'fuzzy' photos?

[mudd]

Hi all,

I've noticed that some of my photos come out a bit 'fuzzy'. I'm quite new to DSLR photography so I'm hoping I'm just making some beginner mistake. Below is a photo from a recent trip to Egypt that seems fuzzy to me. Other photos turned out great, so maybe it's lighting or haze? I'm using a Nikon D40, 18-55mm lens, and either a Hoya Pro 1D circular polarizer or UV filter. Thanks for any advice you can offer.

[Frog]

Not sure but it looks like camera movement to me.

[mn shutterbug]

Can you post the exif, in other words iso, shutter speed, aperture?

[mudd]

Here's the info I can pull from Capture NX. If it is indeed camera shake, would I have gotten a crisper shot with a VR lens?

[mn shutterbug]

If you are getting camera shake at 18mm shot at 1/320 second, you need practice gently depressing the shutter, not mashing it. If you are a bit unsteady, VR would help. In reality, you should be able to handhold that lens at 18mm (270mm crop factor), at a shutter speed as slow as 1/270 second. If VR works as well as IS on Canon lenses, you should be able to shoot at 2 shutter speeds slower.

[Frog]

Yeah, 1/320th doesn't usually relate to camera shake unless you were riding a fast camel or something.

[readingr]

If you are getting camera shake at 18mm shot at 1/320 second, you need practice gently depressing the shutter, not mashing it. If you are a bit unsteady, VR would help. In reality, you should be able to handhold that lens at 18mm (270mm crop factor), at a shutter speed as slow as 1/270 second. If VR works as well as IS on Canon lenses, you should be able to shoot at 2 shutter speeds slower.

I hold my 5D with a 24-70mm without IS at 1/40th and still get a sharp pic. I can't believe that the Nikon is that bad you have to be at 1/270th.

One thing is the country and time of day which looks like middle of the day from the lack of shadows which in Egypt can cause a heat haze which can make things a little hazy.

Would need to see the pic at full size to make sure. I assume that your stance, breathing, and shutter depression is smooth at the point of taking. You need to be like a sniper when taking photo's at slow shutter speeds. I assume this as other shots are fine.

One more thing. As a critique of your composition, you have a lot of wasted space in the foreground. Perhaps a little closer next time.

Hope that helps

Roger

[mudd]

Thanks everyone for the input. After reading the comments I asked someone else who was there for a few of their photos and they have similar issues - so I think the dusty haze must have at least played some part. (He was using a pocket digital and as he reminded me, there were a lot of people walking around kicking up dust). Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate the feedback.

Roger - thanks for the composition feedback. I'll try that advice on my upcoming trip.