Tech Friday: Sharpness revisited………..

One of the duties that I perform pretty often for Nikon is presenting and teaching. The most often asked technical question I hear is, “How do you make such sharp images?” Not bragging, just pointing out that making sharp images is a choice. Sharpness is all about sharp lenses and solid technique.

First: Buy the sharpest lenses you can afford. Today, this is easier than ever as almost all glass has improved considerably over what was produced even a decade ago. Though some of the best glass is very expensive, some great lenses do exist in the lowest priced category. In our line the 18-55 VR kit lens is spectacularly sharp, so is the 55-200 Zoom (both DX lenses designed for our APS sized sensor). You already know how highly I regard the 70-300 AFS VR zoom.

Second: Buy and use a good tripod. I have a funny quote that is actually pretty true, “There are two kinds of tripods; those that are easy to carry and good ones.” Most solid tripods, even the carbon fiber ones are still fairly hefty. If the last leg extension of your tripod could also serve as a fly rod, its too light.

Third: Buy a good solid tripod head, I love ball
heads and own both the Really Right Stuff BH-55
and the Kirk Pro Head. Either are solid and lock
down very well.

Fourth: Use a cable release and if it is
appropriate for the kind of shot your making
lock up the mirror.

Fifth: Keep your lenses clean, nothing cuts
down contrast like a dirty lens.

Sixth: Be very aware of the direction of
your light, nothing shows contrast better than
side lighting.

Follow those techniques and sharpness will follow…..
Now, if your images are still not a sharp as you would like, practice, practice, practice.

In the meantime take great joy in this verse:

James 1: 2-8 (New Living translation)

 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Have a blessed weekend,

the pilgrim

Is the shot at the top of the page, really that sharp? This is a small piece of that file, around 20% of the file, a pretty severe crop. Trust me, these techniques work………..

*Photo note: Nikon D2x camera, with the 70-300 AFS VR lens, ISO 100. Shot at Glacier National Park.