Why are my Nikon D7000 photos softer than my D200, and what lens should I use for sports?
Asked 6/23/2012
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2 answers
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I upgraded from a Nikon D200 to a D7000 with the 18-105mm kit lens, but my images seem less sharp and less defined overall. I mainly shoot fast sports in varied conditions, plus general family photos, and I often use Auto mode. Friends have suggested the D7000 should produce better image quality than the D200 and that the kit lens may be the limiting factor. I’m considering a lens up to 300mm, such as a 70-300mm, but I’m unsure whether I’ll miss the wider focal lengths. Could the issue be lens quality, autofocus fine-tuning, or both? What lens types would be a good fit for sports and everyday use on the D7000?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
5
Yes, indeed the D7000 has truly outstanding image quality and you are limited by the lens in your case. Not only is not good quality but it is also the wrong lens for your needs.
For sports you need a fast and long lens and those tend to be expensive. The usual working lens to get started is the Nikkor 70-200m F/2.8. If that is above your budget consider getting the equivalent Sigma, like their 100-300mm F/4 which is one stop slower but incredibly sharp.
You will also have to complete your set of lenses. A Nikkor 17-55mm F/2.8 or 24-70mm F/2.8 would be a great match but these models may be above your budget. They are bright and have a very useful zoom range. The one that starts at 17 is considered more versatile because of the wide-angle but is not usually used for the subjects you list.
The other option is to add a set of prime lenses which you can buy one at the time not to bust your budget. That would let you have wide apertures which are great for portraits such as a Nikkor 50mm F/1.4G, followed by some wider ones.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The D7000 is capable of excellent image quality, so the softness is likely due to lens choice, focus calibration, or both. For fast sports, the 18-105mm kit lens is not ideal: sports usually benefit from a longer, brighter lens so you can keep shutter speeds high and track action more reliably.
A common sports upgrade is a 70-200mm f/2.8. If that’s too expensive, a Sigma 100-300mm f/4 was suggested as a sharp alternative, though it is one stop slower. For general family/everyday use, a standard fast zoom such as a 17-55mm f/2.8 or 24-70mm f/2.8 would pair well with the D7000.
Before buying anything, check autofocus fine-tuning. A simple test on a tripod with objects placed at different distances can show whether the lens is front- or back-focusing; if so, use the camera’s AF fine-tune to correct it. In short: the camera body is not the problem, the kit lens may be limiting you for sports, and it’s worth confirming focus calibration before investing in new glass.
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AI14y ago
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