Gera

I really feel like renting a higher end body just to see if they act the same.

I'm sure you mean "read the fabulous manual" or "read the fantastic manual"... right? By the way, feel free to just tell me the name of the process. I'm usually good figuring out how to change settings as long as I know the "what is it" of it. Now, I've shooting some more and had the chance to experiment. I did come to a conclusion which will come in the end. I set up the camera in Focus Priority like you asked. I disabled back button focusing and still was getting wrong focus. I tried AF-S and AF-C with a 9 point cluster and same. It wasn't consistent. I shoot some pictures at the school I work at, and the lightning is not very convenient. I did not use a flash for safety purposes. I went back to bbf and some pictures did come out good. I was shooting with large apertures (3.2 - 4) and slow shutter speeds (80-100) trying to make the best out of the available light. Here is the kicker. I noticed that the focus tends to be wrong the most is when the head/face of the subject is smaller than the focus square (if that makes sense). I did large group shoots (22-29 student or even more some times), and I had to stand back a lot because I have a 24-70 on a cropped sensor (D5200), Therefore, the subjects' faces and heads are small in comparison to the focus squares. But when the subject is closer and/or bigger, I have little to no problems, even when BBF is on. I did took some pictures at my brother's marriage; and even when the face would cover the focus point entirely, the focus would be effed up. School pictures were using the Tamron 24-70. The marriage shots were using the 35mm 1.8 Nikon. Both situations have little/or poor light, because usually nearly anything that I shoot outdoors (or with a flash sometimes) doesn't have problem... Thoughts? Should I send the damn thing to be looked at? Because I highly doubt the lenses are the problem. It is driving me nuts because my wife is experiencing the same with the 35mm and her D5300; which leads me to think that those two bodies' focusing systems are stupid and/or crap...

Hey there, I has hoping I could get help trying to fix this image. First of all, I know the image sucks, really bad. I am helping my school with their yearbook. It is nothing crazy; it's very inexpensive and informal. Since I was trying to get a lot of pictures done in very little time I didn't do any set ups because the classrooms are small, there isn't a lot of light available to work with, and of course, teachers want you in and out. Either way, here is a crop of the picture. I would just post it on the book and leave despite the level of noise and quality since the bigger does not look offensive and it is going to be a small print. However, It looks like the teacher is giving the middle finger when the reality is that the whole group was doing the "I'm watching you face". I really hope I can get help since I don't want to receive negative feedback from parents. Thanks in advance.

Sorry I took for ever to respond @Brian. School is kicking my butt right now. Anyhow, this response is based on what I did (and do) before my original post. I shoot 90-95% of the time in manual. I have my camera set to back button focusing and almost always use AF-C. I normally had a 9 cluster focus points (center plus 8 surrounding ones). I normally leave the focus button pressed when I'm focusing which lead me to believe that the camera was focusing on the surrounding points. Then I changed it to AF-Single, but the thing kept on doing the same thing. I changed from 9 focus points to 1 focus point. I'd point it to the persons face, yet the wall would be on focus but not the freaking face even when I had the focus point on them! At first, the average Joe can't seem to notice the difference, but now that I got more into photography, I'm able to notice how the focus is wrong. I have not shot with my 50mm yet. I have the current 35mm I have is a replacement because I thought it was a lens problem. Then I got the Tamron and the problem is still there. How do I go about doing that? Thanks.

I got those to bodies, and I do know that neither of them have AF fine tuning. I got the 35mm 1.8 amd just got a 24-70mm 2.8 (which helped with the noise, thanks Brian). I did notice however, that the cameras even when the focus point is on the person's face the camera focuses on the back. Is there a way in camera to fix this or do I have to send it out for service?

This is a very common problem I run into. Any suggestions on how to fix it? And yes, hair comb and checking for the hair first are on the list, but sometimes I just get too excited with how the emotions flow. Thanks guys.

Alright! I do shoot RAW. It's just that my images often come noisy

Does anyone use it? Should it be used? Why or why not? Thanks.

Hey @Brian What do you think of the sigma 24-70 2.8... worth $680 new?

GTFO... what a pic! We'll do. I'll post pictures whenever I get a change to rent. I've been wanting to put my hands on a Sigma Art 50mm. Thank you for your time @Brian

I really like it. It is just that the focus has been very inconsistent lately. I have the focusing square on where I want to to be, focus... and then realize the thing didn't focused properly. If it does, it's very slow. I tried it with my wife's D5300 and sent it to repair twice already and the problem is the same. Well s**t... and of course they weren't taken with a kit lens... I'm not that green anymore (yay!) Do lenses improve ISO performance? Doesn't that have to do more with the body's sensor???

I have the lame 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 50mm 1.8, 35mm 1.8 (which I'm about to throw to the garbage... )

I guess it's worth to mention that I find myself constantly taking pictures in low light... and being the noob that I am, I didn't know much when I go it about a year ago.

A D5200... LOL...

Hi @Brian, Currently I own only DX lenses. I am doing mainly portraits and family gatherings. I really don't think I will be doing big events like weddings and stuff like ever. Or at least not any time soon.

Hello people! I've been wanting to buy a D750 for a while now (it's taking long due to financial reasons). But now with the D500 I am expecting to get more out of it than from the D750. Would there be any particular reason to wait for the D500? It is a cropped sensor and has a smaller megapixel count, I understand; but it is considered to be a "professional" grade camera. And the ISO performance looks incredible (from the little info that is out there). Thank you for taking time to respond! Edit: Update! Here are some sample pictures http://www.nikon-image.com/products/slr/lineup/d500/sample.html That ISO performance though!!!