Problems with my D80

[1957split]

Hi and thanks for looking.

I have a Nikon D80 which I bought new about a month ago, I know most of the problems are down to me and although I've read the book, putting into practice is another thing.
I go out most weekends with Connor [my youngest] and take anywhere between 100 and 500 images, 90% are throw aways as I'm trying to take bird pictures with a 135mm lens [Bigma comes tomorrow]. Out of each batch of pictures I will have four or five that look like this:





The pictures seem to be taken in two halfs with a under/over exposed area, is this down to my terrible technique or the camera
I have read the manual but cannot find anything about this problem so don't know a fix.

I am learning and some of my images tell me I haven't a clue, I have not been using it on the auto setting as been trying to work things out for myself.
The pictures above were taken on Aperture priority setting with me setting ISO and aperture and the camera doing shutter speed, it doesn't matter what setting's I use though as I will still get a few images like the above two.

Others area's I struggle with is the ever changing light, bird's in the sky, in the tree's, on the water and only a few seconds to get the shot [we wander]

I also notice some darkening round the edge of the pic's on full zoom almost as if I'd used some sort of filter for a sort of vignetting effect, is this normal?

All help really appreciated, you won't offend me as I know nothing and I need to learn.

Changing slightly and as mentioned my bigma turns up tomorrow [ebay purchase], I have read that they work best around F8 so if I'm using aperture priority set at F8 and an ISO speed of around 400-800, white balance set to auto and the camera sorting out shutter speed, will I get any picture's?
Something else [sorry], I'm using the focus area set to Centre AF normal zone and the Metering set to spot, when I focus on a darker bird in a lighter sky I get lousy picture's. Is there something else I can try.

Sorry guy's/girls, I know it's a long list but I really do need that much help

Cheers
Brian

[NickCantle]

Hi Brian,

I'm unsure about the image issue you sample above, but the only similar thing I've seen in my time as a photographer is when your shutter speed is too quick for the shutter curtain, thus capturing the curtain and rendering half of the image darker- but I'm unsure that would be an issue in this case.

Secondly, the Bigma isn't as easy to use as I first thought it would be. I've have it for just over a year now and it's got me some decent shots I like to think, but it takes quite a bit of technical learning to get the best from it- a chap with your positive attitude should have no problem with this.

These two threads may be of interest to you as they address problems we all have sometimes with the long lens kit.

Disappointment in Bird Photography

Satisfaction in Bird Photography!

Keep us posted how you get on and I would have thought that there's a camera user around here that may have experienced your issue.

Nick

[nightshade]

Bought new I would take it back pronto it looks like a shutter problem take some prints with you.
There is a shooting flying birds fact sheet on the site but I cannot remember the details it is excellent.

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by 1957split

Changing slightly and as mentioned my bigma turns up tomorrow [ebay purchase], I have read that they work best around F8 so if I'm using aperture priority set at F8 and an ISO speed of around 400-800, white balance set to auto and the camera sorting out shutter speed, will I get any picture's? Something else [sorry], I'm using the focus area set to Centre AF normal zone and the Metering set to spot, when I focus on a darker bird in a lighter sky I get lousy picture's. Is there something else I can try.

If you're getting almost silhouetted shapes of birds on a light background, but you wish to bring out the detail in the bird, you need to dial in some positive exposure compensation (unsure how to do that on a Nikon, but should be in the manual).

As it says in that thread above though, you do need to have quite awesome light to get the best from the Bigma, and if you've not got the light, a good, sturdy tripod is essential.

Nick

[1957split]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

If you're getting almost silhouetted shapes of birds on a light background, but you wish to bring out the detail in the bird, you need to dial in some positive exposure compensation (unsure how to do that on a Nikon, but should be in the manual).

As it says in that thread above though, you do need to have quite awesome light to get the best from the Bigma, and if you've not got the light, a good, sturdy tripod is essential.

Nick

Thanks Nick, yep I get a lot of silhouetted birds in light backgrounds [sky] I was actually hoping the larger lens giving me a bigger subject and less sky in the shot might improve things, I do have a heavy tripod and a monopod though love everyone elses picture of birds in flight, can this be done off a tripod?

Nightshade you've scared me, the camera came from Curry's and was pretty much the last boxed/untouched one in my area. The sale staff knew nothing about it [very young staff], one lad was cleaning the lens on a 50D by licking his thumb and rubbing it over the glass.
I bought the Nikon D80 because it was still sealed in it's box but I wouldn't want to take it back there, I'll probably contact Nikon and email some sample pic's

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by 1957split

Thanks Nick, yep I get a lot of silhouetted birds in light backgrounds [sky] I was actually hoping the larger lens giving me a bigger subject and less sky in the shot might improve things, I do have a heavy tripod and a monopod though love everyone elses picture of birds in flight, can this be done off a tripod?

Birds in flight can be photographed from a tripod, or sometimes more easily with a monopod. As long as you've got the room to pan and focus lock on the bird, then you'll be ok. Sometimes you just have to remember all of the information at once- that's another reason why it's good to know your camera controls inside out. To be able to change all of the ISO info, the exposure compensation, the shutter speed, the aperture and the focus points without removing your eye from the viewfinder will give you a massive speed advantage.

I've got a tripod that I use, but the head on it has a very smooth, spring loaded pan so I find it easy and comfortable to follow birds- unless they decide to fly 360˙ around me, in which case I morph into an accidental contortionist

[1957split]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Birds in flight can be photographed from a tripod, or sometimes more easily with a monopod. As long as you've got the room to pan and focus lock on the bird, then you'll be ok. Sometimes you just have to remember all of the information at once- that's another reason why it's good to know your camera controls inside out. To be able to change all of the ISO info, the exposure compensation, the shutter speed, the aperture and the focus points without removing your eye from the viewfinder will give you a massive speed advantage.

I've got a tripod that I use, but the head on it has a very smooth, spring loaded pan so I find it easy and comfortable to follow birds- unless they decide to fly 360˙ around me, in which case I morph into an accidental contortionist

I always have Connor standing beside me, lucky he's short or I could see me knocking his head off when I get bigma fitted

[charlieb]

Originally Posted by 1957split

Out of each batch of pictures I will have four or five that look like this

Definitely a problem with the camera - I would get it looked at ASAP. The two "halves" of the image don't line up either - maybe a memory stick problem?

[Connor7]

Thanks Charlie.

I have submitted a few images to Nikon [tech support dept] and will see what they come back with.

[1957split]

Sorry, didn't realise Connor hadn't signed out so I've replied in his name