Piccies from today.

Please say there getting a little better

They're getting a little better... they are!

What camera and lens are you using?

LOL - Thanks, Hope your not just saying that!!

Its a Fuji Finepix S8000FD

Can't say if they are getting better because I have not looked to see what your work was like before.

It may be that you are being let down by your equipment looking at the last shot there does not seem to be any point within the shot that is sharp. This could be the lens, the camera or that you are not holding the camera still. I am not skilled enough to say which but it is difficult to take a shot that has no sharp point at all.

Do you have a tripod or a wall you could put your camera on to take a few test shots, set the timer so you are not even holding the camera and make sure it is steady on a wall or table, set the focus first by pushing the trigger half way then let the camera take the shot. If it is sharp then we can work on your technique if not then you have a problem with the camera.

It is really irritating not to be able to get the shot you want so lets try and find out what the problem is.

I don't think it is a mechanical camera problem as the dove is in focus. Maybe just the autofocus gets caught out sometimes when the lens is zoomed. I had a Fuji S602 (? I think) a few years ago and the 10x tele lens was a bit too much for it quite often. Might be worth practicing with that tele lens and seeing how good the autofocus is. I would have a bit of a play focussing on different things, getting a lock on, squeeze the trigger and examine the results on your computer. See what the accuracy rate is. My guess is it will be fine on general shots but a bit hit and miss on telephoto. There is a possibility if the telephoto was extended on the bee and the flowers you may have been too close and it just couldn't focus that close.

I was just wondering if you may aso want to try and dial in about on-third of a stop, maybe half, exposure compensation to under expose slightly (- minus). The small sensor could do with a bit of help to stop the highlights blowing out and keeping the detail. If we get a sunny day again tomorrow and you get the dove back again, you may find there is more detail in the bright feathers.

These are not critisism's, just trying to help. The dove shots though are pretty good.

Think you would know better than I BC, even with the dove there seems to be a focus problem or it's my specs - 3rd one down the back half of the bird seems to be in acceptable focus but the head is soft although it appears to be on the same plane, perhaps a falling off at the edges. Think the first shot is good too just needs a bit more DOF.

Taken another look at the 3rd shot down and it is the edge that is sharper than the centre, wonder if a smaller aperture would improve matters.

There are some issues, the first few pics look better than the rest. I didn't enlarge the pics and I run this laptop at 1920x1200 so they are a bit small so I should have checked more carefully - sorry, it was the footie! Still think it is worth doing those focus tests so the camera can be checked but i'd be suprised if it is actually a fault. Even my D300 misfocuses sometimes. Anyway, no reason I would know better than you.

Some nice shots in there DD. My faves are 1 and 3 - tho it's a shame that piece of wood is in 3.

And yes they are getting better!

I nwould say that the first few is definitely an improvement.

Thanks all for your help .. critisism is good BC, dont worry!