISO 6400, it only buys about a couple of stops, and a 1/8 second exposure is not going to be that different. There was a light wind. My ideal subject was the moon, but I also took images of Venus and a nearby star.
The problem was that on playback, every image was soft. It's not the gear, so let's look at technique.
- I used Long Lens Technique with a hand firmly on top of the lens barrel above the tripod mount.
- I did not remove the hood
- The gimbal head was locked down and VR and IBIS were turned off.
- I use a Hoodman Eyecup and my eye was pressed against the EVF and the camera.
- The tripod was positioned out of the wind as much as possible.
- Camera straps were tucked away or removed completely to reduce the impact of wind.
- I was on a concrete platform.
Here is the image of the moon without the teleconverter to give you an idea of the shot.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
Here is a screen shot of a small portion of the image I was trying to make - at 300% showing a single star. This was with the lens and teleconverter - 850mm equivalent. It's pretty obvious, there is motion and you won't maintain fine detail with this kind of movement. As you can see, the lens is capable of resolving detail, but there is far too much movement in a half second exposure to maintain detail.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
We talk a lot about soft images, causes of soft images, lens resolution, etc. But even with pretty good technique - this kind of movement is there.
So what does it mean. Obviously - it's not my gear. Clearly, I need to work more on technique. This is a pretty extreme situation with a half second shutter speed and equivalent 850mm focal length. But if you want a sharp image, here is something to try to see if your technique is adequate.
I'm sure there will be some additional suggestions for technique as well. One possibility is to put more weight on the camera and lens. I will add that in this case my shooting location required a 0.7 mile hike with a 15% grade at 3:30 AM.
Finally - here is the scene with a wide lens. This is Brasstown Bald - the highest point in Georgia - and the trip was originally for NEOWISE and the conjunction of the moon and Venus.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
