Image is not sharp at 105mm

[ahjie86]

Hi, I'm currently using a D3100 paired with a 18-105mm. Images are pretty sharp at 18-55mm but at 105mm they are mostly not sharp. VR is turned on. Can I get some help on this? Thank you

 

[tecnica]

sorry but i cant imagine how your pictures look like by just reading 37 words.

 

[ahjie86]

Lol, you actually counted the number of words I wrote. Oh, then to put it simply, does the IQ degrade from 55mm onwards or is it supposed to be approximately the same as at 18-55mm.

 

[ismokeweed79]

In other words, please post a pic so we can analyze the situation more better and help you out.

 

[tecnica]

i'm not sure how you define "degrade", as everyone has their own threshold levels.

seriously, a picture speaks not just 37 but a thousand words.

 

[fastfocusing]

don't expect the best from this lens. u want sharpness, set your aperture between f8 - f22.

 

[tecnica]

stay away from the extreme end of the aperture range to avoid diffraction.

most lenses are normally sharp at between f8-f11(or f16). but there are lemons around too, so yeah.

kit lenses are good but dont overly expect from them.

 

[Rashkae]

don't expect the best from this lens. u want sharpness, set your aperture between f8 - f22.

Incorrect. After f16 diffraction sets in.

TS, most lenses, especially the "zoom" lenses, are not at their sharpest when at maximum aperture. try setting to f/8-f/11 and try again.

 

[ahjie86]

Thank you for all the positive feedbacks and help. I'll try em and maybe post some pictures tmr

 

[daredevil123]

Hi, I'm currently using a D3100 paired with a 18-105mm. Images are pretty sharp at 18-55mm but at 105mm they are mostly not sharp. VR is turned on. Can I get some help on this? Thank you

Without samples to look at, I would say it comes down to improper technique. You need to make sure that your shutter speed is at least 1/focal length when not on vr. On vr you need to calculate what is the minimum shutter speed for your focal length. For 105mm minimum shutter speed will be 1/100s. With vr minimum shutter speed will be around 1/15 assuming you get a real 3 stop vr advantage. To be safe I would say keep minimum shutter speed to 1/30s. And you need to learn proper handholding techniques as well.

 

[daredevil123]

don't expect the best from this lens. u want sharpness, set your aperture between f8 - f22.

Smallest aperture on aps-c cameras is f16 before diffraction sets in.

 

[Override2Zion]

...I would say it comes down to improper technique...

It would help much if you could show a photos of the same subject taken under 55mm and at 105mm. I have a feeling it might be due to what bro daredevil mentioned.
Having VR on is one thing, using it correctly is another issue. When you attempt to focus on a subject by half depressing the shutter button, you will hear the "click" of the VR mechanism kicking in, hold steady and leave about half to a second for the VR system to balance out to steady state. This is when you can fully depress the shutter button to make the exposure. A better test would be to mount the camera on tripod with VR off to test the IQ at 55mm and 105mm, this should give some conclusive results.

 

[DM101]

18-105mm is a lousy lens

Read more here

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/410-nikkor_18105_3556vr?start=2

The better on is 16-85mm

 

[MRSAMO]

105mm is not as sharp because quality falls off the greater the zoom length, 18-55mm is usually sharper across all the kit lenses within that range.

 

[hotchoco1ate]

So what is the best aperture to take landscape for instance on a tripod? Some mentioned f8-f16. But which will provide the sharpest? f8? f11? f13? f16? Does it differ for different lenses?

Also TS, perhaps your VR is not off when set on a tripod. The VR will try to compensate, but since the tripod is too still, it introduces unnecessary compensation, hence the blur.

 

[daredevil123]

So what is the best aperture to take landscape for instance on a tripod? Some mentioned f8-f16. But which will provide the sharpest? f8? f11? f13? f16? Does it differ for different lenses?

Also TS, perhaps your VR is not off when set on a tripod. The VR will try to compensate, but since the tripod is too still, it introduces unnecessary compensation, hence the blur.

It really depends on what you are trying to achieve.

 

[daredevil123]

18-105mm is a lousy lens

Read more here

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/410-nikkor_18105_3556vr?start=2

The better on is 16-85mm

Lousy? Is that so?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinatwo/3246668679/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alemdag/4009238218/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zs-photography/4222075333/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zs-photography/3410777642/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/resouzaesouza/4614098402/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fromzeotherside/3282603748/

This is a quick 2 min search in Flickr and I grabbed a few links at random...

Most people who complain lens is lousy, are people who can't produce good pictures and blame it on the equipment.
:think:

 

[Override2Zion]

So what is the best aperture to take landscape for instance on a tripod? Some mentioned f8-f16. But which will provide the sharpest? f8? f11? f13? f16? Does it differ for different lenses?

You want star shaped lights on your night shots use a smaller aperture. You have moving subjects and you don't want them too blurred, use larger apertures. You want to blur out moving elements but you don't have a ND filter and your ISO is already at lowest then use a smaller aperture. Depends on situation really, the settings are all about compromise.

 

[daredevil123]

18-105mm is a lousy lens

Read more here

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/410-nikkor_18105_3556vr?start=2

The better on is 16-85mm

And BTW, photozone gave it 3 stars. You know how many expensive lenses did not even get 3 stars?

And they said it is a very "attractive" offering from Nikon...

 

[hotchoco1ate]

You want star shaped lights on your night shots use a smaller aperture. You have moving subjects and you don't want them too blurred, use larger apertures. You want to blur out moving elements but you don't have a ND filter and your ISO is already at lowest then use a smaller aperture. Depends on situation really, the settings are all about compromise.

Okay i got it. But usually i just want to achieve maximum depth of field for sharpness. To paraphrase what you said, for general landscapes, a smaller aperture up to f16 will yield better results? But what if im already at hyperfocal distance?