Bee or colorful fly??

[hunter58]

Not sure what it is but it's cool looking.

[BobR]

Nice shots! I believe that belongs to the hoverfly family. Bob

[hunter58]

Nice shots! I believe that belongs to the hoverfly family. Bob

Thanks Bob. I believe you're are correct on the Hoverfly. After looking them up there are a lot of different types.

[Sudhakar Redddy]

It's amazing how u achieve such a sharp focus, Hunter.

I struggle to achieve with my D 3100 using a 55-200 mm lens on such photos. I don't have a 300 mm range lens though.

[hunter58]

It's amazing how u achieve such a sharp focus, Hunter.

I struggle to achieve with my D 3100 using a 55-200 mm lens on such photos. I don't have a 300 mm range lens though.

Sudhakar,

Do you have the 55-200 VR lens? If so do you have the VR turned on and the setting for "Normal - Active" set to Normal?

Also make sure your focus mode in the camera is set to AF-S. This will lock your focus once achieved. If you need to re-focus on your subject release the shutter button and press half way again to refocus. The other thing I do is have the center focus point only used for birds, bugs etc. Practice with these settings and see what happens.

Hunter

[Sudhakar Redddy]

It's a VR lens & the VR is ON.

I use the same settings that u specified for AF.

Where is the Normal - Active setting? Is it on the lens or within the camera menu?

Not that I miss the focus on single, moderately large birds but I find it very difficult to focus on smaller birds & things like Butterflies. Like Bob, I too find it much easier with a P & S though the quality with the DSLR is much better.

[hunter58]

It's a VR lens.

I use the same settings that u specified for AF.

Where is the Normal - Active setting? Is it on the lens or within the camera menu?

Actually now that I've looked at a picture of the 55-200 you don't have that switch. It's on my 70-300 VR lens and I assumed it would be on yours as well.

Not sure what else to suggest. You might try shooting with the VR turned off to see if it improves or gets worse.

Another thing that happens to me from time to time is I move the single focus point to the wrong point (not intentionally) and I think I'm using the center focus point when it's actually using a different point. When that happens I'm not to sharp. Check your user guide on how to move the focus point and verify you're using the one you want.

Hunter

[Sudhakar Redddy]

Actually now that I've looked at a picture of the 55-200 you don't have that switch. It's on my 70-300 VR lens and I assumed it would be on yours as well.

Not sure what else to suggest. You might try shooting with the VR turned off to see if it improves or gets worse.

Another thing that happens to me from time to time is I move the single focus point to the wrong point (not intentionally) and I think I'm using the center focus point when it's actually using a different point. When that happens I'm not to sharp. Check your user guide on how to move the focus point and verify you're using the one you want.

Hunter

Moving the central point inadvertently, happens occassionally to me also. I think I need lot more practice. Thanks a lot for your suggestions, Hunter. I will try with the VR off.