Folks;

 

had my first outdoor trip with the A6000 yesterday, went through a lost place, doing a load of shooting indoors with tripod as well as a few outdoor shots. Had the camera set to automatic aperture and ISO to 100 (intended to keep noise low). Used the stock 16-50 lens. Outcome: Most of the pictures I took indoors with tripod are mostly okay for a first day. However, virtually *all* the outdoor pictures failed and look like these two examples (EXIF should be embedded):

 

http://zimmer428.net/zeugs/DSC00176.JPG

http://zimmer428.net/zeugs/DSC00238.JPG

 

I was a bit shocked, but as I am new to this device, I want to find out whether it's an issue with camera / lens or whether I'm just yet too stupid to operate it correctly. Used a PowerShot G series for the last years as well as a film-based SLR for roughly two decades so I have at least basic understandings of the optical conditions and aspects of photography.

 

Can anyone enlighten me what could be possibly wrong with these shots?

TIA and all the best,

Kristian

The critical issue is what focus mode and points are you using?  Just take your camera outside and take multiple exposures using different focus parameters.  Take shots with both auto and manual focus and compare.   In the first link it appears your focus point may have been at the bottom of the image, and at F3.5 (wide open for your kit lens) you will not have appreciable depth of field.  Finally if all are bad, then try a different lens to see if it is camera or a lens problem.

I would assume that at ISO 100 the aperture was most likely at or near F3.5. Just put the camera in aperture priority

and set it to F11 and take the same shots and my guess is that all will be fine. (Much more of the shot will be in

focus)

Thanks loads for your hints. I'll get back out now and see how far I get this way.

I would assume that at ISO 100 the aperture was most likely

at or near F3.5. Just put the camera in aperture priority and

set it to F11 and take the same shots and my guess is that

all will be fine. (Much more of the shot will be in focus)

  

Rather than assume, I checked the exif and you are 

on-the-money, f/3.5 and ISO 100 ... and the FL is at

16 mm so that says "kit lens". Wide open with such  

contrasty backlighting is simply asking too much of  

a kit lens ... and the shutter is at 1/1000, which can 

easily be traded off to get to f/8, and the 100 ISO is 

unnecessary when 200 ISO will get you f/11.   

    

--------------------------------------------------------------  

   

Looks like a fairly easy shot to re-shoot and allow

comparing results. A homework assignment ! Also 

try the "scenes" mode at Landscape setting and 

see whether the camera's brain chooses 3.5 at 

ISO 100 and wastes all your photons on a much 

too high shutter speed. Acoarst the camera's brain

doesn't consider that f:3.5 means "kit zoom wide 

open". F/3.5 could be 2 stops down on a premium 

grade lens. The camera can't tell the difference so 

it may "think" f/3.5 is cool .... but I personally doubt 

that the Scenes/Landscape mode will compromise 

aperture  to maintain a shutter speed of 1/1000 for 

shooting a wide angle. The camera does consider

the FL when choose shutter speeds. 

Rather than assume, I checked the exif and you are 

on-the-money, f/3.5 and ISO 100 ... and the FL is at

16 mm so that says "kit lens". Wide open with such  

contrasty backlighting is simply asking too much of  

a kit lens ... and the shutter is at 1/1000, which can 

easily be traded off to get to f/8, and the 100 ISO is 

unnecessary when 200 ISO will get you f/11.   

 

 

Yes, that's what I am slowly into learning now. Actually with my G series background I am pretty much used to shooting at ISO values as low as somewhat possible - always tried to keep the camera at ISO 100 or even ISO 80 to keep noise level as low as possible. So it's basically getting used to how the A6000 works and how pictures look like under certain circumstances. It's interesting to explore this nevertheless.

Thanks for your help.